Conference noted::bicycle

1564.0. "Another dumb wheel note!" by TPWEST::SHROYER () Wed May 30 1990 16:13

WARNING:  This is another one of those stupid wheel notes.  Spare yourself the
pain and read no further unless your a wheel freak!

_______________________________________________________________________________

        This weekend was interesting.  It started on Saturday with a crit on a
very rough surface.  I brought out my tank wheels;  GP4s,(36) 14 ga. spokes,
Campy high flange hubs (circa 1978) and "kevlar belted" -bullet proof sew-ups.
After 28 laps of riding hard, puking, covering breaks, sprinting, etc. I
flatted.  Now you've got to understand, I have never been know as being too
logical, but after much thought I came to the conclusion that these wheels
were jinxed.

        So I went home, took the wheels out to my back yard and let my golden
retriever relieve himself on each nipple.  It helped me achieve a sense of
revenge.

        On Sunday, I got up and looked outside and it was raining.  Our next
rain in California was scheduled for November!  I was positive that these
wheels had something to do with it.  So I drank a cup of coffee and plotted my
next piece of revenge.  The only thing I could come up with was capital
punishment.  After some further thought, I decided I would amputate 50% of its
spokes and watch those jinxed wheels die a slow death (much like my slow death
in the crit).

        Then something really wierd happened!  The front wheel begin to look
like a Time Trial wheel.  High flanged record hubs, 18 spokes (bladed or
oval), radially laced.....I COULD BE ON TO SOMETHING!   On the rear I could go
2X or the free wheel side, radial on the other and lace it with 24 spokes
leaving every third hole open.   I would probably use an aero clincher rim
with a high pressure tire.

        These wheels would be used only on fairly flat courses and most of the
time I would only use the front wheel (disk on rear).

        So has anyone actually done this?  Can you use a normal 36 spoke rim
and simply not use every other hole?  Any USCF regulations against this?
[EOB]
  

    
    If you do this, will the unused nipple-holes whistle?
    
    Just asking...
    
    -john

    I have seen wheels laced by omitting holes.  I would not like to do it
    with offset holes because one side would be bending the spokes wrong
    but what the heck.
    
    ed

           <<< Note 1564.2 by CLYPPR::FISHER "Dictionary is not." >>>
                            -< I've seen it done. >-

    >I have seen wheels laced by omitting holes.  I would not like to do it
    >with offset holes because one side would be bending the spokes wrong
    >but what the heck.
    
    >ed

That's a good point.  I thought maybe an aero rim would remedy that problem?

    Just check the rims to see if the spoke holes are offset, I guess.  I
    remeber one such rim had some stuff blocking the unlaced holes.  Tape
    or something.  I wonder about the aero effectiveness there.
    
    Most of us could spend forever doing wind tunnel tests or just riding
    if only we didn't have to work to support our habits.  :-)
    
    ed