Spokes
Spokes
The main difference between a handbuilt winter wheelset and off-the-shelf hoops marketed as such is spoke count, according to both Massey and Sharp.
“A factory winter wheel will be affordable but will still only have 20 spokes in the front and 24 at the rear, which isn’t going to cope with extended miles and potholes, and especially with a heavier rider.”
Both Massey and Sharp typically build winter wheels with 32 spokes front and rear, laced in a three-cross pattern. “It’s mathematically the strongest way to lace the wheel,” says Sharp.
“Stay away from radial lacing, as it doesn’t really improve the wheel at all,” adds Massey. “It looks really nice, but it doesn’t really give you the benefit of what you want from a winter training wheel.”
Sapim and DT Swiss are widely regarded as manufacturers of high-quality spokes. Sharp uses the double-butted Sapim Race, while Massey recommends the Belgian firm’s CX-Ray spoke as an upscale option for riders with a more generous budget. “They’re very light and build a very strong wheel, but they’re also very expensive at £2.50 a spoke,” he says.
Massey recommends using brass nipples, rather than aluminium. “Steer clear of aluminium nipples,” he says. “You want to use brass, the reason being that brass is a self-lubricating metal.
“It’s less likely to seize up. Aluminium nipples tend to go soft, so if they’re not looked after regularly and you try and tension them then the nipples have a tendency to round off.”
Phillips highlights the availability of spokes as another advantage for handbuilt wheels. Replacements for factory hoops are less likely to be held in stock by local bike shops, where those typically used in handbuilt wheels, such as DT Swiss, for example, are more readily available.