Where to buy spokes online?

Garret C · 24-04-2011 09:45AM #1

Looking to build my first set of wheels at the moment. Does anyone know where I can buy road bike spokes online?

Thanks for your help..!

gman2k · 24-04-2011 10:04AM

http://www.roseversand.com/products/tech/spokes-and-nipples/

Holyboy · 24-04-2011 10:11AM

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/
Don''t use anything except D.T. Swiss unless you can manage getting wheelsmith!!!
Just keep in mind it's very easy to build a wheel, but very difficult to build a good wheel.

ciarsciars · 24-04-2011 10:33AM

Kieran Byrne in Square wheel (i think that's what it's called) temple bar sells them, and at a very good price. I think I got spokes and nipples for a wheel for €7!!

kumate_champ07 · 24-04-2011 10:54AM

Holyboy wrote: »

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/
Don''t use anything except D.T. Swiss unless you can manage getting wheelsmith!!!
Just keep in mind it's very easy to build a wheel, but very difficult to build a good wheel.

Sapim is just as good as DT Swiss, their nipples are actually better

gman2k · 24-04-2011 11:15AM

And stay away from black spokes, wheel builders I've been chatting to are having endless trouble with them

happytramp · 24-04-2011 11:19AM

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

Sapim is just as good as DT Swiss, their nipples are actually better

They sell double butted Sapim spokes for 70c in cycleways. I prefer to buy spokes in person rather than over the internet because that way when you get home and inevitably realise you've bought the wrong size, it's far easier to bring them back.

Holyboy · 24-04-2011 11:47AM

Sapin are O.K. to build with but definitely not as good as D.T. Swiss, I've built wheels with nearly every type of spoke out there and have finally concluded D.T. Swiss are the best, well after wheelsmith but they are all but impossible to get over here but I may look into importing them!
It's a complete myth that black spokes are weaker than plain silver, they are only painted after all!!!
I would recommend using brass nipples rather than aluminium ones, only because in Dublin we are by the coast and the sea air corrodes aluminium very quickly.
It's only a tiny weight sacrifice.

gman2k · 24-04-2011 01:12PM

Holyboy wrote: »

It's a complete myth that black spokes are weaker than plain silver, they are only painted after all!!!

It's a myth perpetrated by wheelbuilders so:p
I was told that the actual process of blackening the spokes weakens the spoke because of the heat applied.

Holyboy · 24-04-2011 02:17PM

Wouldn't you imagine spoke manufactures know what they're doing!!
It is true that cheap wheels with black spokes seem to break more often, I don't know the reason but it's something for me to look into, it may well be heat related or just pants spokes!

Lumen · 24-04-2011 02:27PM

gman2k wrote: »

I was told that the actual process of blackening the spokes weakens the spoke because of the heat applied.

I am not qualified to comment, but I believe that whilst the heat curing part of the powercoating process can weaken aluminium (at least in theory), spokes are made from stronger stuff - steel.

I'd be more bothered about powercoating rims, and I'm not bothered about that. Black is sexy.

Where to buy spokes online?

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