Radial Lacing

[Azarathal]

Heya guys, I know that Radial lacing is done with the spoke heads on the outside of the flange but I just had a sudden thought about lacing them either all inside the flange or alternating.

Is there a reason why I shouldn't?

[Leistonbmx]

Means the spoke heads sit better in the flange.

[Ali C]

I always build radial with the heads on the inside and shoulders on the outside, the theory being that the spokes make a wider based triangle and makes a stiffer wheel, but either way works fine.

[Azarathal]

One person reconmends out one reconmends in.

I've still gotta strip / paint my rim so I'll have a few days to decide. Cheers guys.

[monty221ti]

you could do both ways, every second spoke with head out and the other opposite???

[Ali C]

might make it hard getting even spoke tension as the spokes with the heads on the outside are slightly closer to the rim and would ideally need to be a mil or two shorter.

[Greetings]

Pretty much what Ali said. I've heard it from a number of experienced wheel builders. That's not what you see on manufacturers' preview pictures because it doesn't look as good but the proper way is to have the heads facing inside.

[Azarathal]

Awesome, my spokes were 1-2mm too long anyway so I'll lace it with heads facing in.

Cheers guys.

[gary-mac]

Whats the benifits of a radial build on the front?? apart from it being alot easier to lace. I have a radial build on the bike at the moment and it seems great but is a cross lace not stronger.

cheers

[Leistonbmx]

Just lighter cos of shorter spokes.

[forteh]

A tip when lacing the wheel, once you have put the spoke through the flange (radial lace, head on the inside) the spoke will be parallel to the flange and about 2-3" away from the spoke hole in the rim. Use your thumb to bend the spoke over the flange until its inline with the centreline of the rim, this will allow the spokes to pull even tension and settle much faster

[Ali C]

or you can stress the wheel after like normal which is faster and does a better job (I stamp on the spokes)

[forteh]

or you can stress the wheel after like normal which is faster and does a better job (I stamp on the spokes)

Youre not relying on the nipple threads to pull the extra tension required to put that kink into the spoke though, all of the loading you put into the nipple is straight tension from the flange to rim. Either way works, I was recommended thumbing the spokes over by the wheelbuilder at my old lbs, he has 20+ years building and is very good

[AdamR28]

all of the loading you put into the nipple is straight tension from the flange to rim.

Except for your heel half way along the spoke

[Object]

you could do both ways, every second spoke with head out and the other opposite???

The different forces applied to the flange by the alternating spokes make it extremely likely to crack. We've got a knackered front profile hub at home where the spokes pulled it to pieces (I'll admit that was on a fixed wheel and not a trials bike but that wheel surely saw less stress in it's life than your average front trials bike wheel).

[isitafox]

or you can stress the wheel after like normal which is faster and does a better job (I stamp on the spokes)

I'd be scared of bending them too much though I've never attempted building a wheel yet. When I was grinding my rim I watched Adams vid and he says to kneel on the wheel to hold it steady and I daren't, worried I might knacker the spokes up and buckle my rim. I'm obviously being a bit soft?!

[wip-bikes]

Like Ali said, heads on the inside for a wider base and so a stronger wheel. I do this on my trials rig but on my track bike i lace on the inside for more aero dynamics and can have a slightly shorter spoke.

[eskimo]

I'd be scared of bending them too much though I've never attempted building a wheel yet. When I was grinding my rim I watched Adams vid and he says to kneel on the wheel to hold it steady and I daren't, worried I might knacker the spokes up and buckle my rim. I'm obviously being a bit soft?!

It's kinda the idea. To 'abuse' the wheel before it gets on the bike. I stand on the rim myself after relieving, then visa versa till the rim is can't be put out of tru. Radial is also stiffer sideways, which doesn't make any difference to us though.