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Someone help please. Are the straight pull hope/arch ex worth the extra 40 odd pound or am I better with the standard design?
I had this conundrum the other month. I went for normal j pull spokes.
J for sure, spares and repairs are not a nightmare.
No real benefit to straight pull, lots of downsides, just say no. (though, Hoops do come with spare spokes and it's relatively easy to source spares from them from Hope, so if you absolutely must buy stupid wheels it's probably the best way to do it 😉 )
lots of downsides
Apart from access to spare spokes, what are the other downsides?
Cheers guys, think I will save the 40odd quid
nikk - MemberApart from access to spare spokes, what are the other downsides?
More limited choice for replacement spokes should you decide to fit another rim in future. Generally harder to true/tension (as the spokes can rotate in the hub). And often changing spokes is made more fiddly because the spokes get in each other's way as they leave the hub.
But as you say the biggest downside is just the poor availability of spares, and that alone's enough reason to walk away.
Generally harder to true/tension (as the spokes can rotate in the hub).
That's a plus IMHO, as the spokes can't get wound up when tensioning. Yes they need to be held with pliers with soft jaws at the start.
And often changing spokes is made more fiddly because the spokes get in each other's way as they leave the hub.
Or, OTOH, easier to change spokes as they just come out, no need to remove brake discs / cassette.
So, that just leaves availability of spares, which is a PITA, so just ensure you have some spares of the right length when you get the wheel, and problem solved.
No real benefit to straight pull
Scientific studies?
Cheers. Ordered the j pull just there. Looking forward to having 650b soon.
Ordered j pull 650b Flow on PRO 2 Evos & 12 mm rear conversion for £300 inc del from Wicked Cycles yesterday - Bargain!!
I'm running the straight pulls, no issues despite my best attempts. Iwent for them pretty much all together from an aesthetics stand point. 🙄
no regrets.
@Nikk- you forgot the limited choice and availability of spokes- not just for spares but for future builds.
Scientific studies? The case for straight pulls is that the j-bend's supposed to be a weak spot. The case against that, is the fact that it's pretty much the least common place to break a spoke. Of the straight pull hubs I've used, none are easier to change spokes on than their J equivalents.
Oh, it's true that relying on the j to adjust a spoke isn't desirable, as you're winding up the spoke, but if you're doing a quick fix while riding it's better than just being unable to do a damn thing because the spoke just turns.
None of these things are terrible, of course, but they don't have to be.
Straight pull look better and that's all that matters innit. 😆