I said I wouldn't post any more arguments here so I won't. Just basic facts.
Simply put, a properly assembled bicycle wheel is superior to an improperly assembled bicycle wheel no matter how it is laced. The only really important differences between a radial lacing and tangential lacing is torsional stiffness and durability.
Radial lacing lacks torsional stiffness, so rear wheels have to have tangential spokes on the drive side at least. They will otherwise wind up and unwind every time you push on the pedals. In addition to the uncomfortable feeling of cranking on a clock spring, the extreme strain imposed by this will snap spokes in a big hurry. Disc brakes also require wheels that are tangentially laced. Radial lacing on the non-drive side of a rear wheel saves a small amount of weight and allows better balance between drive side and non-drive side spoke tension. If the hub was designed for it, this can actually enhance durability. However, a properly tensioned wheel with tangential lacing on both sides will still outlast an improperly tensioned wheel with radial lacing on the non-drive side.
As far as durability goes, the flanges on conventional hubs can withstand tangential forces much better than radial ones. Radial laced spokes also undergo more strain under lateral loads and more strain means more fatigue. If a radial spoke is too tight it's more likely to fail, but a tangential spoke that's too tight will fail just the same.
We can argue until we're blue in the face about the rest of this stuff but it still won't make it matter. By themselves, radial lacing and aero spokes will not make a slower rider into a faster one. If there is anybody out there than can tell the difference in stiffness between radial and tangential lacing while blindfolded, I'd like to meet them. Having a good wheelbuilder lace Open Pro Rims on Dura-Ace Hubs in a three-cross pattern with 28 butted spokes on the front and 32 on the rear makes for a very light, very fast, very stiff, and very durable wheelset. Although I'm not positive, I'll wager they would be lighter, stiffer, more durable, cost less, and be faster for climbing although less aero for time trials than the Shimano 540 wheelset mentioned above.
However, Open Pros and tangential lacing lack the "Wow! How much did those run you?" factor that is so important to some. If you really need to drop a few spokes worth of drag to get that extra 0.2 mph worth of speed to go farther with your racing career, then do so. However, don't go out bike shopping figuring that the latest craze for lower spoke counts, radial lacing, and aero spokes makes for a better bike. I'd rather put my money into the frame and other components. If I needed a really aero wheelset for time trials, I'd buy one separately and continue using the boring but durable and quick enough wheelset for training. I'm not a big fan of wasting a high end racing wheelset on training and touring.
Simply put, a properly assembled bicycle wheel is superior to an improperly assembled bicycle wheel no matter how it is laced. The only really important differences between a radial lacing and tangential lacing is torsional stiffness and durability.
Radial lacing lacks torsional stiffness, so rear wheels have to have tangential spokes on the drive side at least. They will otherwise wind up and unwind every time you push on the pedals. In addition to the uncomfortable feeling of cranking on a clock spring, the extreme strain imposed by this will snap spokes in a big hurry. Disc brakes also require wheels that are tangentially laced. Radial lacing on the non-drive side of a rear wheel saves a small amount of weight and allows better balance between drive side and non-drive side spoke tension. If the hub was designed for it, this can actually enhance durability. However, a properly tensioned wheel with tangential lacing on both sides will still outlast an improperly tensioned wheel with radial lacing on the non-drive side.
As far as durability goes, the flanges on conventional hubs can withstand tangential forces much better than radial ones. Radial laced spokes also undergo more strain under lateral loads and more strain means more fatigue. If a radial spoke is too tight it's more likely to fail, but a tangential spoke that's too tight will fail just the same.
We can argue until we're blue in the face about the rest of this stuff but it still won't make it matter. By themselves, radial lacing and aero spokes will not make a slower rider into a faster one. If there is anybody out there than can tell the difference in stiffness between radial and tangential lacing while blindfolded, I'd like to meet them. Having a good wheelbuilder lace Open Pro Rims on Dura-Ace Hubs in a three-cross pattern with 28 butted spokes on the front and 32 on the rear makes for a very light, very fast, very stiff, and very durable wheelset. Although I'm not positive, I'll wager they would be lighter, stiffer, more durable, cost less, and be faster for climbing although less aero for time trials than the Shimano 540 wheelset mentioned above.
However, Open Pros and tangential lacing lack the "Wow! How much did those run you?" factor that is so important to some. If you really need to drop a few spokes worth of drag to get that extra 0.2 mph worth of speed to go farther with your racing career, then do so. However, don't go out bike shopping figuring that the latest craze for lower spoke counts, radial lacing, and aero spokes makes for a better bike. I'd rather put my money into the frame and other components. If I needed a really aero wheelset for time trials, I'd buy one separately and continue using the boring but durable and quick enough wheelset for training. I'm not a big fan of wasting a high end racing wheelset on training and touring.
