A New Kind of Carbon Spoke

Old Carbon Spoke Designs

Carbon fiber spokes have come a long way. In the past, the only option available for carbon spokes was a wheel with the spokes integrally bonded to the rim and hub. While it was convenient for the manufacturer, a single broken spoke could mean that the entire wheel would need to be replaced. Not only was this wasteful but also a hassle if you didn’t have a spare wheel.

Replaceable Carbon Spokes

Our carbon spokes are designed for mechanical building. This means that spokes can be laced and replaced just like traditional steel spokes. In order to improve safety and reliability, our spokes include a self-locking mechanism to prevent any loosening from occurring, as they are double-threaded. Our wheels that feature carbon spokes have rims with custom spoke hole angles which prevents stress at the nipple. All of these factors make our carbon spoke wheelsets safe and reliable.

Carbon vs Steel Spokes

Steel spokes have been the best option for decades, though due to advancements in carbon fiber, this is changing.

Improved Stiffness

Lateral stiffness is one of the most sought after wheel characteristics as it can improve power transfer. This is especially useful the more power you are putting out. Carbon spokes have a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio, an increase of 7%. The increase in lateral stiffness is apparent when out riding. They also have a much higher tensile strength, up to 400kgf.

Lighter Weight

The replaceable carbon spokes used in our Drive road, Drive Helix, and Drive gravel series wheels come in at only 3 grams each, compared to the lightest high-performance steel spokes at 4.3 grams, for example the Sapim CX Rays, which are featured on our other wheels. This adds up depending on the number of spokes a wheelset has. Another advantage of carbon spokes is that fewer are required to build a wheel, which not only leads to a weight reduction, but also an improvement in aerodynamics.

Aerodynamics

The spokes themselves can be made to be significantly more aerodynamic than steel spokes. Carbon can be molded into shapes that are not possible with other materials like steel. Our Drive spokes have a width of 3.2mm, while our Drive Helix spokes have an even more aerodynamic shape, with a width of 5.2mm. These two factors can give you an advantage when racing or going for a PB.

What Happens if a Carbon Spoke Breaks?

No Spoke Is Invincible

Carbon fiber spokes, like steel spokes, are not immune to being damaged. While they are very strong, they are still susceptible to breaking. They are comparable to steel spokes in terms of strength, and it is important to take the same precautions as you would with any other wheelset. In some instances, the wheel may be rideable and re-trued, though it is recommended to replace the spoke as soon as possible.

Replacing a Spoke

Due to the fact that our carbon spokes are laced and not bonded, they can be replaced. A simple 3.45mm spoke tool and 5.5mm spanner is all that is needed. Our replaceable carbon spoke wheels all come with spares in case of an accident.

Getting It Serviced

In the unlikely event of having a broken spoke, we recommend you take your wheel to one of our service centers or a professional mechanic and have them replace the broken spoke with one of the spares included with your wheelset. If more spares are needed, you may contact our customer service by email or Live Chat.

Are Carbon Spokes Covered under Warranty?

Our standard 3-year warranty and extended 5-year warranty covers carbon spokes if they are damaged by non-external factors. This means they are only covered if there is a manufacturing defect. For more information on our warranty, click here.