"Art Harris" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> "Spike" wrote:
> >
> > If 14/17/14 spokes have sufficient physicals
> > and workability for front wheel use, then one might think that they
> > would also be suitable for rear wheels.
>
> Front wheels have equal tension on both sides; rear wheels don't.
> Personally, I wouldn't use 14/17/14 on the front either. I don't see
> any advantage to it.
>
> > Although their tensile
> > strength is less than 14/15/14 spokes, isn't it still mush greater
> > than required?
>
> 17 ga is pretty thin. While spokes normally break at the elbow or
> nipple, a "chain into the spokes" or a twig could cause spoke breakage
> at the center of such a thin spoke.
>
> And don't under-estimate the problem of getting adequate tension on
> the drive side due to spoke wind-up.
>
> If 14/17/14 is what you have, and you want to try it, go ahead. I
> wouldn't.
>
> Art Harris
>
I'm a heavy rider ~230 Lbs. I've been using straight 14 gage (2mm) spokes
on most of my rear wheels for years without any problems.
About a month ago I was riding one of my retro bikes with a rear wheel I
picked up used. It had either 15-17-15 or straight 15 gage spokes. I'd
been using it for a while as a stationary bike with out any problems and
decided to take it out for a little spin one evening.
I was chasing a guy on a carbon bike up a short hill and shifted into my
largest rear sprocket, a 26T. About 5 pedal stokes later I heard that
sickening crunch and came to a stop when my rear derailleur got sucked
into the spokes. It trashed the derailleur and rear dropout.
Everything was properly adjusted with adequate clearance between the
derailleur cage and the spokes.
I think that the light gage spokes allowed enough lateral flexing from
honking up the hill that the spokes hit the derailleur.
I've since checked all of my bikes and put spacers behind the freewheels
and cassettes where there was any chance of a collision.
I've ridden 14-15-14, 15-17-15, or straight 15 gage spokes on my front
wheels and never had any problems.
If the OP weighs over 150 Lbs. he should seriously consider the
suggestions against light spokes on the rear. If he can tell the
difference between 14-15-14 spokes and 14-17-14 spokes from 5 feet maybe
he's spending too much time at the coffee shop. ;-)
Chas.