Rear Wheel Building Question.

[TXRAiDR]

Question for you wheel building guru's. I've got the front wheel done, no problem. I'm just not understanding the rear wheel much for some reason. Here's the parts: Ultegra 9 sp rear hub, Velocity Aerohead 28 hole rim, spokes. I'm not understanding the lacing pattern for the most part. I was intiaially doing a three cross in the rear, but have seen more and more of this "Half-Radial" Spoking with 3X on the drive side for rear wheels mentioned. What gives?

[carlos]

the low down in radial from myself and a few others on usenet....this question comes up from time to time.

radial saves weight. yes. if you've got a 32 hole, 3X, front wheel and compare it's weight to the same 32 hole, radially laced wheel (assuming there was no component change) you'll save the weight equal to two spoke lengths used for the 32 hole 3X wheel.

radial wheels are not as stiff laterally as a wheel with even 1X.

radially laced wheels require higher tension. many hub makers do not warranty radially laced front or rear hubs.

rear NDS (non drive side) rear wheels are not as stiff. since the NDS spokes are under less tension than the DS, it's possible to use a radial pattern on the NDS and not have too many problems. if you use a rim that has offset spoke eyelets, you'll want to use at least a 1X.

all of this mainly concerns your current component selection.

[TXRAiDR]

I did read that in the hub literature, about voiding the warranty for radial lacing. I had chosen the 3X pattern in the rear (went 2X up on the front) because it's a strong pattern. I figured since I had a low spoke count rim, I could offset a "weakness" by going with the 3X. I think I stick with the three. Thanks for the info.

[carlos]

anytime.

i love the way a 2X wheel looks.