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| Spoke head washers |
But its spokes do break from time to time. It was a mistake to use DT Revolution spokes on the drive side (as I learned after reading The Art of Wheelbuilding, by Gerd Schraner). And Hiroshi had recently suggested that as long as I was using 36 spokes, I should try 4-cross for the strongest result.
Still, even if I do break a spoke, it is possible to finish a long ride on a 35 spoke wheel without feeling as if one's equipment is compromised or dangerous. And it is easy to use a spoke wrench to true the wheel laterally and ride on.
Last weekend, as well, the bike was still rideable with a broken spoke, but it had some rubbing at the brake pad. I did not have a spoke wrench with me for what had been planned as a short spin. We were near Y's bike shop on the Tamagawa, and so ducked into a fast food restaurant in Tachikawa to get some coffee and wait until Y's opened . They were kind enough to lend me a spoke wrench. But when I trued the wheel laterally, the wheel developed a "hop" -- a bump where it was not quite round. And even when I tightened the relevant spokes, the hop remained.
I had had enough. Time to rebuild! There are still years of life in the rim and hub. Here is the rebuilt wheel, with DT Competition 2.0/1.8mm spokes on the drive side, and DT Revolution 2.0/1.5mm again on the non-drive, with 36 spokes in a 4-cross pattern. And, of course, spoke head washers. No, not the lightest design, but with this build, the spokes are no longer the weakest link.
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| Number 00016 -- A new wheel, with used rim and hub. |
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| In the truing stand. Label on hub lines up with valve hole -- check. |
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| These hubs have seen many thousands of kilometers/miles. I hope they will see many, many more! |
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