I'm interested in the expensive Campagnolo wheels and plan to build something similar myself. Main question: Can rear hubs compatible with straight-pull spokes be found on AliExpress? I’d appreciate any information or links. Thanks in advance!
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G3 spoke weawing
Nemil
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I'm interested in the expensive Campagnolo wheels and plan to build something similar myself. Main question: Can rear hubs compatible with straight-pull spokes be found on AliExpress? I’d appreciate any information or links. Thanks in advance!
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If you are looking to achieve that G3 lacing pattern, it cannot be achieved without custom drilling both the hub and rim. Custom drilled rims can be obtained, but to achieve a lacing pattern like the wheel shown, the rim needs to be designed specifically for it. I'm not aware of custom drilled straight pull hubs, especially rears. Straight pull rear hubs are made for very specific spoke count and lacing.
I can't comment on what might be available on aliexpress as that's not where I personally will ever shop, and definitely not for good bike parts. When it comes to low spoke count wheels, cheap and long lasting do not go in the same sentence, even if the wheel builder knows what they are doing. There are a couple China manufacturers of very good quality carbon rims that are not overly pricey that do sell direct. These same plants make carbon rims for many big name brand companies, and can be of great quality. No way I would buy hubs, rims or spokes from any unknown sources, and even less for low spoke count wheels.
Lastly, building durable low spoke count wheels is generally beyond what can be done at home, and even beyond the capabilities of many shops, especially if carbon rims or hubs are involved. It is imperative to get equal and correct tension for the rim and sometimes the hub too. That requires knowing the limits of the rim and hub, and more importantly having a good spoke tension gauge and tension gauge calibration tool to calibrate the gauge to the specific spokes being utilized, and advanced wheel building skills. A very good truing stand is a good idea too.
If you want something like a G3 lacing pattern, you pretty much have no choice but to buy a complete wheelset.
I can't comment on what might be available on aliexpress as that's not where I personally will ever shop, and definitely not for good bike parts. When it comes to low spoke count wheels, cheap and long lasting do not go in the same sentence, even if the wheel builder knows what they are doing. There are a couple China manufacturers of very good quality carbon rims that are not overly pricey that do sell direct. These same plants make carbon rims for many big name brand companies, and can be of great quality. No way I would buy hubs, rims or spokes from any unknown sources, and even less for low spoke count wheels.
Lastly, building durable low spoke count wheels is generally beyond what can be done at home, and even beyond the capabilities of many shops, especially if carbon rims or hubs are involved. It is imperative to get equal and correct tension for the rim and sometimes the hub too. That requires knowing the limits of the rim and hub, and more importantly having a good spoke tension gauge and tension gauge calibration tool to calibrate the gauge to the specific spokes being utilized, and advanced wheel building skills. A very good truing stand is a good idea too.
If you want something like a G3 lacing pattern, you pretty much have no choice but to buy a complete wheelset.
Agreed, and what I was trying to subtly allude in my prior response without specifically spelling it out. A 21 spoke G3 lacing pattern requires a very strong rim (and hub). Even then, losing just one spoke, you are almost certainly going to need another wheel or a ride to get home. I've a lot of respect for Campy and some of their complete wheels are very good, but their G3 laced wheels never made any sense to me.
These 21 spoke G3 wheels remind me of Roval wheels from the late 80s. Something like 24 spoke rear, and perhaps 18 or 20 front, both of which were ungodly low for the time given where rims were at in those days. At least Roval didn't do a stupid lacing pattern. They achieved it with very heavy-duty rims, but the rims still flexed too much, which played havoc with keeping spokes tensioned. Too many times, I helped fellow athletes the day before key races from hotel rooms with retruing/tensioning their Roval's so they had wheels to ride the next day.
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Makes no sense to me either. Campy somehow got away without having too many problems. Though I am reminded of the infamous Bontrager Race wheels of the 2000 aughts with a paired spoke design. I had a 2007 Trek Pilot with those. 4000 miles and the rear has spoke hole cracks already. The guy at my bike shop told me he never saw one of those that didn't have spoke hole cracks.
I also don't see the point of low spoke count wheels in general. If you need a more robust rim, you're not saving any weight by using fewer spokes. I suppose with fewer spokes, you are a teensy bit more aero. I build my wheels 24F/32R for rim brake wheels and 32F/32R for disc brake wheels.
Its when you go with lacing like G3 where the spokes are not evenly spaced and getting below 24 spokes where you need a much stronger rim. At that point, you increased rim weight exceeds what you mighy gain in fewer spokes or being able to have a rideable wheel should you lose just one spoke. 24 spoke rears, evenly spaced can be built plenty strong and durably with light weight carbon rims.
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Yup. Those are the ones I mentioned in Post 7.
I've got a set of those in my basement. I'll sell them.... cheap
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To actually answer the question.....
No, there are no straight pull hubs commercially available for 2:1 lacing.
There are some J-bend hubs but they are basically hubs that were designed for regular spoke patterns with small runs drilled for 2:1 lacing. These hubs don´t have an optimal geometry for a 2:1 lacing pattern.
The only dedicated 2:1 hubs I know of were designed by Troy Watson and sold under the Ligero name. Like Campagnolo's designs they had the left flange far off towards the dropout to reclaim some lateral stiffness. Troy has long since disappeared along with his hubs. (but that's a whole different story)
From time to time Campagnolo/Fulcrum hubs pop up on on line markets. Those would be your only realistic option. Unfortunately most of those hubs have proprietary spoke interfaces. Also the Fulcrum hubs tend to be designed for a variety of more or less "regular" 2:1 spoke patterns.
No, there are no straight pull hubs commercially available for 2:1 lacing.
There are some J-bend hubs but they are basically hubs that were designed for regular spoke patterns with small runs drilled for 2:1 lacing. These hubs don´t have an optimal geometry for a 2:1 lacing pattern.
The only dedicated 2:1 hubs I know of were designed by Troy Watson and sold under the Ligero name. Like Campagnolo's designs they had the left flange far off towards the dropout to reclaim some lateral stiffness. Troy has long since disappeared along with his hubs. (but that's a whole different story)
From time to time Campagnolo/Fulcrum hubs pop up on on line markets. Those would be your only realistic option. Unfortunately most of those hubs have proprietary spoke interfaces. Also the Fulcrum hubs tend to be designed for a variety of more or less "regular" 2:1 spoke patterns.
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