Spokes for my new hoops

[Hardtailforever]

First of all, I finally got my hubs!!!!! Woohoo! Red King Classics. I'm so excited.

I ordered my rims as well- Mavic 517 ceramics. Should be here soon.

My problem now is spokes. I had planned on getting DT revolutions because they're prtty light, pretty strong and I can get them through QBP direct (since I work for a shop). However, sicne my shop doesn't stock revolutions, I'd have to order them by the box. That's 3 boxes (3 different lengths) of 70+spokes, which = a lot of wasted spokes and more money than I'd expected.

For one dollar more, I could buy 64 Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes- lighter and WAY stronger. However, I don't know anyone- or any shop- with the sapim "Pro Soft" length calculator software, which takes into account the custom bend of sapim spokes for different hub flanges. Does anyone have access to that?

The stats are:
King Classic (Wide flange front, 135 standard rear) and Mavic 517 ceramic rims
32 spoke, one-cross front
32 spoke, three-cross rear

Can anyone tell me what bend and lengths I need? Or, can anyone tell me where I can find out?

[KleinCrazy]

One quite note,

I have never heard of bladed spokes being used on cross pattern wheels only seen them on radials. I don't see how they would work really, but I have never built a wheel so I could just be blowing smoke out my a$%.

As far as extra spokes go, get a bunch of nipples and you could make some cool braclets. :p

Don't ask, a friend of mine in nebraska does this with old spokes and colored nipples for the club he races for.

L8er

[ostertoaster85]

I've never done it with a braclet but I've been wearing a necklace out of spoke nipples for quite a while now.

[Hardtailforever]

The CX-Rays are used by Lance and his Blue Train (radial and crossed). That tells you how light they are.

The same spoke (slightly shorter for the 26in wheel) is used by DH and Freeride pros, including Nico (World DH champ). Since he's using discs with mega huge rotors, the wheels have to be 3 cross. Also, that tells you just how strong they are.

I still can't find anyone with the software. I tried the MTBR forums as well. Nobody can tell me anything. Part of the problem is there's only one official distributor for the USA, and he doesn't do calculations (because I assume he doesn't have the software).

Any Sapim dealers in the TC area? Anywhere?

[Hardtailforever]

As far as extra spokes go, get a bunch of nipples and you could make some cool braclets.

Someone else I know suggested that exact same thing to me when I told him my situation. In fact he was wearing one. I think I might order a bag of coloured ano nipples and make some. Sure as hell won't be using CX-Ray spoke for that, though.

Does that Pro shop/distributor down on University sell Sapim spokes? They seem to not stock anything else unless it's the most expensive/top-of-the-line stuff. What about Grand Performance? Those two sorta strike me as places that might build with sapim spokes.