Wheelbuilders' thoughts...

[xtaffa]

On these...

=https://bankruptbikeparts.co.uk/pro...cRZd8VjMVXg_yrVb9RLwSeiWqN4x1sv4MZrbSvxmlxMAu

Considering as cheap replacement rear wheel for the pub/'gravel'/Licht Panzer bike.

Is that spoke pattern asking for trouble?!

Cheers!

 

[elite504]

If you have to ask....
Depends on what coming back from the pub entails!

 

[bikeworkshop]

If you put a bend in the rim, you can't really straighten them well unless you're lucky.

Not recommended for knocking around on.

These wheels get put in the scrap faster than those with an even spoke pattern.

Also bear in mind cheap wheels have cheap spokes, which tend to get brittle and snap after a year or two if they are used hard.

 

[jim haseltine]

What @bikeworkshop wrote. IMO, the only good things about that wheel is that it's got J-bend spokes and nipples you can get to without having to strip off the tyre. Back when I raced (ha! - that's one way of decribing it), standard bikes usually had 36 spokes in each wheel, maybe 40 in the rear wheel for heavy riders. I used 36 spoke wheels for winter training, then as I was on the light side of things back then 32 for the rest of the year, 28 spoke wheels for racing and occasionally a 24 spoke front wheel for flat time trials. Now, I see all sort of weird combinations of spoke numbers and patterns - often without proper lacing. It's almost like there's a push in parts of the business to treat wheels as consumable items. I gained a Fulcrum rear wheel with straight-pull spokes in a G3 pattern - even though I laced the drive side spokes properly I'll still only use it on my turbo trainer.

 

[kingoffootball]

I didn't buy complete wheels, but I did buy some of those design rims for my Raleigh build:

Post in thread '1988/89 part lugged, part fillet-brazed Raleigh frame'

Aug 10, 2023

Wheels finished. I spent a long time on them as I was using a new book to try to improve my wheelbuilding.



I can understand the criticism of rims which slightly compromise function for aesthetics, but the additional complexity also helps me develop my wheelbuilding more.

My current inclination it to build it up now to test different stems and bars for the riding position, but maybe it would be more sensible to refinish the frame first so I don't have to completely go back to square one to do that. I'm planning on refinishing it myself though and I don't currently have a...

• kingoffootball

• 
• 

Obviously a bit more annoying in terms of needing more spoke lengths, but I like the look. As usual, I haven't finished the build so I can't give any feedback on performance.

 

[Woz]

If you put a bend in the rim, you can't really straighten them well unless you're lucky.

Not recommended for knocking around on.

These wheels get put in the scrap faster than those with an even spoke pattern.

Also bear in mind cheap wheels have cheap spokes, which tend to get brittle and snap after a year or two if they are used hard.

Designed like a plastic BMX magwheel except you couldn't put it in the freezer to straighten it out.

Remember this gem too?

 

[bikeworkshop]

Designed like a plastic BMX magwheel except you couldn't put it in the freezer to straighten it out.

Remember this gem too?

View attachment 1019587

This design though is to enable allow a sealed rim channel for early tubeless.
The spokes hook into the rim box and cross to the opposite flange of the hub.
It has the same flaws
as the grouped spoke standard rim but at least offers weight strength and a superior tubeless function.