Interesting Wheelbuild

[Brian O.]

I found this picture over on a bike trials forum someone linked to here on the forums. Has anyone ever seen a wheel build like this and exactly how weak would it be? Apparently they used to do it on downhill bikes in the 90s:

http://www.observedtrials.net/album/data/647/Adamant.JPG

[Brian MacKenzie]

there are equal weighted discussions on those lacing options, each offering their own strength/weakness arguments...i don't remember hearing any actual test results though

they sure look neat though!

[johnfoss]

I remember seeing lacing like this on cycleball bikes also Cycleball is kind of a soccer/football game on bikes, with two players on each team. The playing area is about the size of a tennis court with a roughly hockey-sized goal at each end. Players use the bike to bat the ball around. Since players often get shoulder-to-shoulder while jockeying for the ball, and you could hear their spokes twanging against each other, I figured this might make the spokes more resistant to breaking from objects catching in them.

As for making the wheel stronger overall, I kind of doubt it for any general purpose, or you'd be able to buy wheels built that way from the factory. Possibly it offers advantages for specialized uses.

[john_childs]

One of the German riders has a trials unicycle with that spoke lacing.

There are other similar spoke lacings that twist the spokes. BMXers sometimes do wheel builds like that. One reason is because that style of lacing pulls the spokes inwards so the spokes are less likely to get scraped up during a grind.

I don't know if that style of build actually makes the wheel stronger. It does make them unique and that is a benefit itself.

[wickedbob]

It has to be somewhat stong (not saying that type is stronger or not I have no idea) considering it is on a trials bike they do some extreme stuff.

[Blegas78]

Looks like there's a small flat spot near the top.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

I am more curious about the pedal set up? Is that a bike without a seat meant entirely for stand up riding?

[trials_uni]

Its called twist lacing...It looks sweet but i hear that its not as strong as a well built 3 cross.

@ this guy... its a trials bike...You dont do alot of sitting.

[koebwil]

I am more curious about the pedal set up? Is that a bike without a seat meant entirely for stand up riding?
it's a trials bike.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Its called twist lacing...It looks sweet but i hear that its not as strong as a well built 3 cross.

@ this guy... its a trials bike...You dont do alot of sitting.


So it just doesn't have a seat?

[Blegas78]

Ok, I think that the overall wheel might be weaker, but it is far less easy to damage an individual spoke, hence the reason that they might be used for special cases where a stronger wheel might not be necessary.

So it just doesn't have a seat?

A seat would most likely get in the way and add unnecessary weight.

[trials_uni]

So it just doesn't have a seat?

No its a special trials specific frame...And since most trials riders spend little to no time on their seats they save a few grams by eliminating the seat tube.

[Borgschulze]

I was looking at that bike earlier today on Observed Trials. I was very interested in the strength of that lacing.

[maestro8]

I was looking at that bike earlier today on Observed Trials. I was very interested in the strength of that lacing.
I was looking at a cloud outside my window. I was very interested in what the weather would be like in a couple hours.

[boo radley]

I was looking at a cloud outside my window. I was very interested in what the weather would be like in a couple hours.
great story!

[maestro8]

great story!
Thanks. I didn't care much for Borg's, so I thought I'd post my own.

[Borgschulze]

Thanks. I didn't care much for Borg's, so I thought I'd post my own.
I was posting a comment on my interest on the wheelbuild, to get other people to post about their experience with it. Go die.

[ntappin]

I was posting a comment on my interest on the wheelbuild, to get other people to post about their experience with it. Go die.

Go enjoy being happy.

[kington99]

No its a special trials specific frame...And since most trials riders spend little to no time on their seats they save a few grams by eliminating the seat tube.

I think it's more to give them more clearance for tucking, like riding seat in front on a uni.

[henkka]

Is that same wheelbuild in this uni? And those Montys cranks looks interesting.
18017

[trials_uni]

I think it's more to give them more clearance for tucking, like riding seat in front on a uni.

Ah true...I hadnt considered that.

[Brian O.]

Is that same wheelbuild in this uni? And those Montys cranks looks interesting.

Yeah thats it, I would think it wouldn't give enough side to side support for a uni though, I wonder how its working out for that person.

[Into the blue]

A fella down our way used to do wheel builds like this.
When I spoke to the mechanics at the LBS about them, they were not very enthusiastic about the strength of the wheel. Basically they look nice but aren't as strong as a regular wheel.