In this month’s tech talk, Carl talks about the importance of having matching rims and spokes when putting a wheel together.
We hear from a lot of customers who dent a rim, bend some spokes, or just want a different rim on their bike. We also hear from customers who bought a rim somewhere and just need us to get them a new set of spokes. Unfortunately, not all rims and spokes go together.
The spoke holes in rims are drilled and countersunk at a precise angle so that each spoke will align correctly to the hub. When the spoke nipple is seated in the rim, it should make even contact the entire way around the countersunk hole. Even contact will point the spoke in the right direction to line up with the correct hole in the hub.
A spoke that does not sit correctly creates stress on both the rim and the spoke, sometimes even creating a noticeable bowing or bending in the spoke. Over time, this stress will result in cracks in the rim at the spoke hole.
Your best bet is to buy a compatible set of rim and spokes from the get-go. You should also consider using our wheel lacing and truing service that we provide on parts we sell.
As always, if you have any questions, reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to help!