Are coloured spokes weaker?

crazydingo

Is it true that coloured and black spokes are weaker than regular spokes? I'm thinking of building a new wheelset (or getting it built) but I've heard that regular steel spokes are the strongest and I should still with those if I'm going to be punishing the wheels (which may very well be the case)

Lumen

I was looking at this over the weekend.

Basically you've three choices:

- Stainless steel. Sensible default choice. Can't be anodized, so it's powder coat or paint. This adds weight. Thin powder coat can look orange-peely, sometimes that's regarded as a feature. Paint probably looks cheap.

- Aluminium. Used much less frequently, although in some factory builds (high end Fulcrums, maybe the red ones - Zeros?). Probably susceptible to fatigue, so shorter spoke life.

- Titanium. Sounds like a great idea, tried occasionally, several colours available (not anodized, vapour deposited IIRC). In fact a crap idea, which is why no-one uses them. Can be purchased in lots of 1000, you'll probably need them all.

That's what I got from a bit of Googling anyway. I was establishing whether it would be possible to hand-build some Fulcrum-Zero-a-likes on Open Pro rims with my own hubs.

Popped into CSS on Sunday and checked out the Racing Zeros and Racing Lights. Very bling, though look totally unsuitable for my purposes.

crazydingo

Hmmm. I guess I'll stick with the classic* so!

*I figure if I call the stainless steel spokes that then they will seem less boring :cool:

TinyExplosions

You spoke racist!

But to answer your question, no, coloured spokes are not weaker, don't need to sit at the back of the bus, and don't need a separate drinking fountain

sy

Sister Rosa says go for the bling

Lumen

TinyExplosions wrote: »

But to answer your question, no, coloured spokes are not weaker, don't need to sit at the back of the bus, and don't need a separate drinking fountain

Oh yeah, answering the question. Rather neglected that...

The thing is, I'd quite like some red aero stainless spokes, but they seem not to exist. Hence why I went searching off on a tangent about Al and Ti.

DT black spokes are "Finished in black using an electro-chemical treatment that is durable, and does not weaken the spoke.". That doesn't really explain why I can't get them in red, white or pink.

Further searching reveals that it's probably a black oxide coating.

niceonetom

+

It will work because they both end in "ite".

Lumen

niceonetom wrote: »

It will work because they both end in "ite".

As does that the quality of that suggestion.

niceonetom

apposite?

DualFrontDiscs

niceonetom wrote: »

apposite?

Luddite?

NeilMcEoigheann

i saw an s-works in the alps and it had one red spoke i assume you could get loads of them.

dave2pvd

I'm fairly sure black oxiding is only for ferrous steel, not stainless.

There is a process to blue/blacken stainless. Can't recall the name....I'll ask around.

TinyExplosions

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

i saw an s-works in the alps and it had one red spoke i assume you could get loads of them.

The one red spoke is a feature on some wheels (I think it's Krysiums, but could be Fulcrums)

dave2pvd

One other thing: aluminium spokes will not be subject to any meaningful fatigue, if designed properly. Like so many airplanes.

Aluminium spokes are in common usage in racing wheels - think of all the high-end Mavics with aero-bladed aluminium spokes.

dave2pvd

Lastly: carbon fiber spokes. Mavic only, IIRC.

crazydingo

Aren't carbon fibre spokes meant to be relly brittle?

I want to get coloured spokes to snazz-up my next wheelset but I will be bashing it around alot so aluminium spokes probably aren't a good idea...

I might have a look at those black spokes though. I suppose with the carbon fibre seatpost and black cranks and handlebars it would go well!

dave2pvd

CF could be brittle perpendicular to the tension line, yes. But - this depends on how it is laid up. It can be made to be relatively strong in all directions (not likely).

For general purpose, get stainless steel. In black, of course. Don't forget: colored spoke nipples.

bcmf

After viewing that pornographic image on 'images of beauty' i want RED SPOKES.
Where do I get them?

Morgan

Lumen wrote: »

DT black spokes are "Finished in black using an electro-chemical treatment that is durable, and does not weaken the spoke.". That doesn't really explain why I can't get them in red, white or pink.

White:

Lumen

bcmf wrote: »

After viewing that pornographic image on 'images of beauty' i want RED SPOKES.
Where do I get them?

€817.54 for 37 spokes from CRC. Fulcrum throw in a free set of hubs, rims and nipples.

bcmf

Lumen wrote: »

€817.54 for 37 spokes from CRC. Fulcrum throw in a free set of hubs, rims and nipples.

ohhhhh please Mr. Lotto let tonite be my night

TinyExplosions

bcmf wrote: »

ohhhhh please Mr. Lotto let tonite be my night

I've bagsied it already mate, sorry!

If I win the jackpot I'll get you the wheels

bcmf

TinyExplosions wrote: »

I've bagsied it already mate, sorry!

If I win the jackpot I'll get you the wheels

deal and since Ms Flood didnt call my numbers the pressures on you.