Troubling question: Spoke color

[Ronsonic]

Building up a wheelset on the cheap with what I've got: Silver Hubs and Black Rims

I'm thinking I need black spokes with silver nipples.

I'm pretty sure of this.

But, but, what if I'm wrong. :o

[cachagua]

Yes! Yes, what if you need silver spokes and black nipples?

I was 100% with you until I thought about it for a second, and then...

No, wait, wait. Black spokes, except one red one. Next to the valve.

[pjm]

:rolleyes:

[Dead Man]

Titanium rainbow anodized spokes.

[thirdgenbird]

Silver.

Tgb approved combinations:
1- Silver hubs, silver spokes, silver rims
2- Silver hubs, silver spokes, black rims
3- Black hubs, silver spokes, black rims
4- Black hubs, black spokes, black rims (this should be done sparingly)
Nipples should always be silver but rare exceptions can be made
Skewers should be silver but black is optional with 4

Black spokes with silver hubs should never happen ;)

[bicycletricycle]

Always silver spokes

[eBAUMANN]

definitely 100% no question...silver spokes with silver hubs.

[seric]

I would stick with silver, the black spokes tend to end up looking gray from road crud.

[cadence90]

We know the color of the hubs and rims.
What about the rest of the bicycle?

But in a vacuum I would agree with the silver hub = silver spoke recommendations.

[echelon_john]

Black spokes look like crap on silver hubs. Silver spokes are the blue blazer of custom wheels; they (almost) always look good.

[tuscanyswe]

Black spokes look like crap on silver hubs. Silver spokes are the blue blazer of custom wheels; they (almost) always look good.

I used to think the same. But I've tested an all black wheelset and a silver hubs with silver spokes to black rims and also a set with silver hubs and black spokes + rims. On a titanium frame i much prefer the silver hubs with black spokes and rims they look great!

The silver hubs sort of pick up the frame color again in the front dropout and thus lightening up the "heavy" all black look.

[Keith A]

...

Black spokes with silver hubs should never happen ;)Shimano's Dura-Ace wheeksets (7850 series and maybe others) had this combo with red nipples :cool:

[martl]

never understood the obsession about black spokes. A bicycle wheels primary purpose is to catch the sun.

[Joxster]

Black spokes snap easier than silver

[oldpotatoe]

Black spokes snap easier than silver

They are heavier and less aero also.....:p

[thirdgenbird]

Shimano's Dura-Ace wheeksets (7850 series and maybe others) had this combo with red nipples :cool:

Between that poor decision and 7900 cranksets, we should just write off shimano as an aesthetic guide.

[zrossiter]

silver nips silver spokes. only time to do black spokes is if everything is black IMO

[jhat]

Black spokes snap easier than silver

Old wives tale.

[gt eunuch]

Old wives tale.

These old wives sound rad, sitting around, talking spokes.

[Fatty]

Building up a wheelset on the cheap with what I've got: Silver Hubs and Black Rims

I'm thinking I need black spokes with silver nipples.

I'm pretty sure of this.

But, but, what if I'm wrong. :o

I think your right. Wait, are you east or west of the Mississippi river?

[OtayBW]

This is not a troubling question. Un uh. Nope. :bike:

[cadence90]

These old wives sound rad, sitting around, talking spokes.

:D :D :D
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.
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Wait a minute...are you saying that oldspud has a harem?
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[Ronsonic]

We know the color of the hubs and rims.
What about the rest of the bicycle?

But in a vacuum I would agree with the silver hub = silver spoke recommendations.

The rest of the bike is mostly black and components are mixed. Here's an older pic, the bars, tape and stem have been changed. Oh, and this is important, the cabling has been tidied up. Next scheduled component upgrade will be a set of Athena compact cranks, in silver. That's the direction I'm going as this evolves. The new wheelset is going to be wide trail bashing clinchers using what I've got.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gOLdmJox1tc/VzUff3UMQwI/AAAAAAAAASU/M8kgo4vrmmskMBGe3oIEzj2YICDbuR9hwCLcB/s1600/20151122_142309.jpg

[cadence90]

On that bike, black spokes would look fine to me, with the black rims. Black nipples, even, to keep things low-key.

Silver hubs, silver cassette, new silver crankset/chainrings, silver brakes, silver fd...a silver rd would be nice.

[campy man]

Just had Spud build me a wheelset with Campy black hubs, black spokes & nips with RR 440 rims.

I removed the DT stickers and think these look nice and ride great ... my Clydesdale version of Campy Neutrons :D

[cachagua]

The bike you've got 'em on isn't so hard on the eyes either.

I should just admit to myself that I want a Legend Ti, and shop accordingly