Hiya Suzy. Ummm... Erm... well.... It's like this.... you lace the wheel like you would normally,
then you wrap some wire around the spokes where they weave under each other (last cross before going
their seperate ways towards the rim) and you secure the wire with some solder. Now..... I've done
some twist laces for folks looking to build some wheels for stock trials using skinnier rims (to
keep weight down), just add 3 to 4 mm to the recommended spoke length and twist the spokes together
one full rotation where they would weave (so the pulling spoke is still the pulling spoke and the
pushing spoke, if you will excuse the expression, is still the pushing spoke). Adds side/lateral
load strength like tying/soldering does but...... I oversimplified both techniques quite a
bit.....so you should definately attempt either with a few spare bits around the shop before trying
it with new stuff (the first time) or be prepared to re-do the job a few times as, when your skill
level increases so will your pickyness level.... making you want to re-do all your hard work to meet
your new level of skill.... which will again increase your pickyness level... which will lead you to
want to... (you get the idea).... Also..... keep in mind that in most cases overcompensating in one
direction (such as trying to radically increase lateral stiffness using spokes alone) leads to
weaknesses in other directions. Most of the trials wheels I built up could be stood on (gently)
without tacoing but were somewhat prone to flat spots and dings as the rims rere still too weak for
the riding style and low tire pressures. Many road riders attest to radial spoked wheels feeling
harsh vertically and wiggly laterally and many bmx riders like 4-cross wheels because they stay true
laterally but tend to go out of round easily (allthough such "feelings" are subjective at best).
So...... in conclusion, Good luck, and if your post was actually meant as a joke.... it was funny.
Thank you (I needed that). If you are serious, then it was fun. Thank you (I needed that).
Keith.
"The knack lies in learning to throw yourself
- at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams.
"Suzy Jackson" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> Having heard that tied and soldered spokes make you go faster through corners, I've been trying to
> lace a wheel with tied and soldered spokes. However, I find that when I tie adjacent spokes in a
> reef knot, they're
much
> too short to reach the rim (not to mention hurting my thumbs). So what length should I add to
> spokes when I tie them? Is a reef knot adequate,
or
> should I try something a little more secure?
>
> Regards,
>
> Suzy
>
> --
> ---
> Suzy Jackson
[email protected] http://www.suzyj.net