Stainless Spokes vs. Non
isaac...@hotmail.com
I've noticed that some entry level bikes are offered with "steel"
spokes, some with "stainless steel," still others with "UCP spokes."
I'm in the market for an entry level mountain bike, primarily for rough
and unpaved roads. I'll be riding occasionally and in good weather. I
appreciate a good bike and know enough to go for the service of a bike
shop, but this one is still gonna be a low budget buy.
Of course stainless is lighter and doesn't rust. Are "steel" spokes
protected from rust in some way? And, what is "UCP?" Is it a brand
(like DT Swiss) or type of material?
Also, what's your experience with rigid "hybrids" on rough and/or
unpaved roads?
Thanks all;
Isaac Brumer
isaac...@hotdeletethisnospammail.com
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Jobst Brandt
> I've noticed that some entry level bikes are offered with "steel"
> spokes, some with "stainless steel," still others with "UCP spokes."
The best spokes available are all stainless steel mainly because
plated spokes all rust, primarily in the threads, there where it
does the most damage. Rusty threads cannot be turned and over the
years, that inability has lead to stainless steel spokes that are
at least as durable as any non stainless ones offered.
> Of course stainless is lighter and doesn't rust. Are "steel" spokes
> protected from rust in some way? And, what is "UCP?" Is it a brand
> (like DT Swiss) or type of material?
Of course they are not lighter, steel being steel. The only
difference is that stainless spokes often have a swaged mid section
that is about 10% more slender. Non stainless spokes are cadmium or
zinc plated but this doesn't give long term protection. For track
bikes (especially indoor), chromed spokes in swaged format have been
offered although I haven't seen any lately.
Jobst Brandt <jbr...@hpl.hp.com>
pat_c...@my-deja.com
isaac...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hello;
>
> I've noticed that some entry level bikes are offered with "steel"
> spokes, some with "stainless steel," still others with "UCP spokes."
>
rough
> and unpaved roads. I'll be riding occasionally and in good weather. I
> appreciate a good bike and know enough to go for the service of a bike
> shop, but this one is still gonna be a low budget buy.
>
> protected from rust in some way? And, what is "UCP?" Is it a brand
> (like DT Swiss) or type of material?
>
> unpaved roads?
>
> Thanks all;
>
> Isaac Brumer
> isaac...@hotdeletethisnospammail.com
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
>
a rigid frame, hybrid or MTB, on unpaved roads - I wouldn't recommend
it. When I first bought my rigid MTB, I thought the majority of my
riding would be gentle singletrack and fireroads. Although I quickly
discovered that I enjoyed technical singletrack, that's another story.
I also discovered that the pounding I took even on fireroads that
looked fairly smooth really ruined my enjoyment of the ride. I added a
front shock as soon as I could afford it. If the majority of your
riding will be on the pavement, you could go with a rigid hybrid and
tame the roughness with the correct choice in tires and tire pressures -
possibly even investing in a suspension seatpost. If you are going to
spend most of your time off-road, get a decent MTB with a front shock.
isaac...@hotmail.com
jbr...@hpl.hp.com (Jobst Brandt) wrote:
> Isaac Brumer writes:
>
> > I've noticed that some entry level bikes are offered with "steel"
> > spokes, some with "stainless steel," still others with "UCP spokes."
>
> plated spokes all rust, primarily in the threads, there where it
> does the most damage. Rusty threads cannot be turned and over the
> years, that inability has lead to stainless steel spokes that are
> at least as durable as any non stainless ones offered.
>
> > protected from rust in some way? And, what is "UCP?" Is it a brand
> > (like DT Swiss) or type of material?
>
> difference is that stainless spokes often have a swaged mid section
> that is about 10% more slender. Non stainless spokes are cadmium or
> zinc plated but this doesn't give long term protection. For track
> bikes (especially indoor), chromed spokes in swaged format have been
> offered although I haven't seen any lately.
>
> Jobst Brandt <jbr...@hpl.hp.com>
>
Thanks Guys;
So they're plated, guess the CP in "UCP" means that's cadmium, what's
the "U?"
Isaac
Joshua_Putnam
>Isaac Brumer writes:
>> Of course stainless is lighter and doesn't rust. Are "steel" spokes
>> protected from rust in some way? And, what is "UCP?" Is it a brand
>> (like DT Swiss) or type of material?
>Of course they are not lighter, steel being steel. The only
>difference is that stainless spokes often have a swaged mid section
>that is about 10% more slender. Non stainless spokes are cadmium or
>zinc plated but this doesn't give long term protection. For track
>bikes (especially indoor), chromed spokes in swaged format have been
>offered although I haven't seen any lately.
My first guess would be that UCP is Union Chrome Plated -- Union
is a large producer of non-stainless spokes, and their chrome
plated spokes are decent quality and very shiny, which sells
well for cruisers and low-riders. As far as I know they only
produce them in plain, not butted, and I don't remember any size
thinner than 14ga.
But that's all just my first guess on what UCP would mean. I
must confess to having paid almost no attention to the
non-stainless spokes in my Union catalog, and it's not handy now
to look at.
--
Jo...@WolfeNet.com is Joshua Putnam / P.O. Box 13220 / Burton, WA 98013
http://www.wolfenet.com/~josh/
Perry Ruebay
>In article <7r3oh1$8c$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> isaac...@hotmail.com wrote:
>>
>> Also, what's your experience with rigid "hybrids" on rough and/or
>> unpaved roads?
>>
>> Thanks all;
>>
>> Isaac Brumer
>> isaac...@hotdeletethisnospammail.com
>>
>I'll defer to Mr. Brandt on your spoke questions. Regarding the use of
>a rigid frame, hybrid or MTB, on unpaved roads - I wouldn't recommend
>it. When I first bought my rigid MTB, I thought the majority of my
>riding would be gentle singletrack and fireroads. Although I quickly
>discovered that I enjoyed technical singletrack, that's another story.
>I also discovered that the pounding I took even on fireroads that
>looked fairly smooth really ruined my enjoyment of the ride. I added a
>front shock as soon as I could afford it. If the majority of your
>riding will be on the pavement, you could go with a rigid hybrid and
>tame the roughness with the correct choice in tires and tire pressures -
> possibly even investing in a suspension seatpost. If you are going to
>spend most of your time off-road, get a decent MTB with a front shock.
>
If all you need to do is take the edge off the usual small bumps and
ruts you'll find on gravel and fireroads then I recommend a Softride
Suspension Stem. Been using mine for 5 or 6 years now. For serious
off roading I'd go with the sus fork.
-Mark
Jim Adney
>My first guess would be that UCP is Union Chrome Plated -- Union
>is a large producer of non-stainless spokes, and their chrome
>plated spokes are decent quality and very shiny, which sells
>well for cruisers and low-riders. As far as I know they only
>produce them in plain, not butted, and I don't remember any size
>thinner than 14ga.
Really? I have lots of wheels done in Union butted chrome spokes, but
they are all decades old. I agree that the next time (if there ever is
a next time) I'll rebuild these with stainless. The chrome spokes look
great when new, but eventually they develope rust spots and freeze in
their nipples.
Jim
-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney jad...@vwtype3.org
Madison,Wisconsin USA
-----------------------------------------------
Joshua_Putnam
>jo...@WOLFENET.COM (Joshua_Putnam) wrote:
>>My first guess would be that UCP is Union Chrome Plated -- Union
>>is a large producer of non-stainless spokes, and their chrome
>>plated spokes are decent quality and very shiny, which sells
>>well for cruisers and low-riders. As far as I know they only
>>produce them in plain, not butted, and I don't remember any size
>>thinner than 14ga.
>Really? I have lots of wheels done in Union butted chrome spokes, but
>they are all decades old.
I suspect anyone who cares enough to want butted spokes has gone
to stainless, while chrome is left for those who prefer the
extra gleam. Chrome spokes seem especially popular on
high-flange 68-spoke radially laced wheels for low-riders, and I
doubt people buying those wheels are terribly concerned with
either weight or durability.
isaac...@hotmail.com
the "mountain vs. hybrid" distinction. I've been offroad on rigid fat
tire MTBs and been quite happy. I've also ridden a 700x23 and find that
it's doable but the wheels are too wobbly on the loose surface for
enjoyment. Bumps don't bother me much. My main riding turf is the
streets of New York City. I was wondering about people's experience
with the medium width tires typical of hybrids.
Isaac
In article <37d70dea...@news.alterdial.uu.net>,