Bladed spokes vs Round spokes

[26er]

I am looking at upgrading my wheelset and would like to get opinions on the two types of spokes

From what I have experienced the round ones do "feel" better in terms of absorbing bumps etc.

What do you guys prefer?

[Skinnyone]

IMO, bladed spokes offer little benefit but the main manufacturers still spec them because the common thinking is that bladed offer better aerodynamics, thus a consumer may not buy a wheelset if a 50mm wheel has round spokes. But in truth I doubt they (bladed spokes) really add that much extra efficiency at the speeds the average joes like us ride at...

 

If you buy a set of wheels with bladed spokes then keep it that way but if you were to build a set up then keep in mind that an average round spoke costs in the region of R25 per spoke and a bladed can go up to R55 each - which adds a K@K load onto the price....

[Eldron]

Unless you're an aerofreak double butted round spokes give the best ride.

[Gnarly]

Bladed... when training turn them sideways, when racing turn them normal way. Your numbers will double in 12 days. Trust me.

[Long Wheel Base]

Are we talking MTB or road? You mention absorbing bumps, Road is a hard ride anyway and mtb I am not sure you get bladed spokes(could very well be wrong though).

My road racing wheels sets all have bladed but that's how they came, training wheels are round. My mtb is all round double butted.

[Butterbean]

Bladed spikes offer no aero advantage. They do offer a wheelbuilder a much easier time of spoke tensioning as they can see when the spoke twists instead of the nipper tightening.

 

Cross wind susceptibility is increased with bladed spokes too.

 

My next wheel build will be round. No point in blades, in all honesty

[johannrissik]

Bladed... when training turn them sideways, when racing turn them normal way. Your numbers will double in 12 days. Trust me.

That was really thoughtless of you. Now another well-guarded secret is out. Come on man.

[MarcBurger]

Bladed spokes look cooler. Cooler = Faster, we all know this.

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

The cons of bladed spokes:

 

Bladed spokes can be up to 3-5 times more expensive than round DB spokes.

 

They twist really easily and require a spoke holder when building the wheel, so it takes considerably longer to build.

 

They might be more difficult to source a replacement in event of spoke breakage in remote areas.

 

The pros of bladed spokes:

 

They weight about 2/3 of a round spoke

 

In my opinion the aerodynamic advantage is marginal/negligible.

 

Regardless of the wheel (road, mountain, deep-section) just go round, double butted.

[NotSoBigBen]

I always thought bladed spokes were to prevent dassies/meerkats from jumping into your wheels and getting stuck ....

[The expat cyclist]

Are we talking MTB or road? You mention absorbing bumps, Road is a hard ride anyway and mtb I am not sure you get bladed spokes(could very well be wrong though).

My road racing wheels sets all have bladed but that's how they came, training wheels are round. My mtb is all round double butted.

Bladed spokes on a mtb. Ta-da.

[Long Wheel Base]

Bladed spokes on a mtb. Ta-da.

Wow that is lekker. Yours?

 

Now you see why I said I could be wrong.

[The expat cyclist]

Wow that is lekker. Yours?

 

Now you see why I said I could be wrong.

Mavic Crossmax SL.

Pricey.

Worth it? Nah, they just look cool on my steel pony.

[IH8MUD]

My Scott Genius 910 trail-bike came with Syncros wheels with bladed spokes.

It made it so fast . . . .  I lost control and broke my collarbone.

 

Question is: Can you handle them bladed spokes?   

[26er]

Thanks for all the feedback

Looks like 90 degree tilt-able bladed would be the best

['Kaze Pete]

26er, if you want to go faster get a 29er!

 

However, if you want to go stronger... copper/brass nipples AND washers (did I have to go there?  ), and round DB spokes.

 

If you ride dassie/meerkat terrain, then go for the bladed spokes as nsBB stated