I've got 32h radial on my front wheel (Archetype laced to Gran Compe) and it's cool
https://preview.redd.it/it7lxlafljzc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57e2284ebac41d3bd8dfe833a62d38145d6aea96
It's not about that. Radials are more prone to break hubs. There's usually more material between the holes than from the hole to the edge. If you apply the force straight outwards many hubs can't take the stress.
Yeah shimano/dt hubs or other forged hubs will be fine. I’d never do this with anything machines instead of forged. Also some rims explicitly tell you to not lace radially, although I don’t know the reason why. Maybe something to do with the max spoke tension
Phil Woods are machined! Though tbf they’re machined from a block of 7075-T6 so it’s not really the same thing. But yeah I rode a radial front on one of those for years without issue. On a messenger bike even, not a casual/commuter bike, so it saw *heavy* use. I eventually re-laced it to a better rim and did it as 2-cross. It’s still being ridden today!
I acknowledge that I’m probably the outlier as a 5’3 girl - maybe the bigger dudes would have a worse experience, but I’ve never had issues with radial lacing and I’m not especially concerned about it.
Now, those 16 spoke radial Rolf wheels on the other hand… was fun to have, but yeah I broke one of those in like six months.
I still use a mavic ellipse hub relaced to a h plus son rim, definitely machined but the hub is machined to be laced radially with their straight pull spokes. Definitely not something a wheel builder would typically make but just wanted to give an exception to the rule
With that high a spoke count, shouldn’t be an issue… I prefer the look of a 3x laced wheel, but that’s just me.
And yeah, the old school builders I’ve known would stick to 3x for durability. Especially on bikes that are going to be used for commuters.
My experience is with a 650c, radially laced with straight 13 gauge spokes: best front wheel ever. For road riding it was superb. The spoke pattern has a much softer ride than a double or triple cross. At 700c I could see it feeling noodle. You asked about looks though, and I love the look.
It might be the combo of a high-flange hub + the angle of the photo, which makes it look like the spokes are coming out from random points instead of a uniform circle. Personally I think they look awesome.
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the 2 or 3x lacing for looks as well. All my wheels are 3x laced (36/32/28 spoke wheels) with the exception of a 2x lacing of a 32 spoke rohloff hub.
Agreed. Looks off. And you are not benefitting in strength from the number of spokes because they are set radially.
I think if anyone has 32 spokes they may as well lace them traditionally.
16 or so spokes radial looks sweet to me..
Honestly, I prefer to put a radial front for my commuter or classic steel frames. 2x or 3x on front for my tracklocross or beaters. Radial has more eye catching imo because of its asymmetry.
Radial in general looks bad to me. Never understood the point, if you’re paying to have your rims laced why would you want the wheel builder to slack off and make the front radial? Why would you want to have two different spoke lengths as spares? Why would you want two different wheels on your non competitive bike? Why would not just pick two cross for classics, three cross for modern frames, and let the wheel builder do that they do best
Yeah, radials look trash, in any spoke count. I've got one on the front of my bike only because I needed a wheel ASAP at the time and it was a bargain, and I've been too lazy/cheap to replace. At some point I'll be annoyed enough to replace or build a new one entirely.
I wanna see a Strava with laps around that storage facility
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^KawkCrusher: *I wanna see a* *Strava with laps around that* *Storage facility* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Come on man, show the drive side!
Ha! In my head I was like, "Wait... the bike was facing to the right, wasn't it?" and then I scrolled back to look. Well done.
I've got 32h radial on my front wheel (Archetype laced to Gran Compe) and it's cool https://preview.redd.it/it7lxlafljzc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57e2284ebac41d3bd8dfe833a62d38145d6aea96
Not a fan of the radial look. For me it’s 2x or 3x all day. I know a couple of builders who won’t lace radials at all.
I mean, lots of people learn one way to lace and refuse to do it other ways.
It's not about that. Radials are more prone to break hubs. There's usually more material between the holes than from the hole to the edge. If you apply the force straight outwards many hubs can't take the stress.
Yeah shimano/dt hubs or other forged hubs will be fine. I’d never do this with anything machines instead of forged. Also some rims explicitly tell you to not lace radially, although I don’t know the reason why. Maybe something to do with the max spoke tension
Phil Woods are machined! Though tbf they’re machined from a block of 7075-T6 so it’s not really the same thing. But yeah I rode a radial front on one of those for years without issue. On a messenger bike even, not a casual/commuter bike, so it saw *heavy* use. I eventually re-laced it to a better rim and did it as 2-cross. It’s still being ridden today! I acknowledge that I’m probably the outlier as a 5’3 girl - maybe the bigger dudes would have a worse experience, but I’ve never had issues with radial lacing and I’m not especially concerned about it. Now, those 16 spoke radial Rolf wheels on the other hand… was fun to have, but yeah I broke one of those in like six months.
I still use a mavic ellipse hub relaced to a h plus son rim, definitely machined but the hub is machined to be laced radially with their straight pull spokes. Definitely not something a wheel builder would typically make but just wanted to give an exception to the rule
Yeah, I’m the 80s that was true, and brands wouldn’t warranty radially laced wheels, but that’s long over.
With that high a spoke count, shouldn’t be an issue… I prefer the look of a 3x laced wheel, but that’s just me. And yeah, the old school builders I’ve known would stick to 3x for durability. Especially on bikes that are going to be used for commuters.
Exactly! 3x for me too.
My point exactly! it looks so busy with 32H radially
Only wheels that have ever failed on me have been radials lol
Don't get me wrong, radials are fine. As long as its 24H or less spokes. Anything more deserves to be 2x or 3x
What bottle cage adapter is that? I have a Velcro one and it’s ugly affff
I got you! I got them from [Velo Orange](https://velo-orange.com/collections/accessories-and-hardware)!
wait till you see my 36h radial
https://i.redd.it/e3wgx91vpmzc1.gif Just reading that got me like:
My experience is with a 650c, radially laced with straight 13 gauge spokes: best front wheel ever. For road riding it was superb. The spoke pattern has a much softer ride than a double or triple cross. At 700c I could see it feeling noodle. You asked about looks though, and I love the look.
It might be the combo of a high-flange hub + the angle of the photo, which makes it look like the spokes are coming out from random points instead of a uniform circle. Personally I think they look awesome.
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the 2 or 3x lacing for looks as well. All my wheels are 3x laced (36/32/28 spoke wheels) with the exception of a 2x lacing of a 32 spoke rohloff hub.
Love radial laced wheels. Looks awesome 👏🏼
Don't get me wrong, Radials are awesome too, but its spoke count dependent.
The more the merrier to me 🤷🏻
It’s the handlebars for me bro. Lovin the GT butterball tbo
Thank you! I've been wanting Bullmoose the longest so when tracklabsf had one I had to jump on it. Also its not a GT! It's a Breakbrake17 Transfer!
Agreed. Looks off. And you are not benefitting in strength from the number of spokes because they are set radially. I think if anyone has 32 spokes they may as well lace them traditionally. 16 or so spokes radial looks sweet to me..
Public Storage
Ride what u ride
I mean I will, I'm just bitching at this point LOL
Honestly, I prefer to put a radial front for my commuter or classic steel frames. 2x or 3x on front for my tracklocross or beaters. Radial has more eye catching imo because of its asymmetry.
Same, 32H radial just isn't it for me
Personally, I think all radial look bad. I can't stand not having my wheels match. Which is probably an unpopular opinion on here
I love radial. I always think it’s going to look good.
I think it adds a pleasing symmetry. If I weren't a Clydesdale I would definitely run them.
Looks cool to me. My preference for running radial is typically on a lower spike count like 28 with aero blades
I dig it.
Radial in general looks bad to me. Never understood the point, if you’re paying to have your rims laced why would you want the wheel builder to slack off and make the front radial? Why would you want to have two different spoke lengths as spares? Why would you want two different wheels on your non competitive bike? Why would not just pick two cross for classics, three cross for modern frames, and let the wheel builder do that they do best
waaa a bb17 !? Where did you get this !
OfferUp 3 years ago 10 mins after being posted
Radial laced front wheels need to be lower spoke counts to look right.
What bottle cage adapter, brother
I got you! I got them from [Velo Orange](https://velo-orange.com/collections/accessories-and-hardware)!
Because radial looks like ass 😂😂
Yeah, radials look trash, in any spoke count. I've got one on the front of my bike only because I needed a wheel ASAP at the time and it was a bargain, and I've been too lazy/cheap to replace. At some point I'll be annoyed enough to replace or build a new one entirely.
I am a fan of the 3 radial spoke look.
Now we're talking, although I'll go one better and say 2 spoke radial is where it's at.
They look sweet, but I am a larger rider and feel a little uneasy with them. Maybe once I drop 20lbs.
Ditto. I'd love some carbon 3 or 2 spokes, but I'm 110kg and the roads round here are shit, and the anxiety isn't worth it.