Subject: Re: Spoke selection/size Posted by: Al on August 04, 2006 at 15:20:13: In Reply to: Spoke selection/size posted by Kevin on August 03, 2006 at 23:09:41:

Message: >I am trying to determine the spoke size for new wheels for an old restoration. The rims are Super Champion Arc en Ciel 36 hole and Normandy Hubs. What spoke should I use. I weigh 210 if that helps. They are for a 70's LeJeune that I am restoring. Also is Cyclart worth the price for painting and chroming? >Thanks for any suggestions I estimate the ERD at between ~619mm ... So, 294mm to 295mm spokes for the FRONT on a 27" rim. About 3mm-or-4mm shorter for a 700c rim at 291mm. 294mm on the non-drive side & 293 on the drive side for a 27" rim with a 36x3 lacing. 290mm-to-291mm on the non-drive side for a 700c rim and about 288mm-to-289mm on the drive side for a 36x3 on a 700c rim. A spoke that is 1mm shorter is better than one that is 1mm too long, IMO. FWIW. If your rims are tubular, then you can probably use (about) the same length spokes that you would for a 27" rim ... ~293mm & ~292mm on the rear; and, ~293mm for the front. Now, if you are truly restoring, then you won't want to use stainless steel spokes ... and, French spokes were NOT standard, AFAIK, by today's standards ... somewhere between 14g & 15g ... closer to the smaller size, I think. Nonetheless, I would go with the larger 14g, FWIW -- straight gauge. Cyclart? They do extraordinary work, but is it worth $300+ to you? Probably closer to $500 after all is said and done. The thing you have to remember is that FRENCH bikes had notoriously indifferent paint jobs (at least, the two I had), IMO ... not much better than what you would be able to do by means of rattle can application (well, it wasn't better than I can do with hardware-store spray paint). Cyclart can replciate/sell you decals ... but, those will be expensive, too! As a reminder, I think the most expensive 1970 mass produced bike-shop French bike was in the $150-to-$200US range ... with the less expensive ones being about $100US.