Spoke colour

desweller
desweller Posts: 5,175
edited April 2012 in Road buying advice
My inner tart can't decide. Black spokes or silver ones?

Hub and rim are both black (shallow IRD Cadence Road rim and rebuilt Planet X Superlight hub from an old Model B). I quite like the sparkly silver spokes on my touring bike...

Spokes will likely be DT Swiss Revolution.
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On Strava.{/url}

Comments

  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    SS spokes are inherently silver. Why dress them up needlessly..?!
  • estampida
    estampida Posts: 1,008
    some wheel builders dont use black spokes as they think they snap too often

    I have built wheels with black for mates (not my style), but the general idea is that the phosphor coating to make it black hardens the spoke slightly, then they crack normally around the bend

    broke plenty of silver spokes so although the idea is sound not really seen it in practice
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Harry Rowland wont use black spokes but not because they break more easily. I wanted black but had to have silver. On a bright sunny day nothing beats the sparkle and glint of a nice set of wheels with ss spokes.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Black spokes can fade. If they do they look crap.

    I'd go for silver spokes even though the hub and rim are black. The braking surface is silver as well obviously so its not as if you'd have a stealthy set of wheels if you went for black spokes like you get with carbon rims.
    More problems but still living....
  • Zoomer37
    Zoomer37 Posts: 725
    Black spokes look the nuts when they are big fat bladed ones like on some Mavics, but id run with silver for those DT Swiss Revolutions. Look nice n classy
  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    black or anodised gun metal (with one white one where the valve is)
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • huuregeil
    huuregeil Posts: 780
    Also, bear in mind the "impact" on your nipples. Black brass is painted and this wears off quickly. Black alu, on the other hand is anodised, thus more durable and will stay black for longer. So, only chose black spokes if you plan on using alu nipples too. I'd go silver, personally - cheaper and alu nipples are a false gain.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Most of the people who've troubled to post a reply are pro-silver, but the poll is pro-black! You're not helping much.

    Silver spokes are £9 cheaper for a box so I think I'll go for those. Sparkly!
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    On Strava.{/url}

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