Bike wheels are relatively simple constructs. Made up of rim, hubs and spokes. Bike spokes are given the least attention. Buying known quality spokes to begin with and your wheel is built to professional standards. Your spokes can last ‘forever.’ Rims will eventually wear out. Especially with rim brakes, but hubs and spokes have a huge lifespan, if built well and maintained.

When asked ‘Which spokes are best?’ We reply that it depends on the use you have intended for them. We only sell spokes from proprietary brands and all these spokes are high quality. You can buy these spokes with well-placed trust and ask us for advice if you are not sure which spoke type you need.

Plain gauge stainless-steel bike spokes typically are the workhorse spoke for many bikes. Throughout their length they are even in diameter, strong, easy to build with and in the rare event they break, perhaps due to impact, the wheel keeps it shape reasonably to allow you to continue on your way.

Butted stainless-steel spokes come in a wide range of styles including bladed but, the standard double butted spokes have thicker head and thread ends and a thinner centre section (through compressing or stretching the spoke). Seemingly magically this offers the combined benefits of less weight, more strength and more springiness. We use these on all our bikes except for the smallest wheels, such as a 16” Brompton.