Nate Knutson wrote:
There are some really deeply discounted, nice 28 hole rims around. I'd
like to use some to build up some cheap wheels, but of course there
aren't many 28 hole hubs laying around at all. I read the "Perverse
Wheelbuilding" article on Sheldon's site
(http://www.sheldonbrown.com/mismatch/). My questions:
1. Has anyone built up any of these? Any insights that aren't mentioned
in the article?
2. Anyone built up any as rears, or as disc wheels? Anything exciting
happen if so?
3. Anyone have any insights about whether there would theoretically be
any problems with torsional strength using this lacing pattern as a
rear or disc wheel? My intuition is that I'm pretty sure it'd be fine
for normal rears, since most of the spokes are tangent and have angles
that (I think) are similar to a 3x or 2x rear wheel, but I'm not sure
about as a disc wheel and wouldn't be too comfortable fudging it.

And just a disclaimer - I'm as into cool conventional wheels as all but
the grouchiest, and I know that 28 holes, unusual lacing patterns, and
the like are usually more gimmick than benefit. I'm mostly interested
in this because I keep seeing closeout 28 hole rims. I do think that in
general, 28 is fine if it's built right. Most of these rims are 26" as
well, which makes it less of an issue.

I'd say go for it! I'd use such a wheel even as a disc brake wheel or a
rear wheel.

Using the formula in _Bicycles and Tricycles_ I calculated the change
in tension for my 24 spoke disc brake tandem wheel. It's 25 pounds at
1g rate of decelleration, IIRC. I'm comfortable with that, since in
theory no spoke should go slack (minimum spoke tension is about 220
pounds) and max braking is very infrequent. Pedaling loads should be
less. We can stop a lot quicker than we can start. ;-) So far (about
500 miles) no problems at all.