Spokes

There are different types of wheels for bicycles these days. None of them has been able to outgrow the popularity and acceptance of spoked wheels regardless. And every cycling enthusiast has an opinion about their favourite bicycle spokes.

The invention of the wheel changed the history of humanity forever. At first, they were just solid circular pieces of wood. But then people found out that using spokes, instead of a solid piece they can make wheels that are more efficient. They have been part of the first cycle ever created. And they have managed to stay relevant even to this day despite all the advancements in technology. To make an informed purchase for bike wheels, you need to know about the different types of spokes you can use in them. If you have been wondering about which type of spokes you should buy, this article will give you the definitive answer for it.

Common lacing patterns for bicycle wheel spokes

For somebody who is not that much into the world of cycling, it is hard to tell the difference between the different types of patterns. All they would see is a number of metal rods that go from the wheel hub to the rim. But there is some serious thought that has gone into how and where to put each one of the spokes. Here are the most common types of lacing patterns that you will find on bicycles. In this article, you will also find some practical tips and tricks that you can use to have a fantastic and quick online shopping experience. Let us explore some of the common lacing patterns first.

Radial

For those who want the very barebones pattern, then this is the ideal one. The main benefit of the radial pattern is that you can build a wheel using it with the minimum number of spokes. And a fewer number of them means less weight. Therefore, it is more common among racers who are looking for better performance and aerodynamic design. But as all of them are perpendicular to the wheel hub, this causes a lot of stress to the centre. So, the joint would need constant maintenance. You cannot use this pattern on the rear wheels as they do not hold up against rotational forces.

Three-cross

When naming the bicycle spoke patterns, people mostly use the number of times a spoke crosses the other ones. In a 3-cross pattern, a spoke will cross with three other spokes from the same flange as it. That means these three spokes will form an interwoven pattern on their way from the flange to the rim. As you can imagine, the spokes in this pattern are not at a 90-degree angle to the hub. A standard three-cross wheel will have 32 of them. This pattern is very solid and, therefore, is the default in consumer road bikes. Even though the pattern has more weight and increased air resistance, the ruggedness of the wheel is worth it for the average rider.

Two-cross

As the names suggest, a spoke crosses two other spokes from the same flange in this pattern. The benefit of the 2-cross pattern over the three cross patterns is weight reduction and improved aesthetics. In a standard two cross lacing, there will be only 24 spokes as opposed to the 32 in three-cross. Fewer spoke means that each of them would undergo more stress than in a three-cross pattern. This also means less work to fix the wheel. You will find this pattern in some road bike spokes. 2 cross patterns will give you enough strength for normal use. But you don’t want to use this for mountain bikes spokes.

Custom patterns

Apart from the standard lacing patterns, you will also find many custom ones. Custom spoke patterns do not have many functional advantages, though. Instead, custom patterns are all about style and making a statement. There is nothing stopping you from finding out unique patterns if you have imagination, enough time, and money to spend. You can also look on the internet to find cool patterns that other people have already figured out. But beware that some of these patterns will compromise reliability for novelty. So, decide how much risk you are willing to take before going for these wacky lacing patterns.