Why are lightweights laced 'incorrectly'

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
petal666
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:19 am
Location: Brisbane, Oz
Contact:

by petal666

It is generally good practice when building a wheel to place the valve hole between 2 adjacent spokes that are running parallel and not where the two spokes 'cross'.

All the lightweights I've seen seem to have the valve hole between crossed spokes, making it harder to get a pump head in there, rather than 2 spots around where the spokes run parallel.

Why is that?

Image
Last edited by petal666 on Tue May 01, 2012 5:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

mjduct
Posts: 657
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 2:19 pm

by mjduct

if you have to ask, you can't afford it...

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



petal666
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:19 am
Location: Brisbane, Oz
Contact:

by petal666

mjduct wrote:if you have to ask, you can't afford it...


Quality post.

User avatar
Calnago
In Memoriam
Posts: 8612
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:14 pm

by Calnago

Actually, that's a good question now that you raise it. Both the front and the rear look like the valve could have been placed in a better position. Only reason I can think of is maybe for balancing issues, but that's just a wild guess.
Colnago C64 - The Naked Build; Colnago C60 - PR99; Trek Koppenberg - Where Emonda and Domane Meet;
Unlinked Builds (searchable): Colnago C59 - 5 Years Later; Trek Emonda SL Campagnolo SR; Special Colnago EPQ

petal666
Posts: 967
Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:19 am
Location: Brisbane, Oz
Contact:

by petal666

Looks like they 'fixed' in the Gen IIIs. All the images I can find show the valve hole in a different spot.

FreaK
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:57 am
Location: mOntreal

by FreaK

less spokes= bigger gap. I don't know what pump head you couldn't fit in there.

But yes i agree it is a touch weird
it's actually possible to come to the conclusion even before realising it makes no sense at all
-
tymon_tm

User avatar
Rumsas
Posts: 550
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:25 pm

by Rumsas

Maybe not to stress the rim at it's weakest point, and sort of make the spokes pull towards the valve hole.
With regular alloy rims, it's the best to make the spokes cross opposite the valve hole (where the rim is welded together). I have seen rims come apart when the spokes dont cross at the welding.
And when LW wheels dont have any welding, the weakest spot must be the valve hole..
Maybe thats why, i am no expert :D

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply