Gday there, just wondering if anyone has any experience with the dura-ace HB 7600 high flange hubs, and if they can be laced radially. Shimano dont recommend it because of the higher spoke tensions required may reduce the integrity of the flange and spoke holes.
Are they being conservative, or is this a real issue?
I don’t understand why people want radial lacing. I’m sure it saves a few grams but i would have thought that it reduces acceleration and strength of the wheel, thus being ultimately detrimental to performance. I also reckon it looks silly, especially when just the front wheel is done like that. In addition, it reminds me of the way we drew bikes as kids.
do you really want to be seen riding a bike without chain stays or a down tube?
Most hub manufacturers, with a couple of exceptions, include some warning about radial lacing. Do it if you really must but shimano won’t back the hub if a flange fails (assuming you bought it new and are covered by warranty). That said, the only modern hub flange fail I’ve seen fail was one that had been filed badly for bladed spokes.
Radial lacing’s a wank anyway. It’ll save you about 15-30grams max per wheel for a fashion statement with negligible aero advantage (you still have the same number of nipples creating drag at the rim, where it counts most) and compromised strength. A radially laced wheel will never be as strong laterally as a crossed lacing. If you’re a bigger rider or are going to thrash the wheel around town even 2x is doubtful. DON’T EVER lace a rear wheel radially, especially on the drive side.
I’ve seen a lot more broken flanges on Dura-Ace low-flange 8sp hubs than Campag C-Record or Dura-Ace track hubs. There doesn’t seem to be an internet truism along those lines though.
Unless you are racing at a good level (State Champion or better), why do something that may cause problems and gives no advantage? I’d suggest not radially lacing them.
Disclaimer: I do own a radially laced set of track race wheels, 28 hole Zeus hubs and skinny Wolber rims. A friend is still racing on them 15 years later.
Factory wheels like cosmics, ksyriums, Shimano factory wheels etc are a different matter - different rims, different spokes and hub flanges built for radial lacing. I think our OP is talking about lacing a conventional hub to a conventional rim with conventional spokes? Very not the same thing as a cosmic.
I hit and jumped the curb with my radially laced front wheel and just bent my forks, I think that 3x would be stronger for sure but that if you have a good wheel builder you can still have a strong wheel.
What’s involved in being a “good wheel builder”?
I’ve built two wheels from scratch and rebuilt another (replaced the spokes). All of the wheels have been true for about a year or so now.
Well what’s a shit wheel builder or mechanic?
We could go into the fundamentals of wheelbuilding vertical torsion, dishing, seating the spokes. But wont.
Are you a good wheel builder because you built some wheels?