Are bladed spokes a big deal?

Are bladed spokes a big deal? I am looking at an American Classic 420 wheelset. I can get a good deal on a set without bladed spokes. I am wondering if bladed spokes would make a big difference. Bladed wheelsets are about 80g heavier. I will be using these for all-around training, RR, crits, hillclimbs, and time trials. I know from reading other posts and reviews that some have loved them - some have hated them. I only weigh 155lbs. and have never broken a spoke before. Also, I have read reviews on many wheelsets and all seem to have mixed reviews. Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about it. I didn't see any specifics about the spokes, but the number of spokes is the same in both cases, and judging from the difference in weight my guess is that the frontal area of the bladed spokes is not all that much different from the one of the round spokes. I would therefore not expect a significant difference in drag between the two.

Thanks for the reply - I think I will give them a try.

I don't compete or anything, but I do have a set of wheels on one of my bikes that has bladed spokes. They came that way and I haven't needed to change them. Anyway, I really cannot tell the difference between the bladed and my other bikes that have DT Swiss round spokes.

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I saw a review of spokes somewhere (sorry forget where). It compared different shape spokes and the oval ones gave the best result.

However deep rims were much more important and of couse lowering your handlebars will give you the best aerodynamic improvement.

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Biggest 'issue' with AC wheels are the hubs, not the spokes. Teeny bearings front and rear, weird, essentially 1 pawl system in the rear. If these are not new, they may need to be OVH with a new plate under the freehub body.

Much better hubs out there.

What I found interesting on my last bike purchase was the shop owner offered to upgrade the stock wheels on my six13, which were Mavic K Elite.

When I looked at the upgrade options he showed me AC 420's as one option, but he then gave me this sort of off the record statement that he wouldn't use those wheels because they lacked durability with the same comment about the hub that Peter made. I was grateful that the shop owner gave me this honest insight.

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I actually am waiting for them to be delivered and they are new. They will be more of a race day wheel for me. Do you think it would be reasonable to see how long they last and if the hubs wear out, have them replaced with new hubs at that time?

I did have some hesitation in purchasing them but wanted to try a light wheelset. Also, I really didn't find a lightweight wheelset under $1,000 that had consistently great reviews so I went for the good deal.

Handbuilt wheels really don't get the reviews of the mass purchase wheels and those of us that use handbuilt wheels have a variety of components so we can't give a consistent/common review either.

My DT Swiss wheels are pretty light and were hand built for about $600.
I could have made them lighter, but I opted for a 32 DT Competition spoke count and they are at a comparable weight of Ksyrium SL's.

Enjoy those new wheels!!!

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Is this what you are thinking of?

I've a set of DT Swiss 240s (28h rear/24h front) laced to Velocity Aerohead rims with Sapim CX-Rays and love 'em. I'm `175 lbs and they're holding up fine.

+1 to Felt_Rider. Custom wheels don't/rarely get reviewed as there's a nearly infinite combination of parts that can be assembled in myriad ways. That doesn't make them "bad" - it's what allows them to be customized to a particular customers' requirements.

Dave

He shouldn't stock or sell them then.

I agree!!
As a one time customer to this shop, I feel fortunate that he was honest to tell me about the issues.

I wouldn't have gone with them anyway because I already had the DT Swiss wheels that I requested and purchased from Joe Young that I had intended on using with this bike, which I am very happy about.

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Yeh, that's a version on the one I was thinking of

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I don't know if theoretically bladed spokes offer any advantages, but I know in practice (based on my experience with Ksyrium Elites) they offer one distinct disadvantage: if the nipples twist the spokes twist with them, becoming arguably less stiff and definitely less aerodynamic...which, since it was the whole point of bladed spokes in the first place, seems incredibly stupid.

I am so over Ksyrium wheels...my next wheelset will definitely be handbuilt, traditional looking, anonymous...and probably last forever.

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You have an attitude that rubs me very bad, I do not like you, and I also wish you to banish from my thread.

I bought a set of AC420 from Ebay about two years ago. Then after a year, the spokes started braking. Then I learned they were grey market from the Far East, and the spokes were not DT's. Had problems with the rear hub. Bottom line, I would not buy AC's again.

As for bladed, that is what I have, but realistically it is all about the bling.

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