Possibly a yr in the past I grew to become conscious of a brand new know-how getting used to make bicycle spokes.
By and huge, spokes are constructed from metal lately, primarily as a result of metal makes for such an amazing mix of weight, price, and sturdiness. Experimentation with aluminum and composites has occurred and can proceed to — that’s how the breed improves.
Spokemakers have, in recent times, embraced straight pull spokes (of metal and aluminum) for causes of, um, advertising, finest I can inform. They haven’t been confirmed to do something higher than j-bend spokes, aside from introducing a confounding alternative onto an unsuspecting and largely uneducated public. I feel the dialog in all probability went one thing like this:
Advertising and marketing hack A: “How can we promote extra of one thing with out really enhancing it?”
Advertising and marketing hack B: “Divide, confuse, and conquer? Oh, plus new colorways!”
My perspective is that straight pull spokes are a “resolution” to a non-existent downside.
Ahem. Did I digress?!
I’m writing at present about Berd spokes. You may learn their spiel right here — it’s the identical stuff I learn once I first heard about them. The studying isn’t significantly compelling, but it surely’s informative sufficient for those who listen. Mainly, these spokes knock a great chunk of mass off of any wheel in comparison with metal spokes, they don’t quit any energy or stiffness in so doing, and so they add a measure of dampness to a wheel.
Lighter, stronger, and extra snug? What’s the catch?
Glad you requested. The catch is in price per spoke, in addition to in elevated labor time to construct every wheel. Which additionally provides extra price to every wheel. Mainly, a wheelset constructed with these spokes is pricey relative to every other spoke obtainable.
Your subsequent query is undoubtedly some variation on “How a lot?” instantly adopted by “Are they price it?”
The solutions are “fairly a bit” and “it relies upon.”
Let’s not get forward of ourselves…
My ears perked up once I discovered that the supply materials is Dyneema, which I do know and belief from the HMG packs that Jeny and I’ve used for years. The stuff is extremely gentle and unbelievably abrasion resistant. I do know there are a variety of different attributes which can be necessary in a pack, however for me these are the massive two. After years and years of abusing our HMG packs — bushwhacking via alder and devils membership in AK, grinding and dragging them via dry scrub oak and moist slot canyons within the Colorado Plateau — and them being soiled however in any other case none the more severe for put on, I’ve come to think about Dyneema as an extremely spectacular materials.
“Certain,” you’re saying, “for a pack.” However, ok for bicycle spokes?
Learn on.
It takes a great chunk longer to construct a wheel with these spokes. A few of that’s within the lacing course of, because the loop on the head of the spoke must be pulled via the spoke gap within the hub, and this isn’t as straightforward because it sounds. Then you definitely slip slightly ‘rod’ of Dyneema via that loop, pull the spoke tight by hand, then transfer on to the following one. It isn’t sophisticated — is definitely something however — it simply takes slightly extra time than you’re used to. House builders that love the method of constructing their very own wheels will get to spend extra time having fun with that course of.
There’s extra time required within the tensioning course of as a result of the fabric these spokes are constructed from has inherent stretch. Mainly, it is advisable convey the wheel as much as ~remaining rigidity, do some stress reduction cycles, rigidity it once more, stress relieve once more, rigidity as soon as extra, then grasp it up for a couple of days and let the spokes elongate. You don’t end a wheel constructed with these spokes in a single sitting.
Come again to it a couple of days later, get it true/spherical/dished to spec, *then* stability it out at remaining rigidity. The blokes at Berd will enable you with the nuances of your spoke calc, and so they’ll additionally present numbers applicable to whichever tensiometer you’re utilizing. Count on to take 2+ hours in your first one, then possibly rather less on every subsequent. I can’t see the way you’ll ever get construct time equal to a metal spoked wheel, nor do I feel it’s necessary that that occurs.
I solely have lots of of miles on these spokes, on two completely different bikes, so the jury remains to be out on long run sturdiness. As soon as I’ve 1000’s of miles I’ll really feel extra assured in saying what they’ll and can’t deal with so far as abrasion and impression.
I did take sharp shears to 1, underneath rigidity, simply to see how it could react, as type of a crude abrasion take a look at. It took a number of hacks on the skinny part of the spoke to get it to chop, and even then it wasn’t like you possibly can lower instantly via the entire thing—there have been a number of strands that simply wouldn’t lower utterly with out a number of hacks and a variety of effort.
Within the video above I’m not ‘lillydipping’ with the scissors — I’m actually slicing onerous. The results of this crude experiment is confidence inspiring when contemplating sharp schist or shale plates that get thrown up, and even simply incidental contact with the native square-edged sandstone and granite. Only one indicator, however a formidable one.
The experience is subtly completely different from the rest I’ve ridden earlier than. I ought to make clear that on my first construct with these I took an present wheelset utilizing DT 240s hubs, Derby carbon rims, and DT SuperComp spokes — a wheelset that I’d ridden over 2k miles already — and lower out the SuperComps, then changed with the Berds. I even re-used the identical tires, on the similar pressures, such that the one factor that had modified was the spoke materials. This single change created a web lack of 110g per wheel. Not a misprint.
I might name them “damp” however you would possibly get the concept which means “gradual.” I might name them “quiet” however you would possibly misconstrue that as “muted.” Nothing concerning the experience is extraordinary relative to a traditional metal spoked wheel, it’s just a bit completely different. I’m princess and the pea on the subject of trivialities like this, and it’s potential that what I really feel when using the Berd spokes simply gained’t be noticeable to you. Put in a different way, there isn’t any discernible distinction in total wheel stiffness in any aircraft, no change in how the general bundle handles what you’re throwing at it. They’re nonetheless stiff, robust wheels — they simply received quite a bit lighter and now appear to soak up extra vibration from the path.
I’m not a hard-core numbers man so I can’t say that they make me really feel x% more energizing on the finish of a experience. And I’m not quick so I can’t say they make me sooner. However I can say that I like the texture — sufficient that I’m lacing one other set for myself. The absorption of path vibrations is noticeable sufficient that, had been I nonetheless an endurance nerd out chasing sunsets, I’d emphatically be utilizing these for each coaching and racing.
I’m keen to construct them for patrons efficient instantly. Count on to gasp audibly on the value — $eight per spoke plus further labor time, on prime of hubs, rims, and (in all probability) delivery. Don’t hesitate with questions.
This evaluation initially appeared at Lacemine 29, the place Curiak will fortunately construct wheels from Dyneema spokes, or, no matter.
