Front wheel 32 versus 36 spokes wheel
#1
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Front wheel 32 versus 36 spokes wheel
Hello,
One high school kid totaled my front wheel of a FUJI Touring.
All bike shops around me only have 32 spokes wheels in stock.
Would I have any problem to use one instead of a 36 spokes ?
Say durability, etc. for loaded and light touring, gravel path, etc. etc.
Thanks.
One high school kid totaled my front wheel of a FUJI Touring.
All bike shops around me only have 32 spokes wheels in stock.
Would I have any problem to use one instead of a 36 spokes ?
Say durability, etc. for loaded and light touring, gravel path, etc. etc.
Thanks.
#3
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A well made 32 spoke wheel on the front should be fine. However, the devil is in the details, the quality of the spokes & rim is more important than the reduction is spoke count.
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#4
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All bike shops around me only have 32 spokes wheels in stock.
give the shop a week and they will order a 36 spoke wheel, in, for you , if that's what you want.
#5
32h is fine is you don't use front racks/panniers, in which case 36h would be better. You can order a 36h from any QBP-affiliated online bike shop (OBS):
https://www.aebike.com/Handspun-Pavem...r_p_62482.html
https://www.aebike.com/Handspun-Pavem...r_p_61462.html
https://www.aebike.com/Handspun-Pavem...r_p_62482.html
https://www.aebike.com/Handspun-Pavem...r_p_61462.html
#6
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On my LHT unladen but with me on it, front wheel has about 37 percent of the total weight. When I add a camping gear load, I suspect that the front wheel weight distribution stays about the same or is maybe even lighter.
Add to that that your front wheel is undished (I assume it is not a disc brake) and the rear is dished. So, the rear wheel is inherently more stressed from initial construction.
Decades ago, some utility bikes were fitted with 32 spoke front and 40 spoke rear wheels.
Bottom line, you could probably use less than 32 if you wanted to on the front if all other things were equal.
Add to that that your front wheel is undished (I assume it is not a disc brake) and the rear is dished. So, the rear wheel is inherently more stressed from initial construction.
Decades ago, some utility bikes were fitted with 32 spoke front and 40 spoke rear wheels.
Bottom line, you could probably use less than 32 if you wanted to on the front if all other things were equal.
#7
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My folding bike has a pair of paired spoke Rolf style wheels. Had toured loaded on nasty gravel and aside from the rim wearing in from braking, it's still going strong.
#8
Senior Member
Maro, Not remarked about yet is the rim width (Did I miss it?) of the available front wheels. If the rim on the 32H rims is wide enough for the tire size you want/need to use, you should be fine. Otherwise either you or the LBS should order a new wheel.
Brad
Brad
#9
Senior Member
I tour on a 36/32 combo, and I try to put more gear weight in the front than in the back. That doesn't change the fact that most of the rider weight is shifted towards the back. I've broken rear spokes, although a good number of those were due to poor wheel-building decisions on my part, and some were due to a factory-built, low quality rear offset wheel. But the front has always been solid. I also would have prefered a 36 front, but I found the right combination of components for a good price, but only available as 32. I haven't been sorry.
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I do a lot of gravel road riding with 32 spoke wheels. I keep my pannier weight modest and I keep my body weight low. 2.1 pounds per inch of height. I am riding on 26 rims with Tioga Psycho Genius 2.3 tires. I have had no wheel issues.