Re: [CR]Re: Wheel Building

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:22:48 -0500
From: "Louis Schulman" <louiss@gate.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Wheel Building
References: <4213FF8D.9040200@erols.com>
In-Reply-To: <4213FF8D.9040200@erols.com>


I built my first wheels 37 years ago (I still have them). I also always build wheels with the heads out on the pulling spokes. I have always believed this served a purpose. When the wheel is torqued, the pulling spokes, with heads out, will tend to force themselves and the non-pulling spokes toward the center of the hub. When climbing on the biggest sprocket, this will give the derailleur cage a little extra clearance.

I had some wheels built by a famous wheel builder, who spoked the other way, and in fact on hard climbs the derailleur cage did ping the spokes. Of course, your mileage may vary
> Drive side spoke pull direction is often a cause for much debate, I have
> a preference, drive side pull spoke with head out, but have built many
> either way with no noticeable change in performance. With and without
> opp. flange being a lacing mirror image.

Louis Schulman Tampa, FL (where I just received a package from W.F. Holdsworth, my copy of the Dancing Chain was just shipped, and I received two new blue GB bar plugs. What a day!)