At TMWORKS, we’re all about transparency and precision. We’re a team of passionate cyclists who are dedicated to not just building great wheels but also ensuring you know exactly what’s going on with your ride. We take pride in providing you with a detailed report for your wheelset that includes spoke tension variance, radial, and lateral trueness. Think of it as our way of making sure you get the best performance and durability from your wheels!
What is Spoke Tension?
Spoke tension is essentially how tightly the spokes are pulled. Proper tension is crucial because it helps keep your wheel true (round and straight) and capable of handling the stresses of riding. If the tension is uneven, it can cause problems down the road.
Why You Should Care About Spoke Tension Variance
Uneven spoke tension can create weak spots in your wheel. These weak spots can lead to spoke breakage, our your wheel running out of true, which means more trips to the bike shop and potentially costly repairs. By keeping the tension even, your wheels stay strong and reliable. In the world of wheelbuilding, it’s common to hear that acceptable spoke tension variance is within ±10% of the average tension. For example, if the average tension is 120 kilogram force (kgf), the tension should be between 108 kgf and 132 kgf. This helps ensure a solid, well-balanced wheel.
At TMWORKS, we go above and beyond. We build our wheels with a super tight spoke tension variance of just ±2.5%. This extra level of precision is our way of ensuring you get the most durable and high-performing wheels possible.
For comparison: the bike industry has some general norms for spoke tension, but they can vary. Here's what some key players in the wheelbuilding world say:
- Industry Nine: They maintain a spoke tension variance of ±10%, which is great for performance and durability. Check out their Spoke Tension Guide for more info.
- Park Tool: According to Park Tool, "A wheel with spokes that are within plus or minus 20% of the wheel’s average spoke tension is generally considered to have acceptable relative tension" (Park Tool).
- Wheel Fanatyk: Ric Hjertberg supports a ±10% variance for top-quality builds.
Why We’re Transparent
We know that most wheelbuilders don’t share their specific tolerances with you. At TMWORKS, we’re different. We believe in full transparency, which is why we provide every customer with a detailed file of that includes spoke tension variance, radial and lateral trueness. It’s all part of our commitment to quality and trust.
The Right Tools for the Job
To achieve our precise spoke tension variance, we use Sapim’s spoke tension meter. This tool is essential for accurate measurements and is calibrated frequently to ensure reliability. Using high-quality, well-maintained equipment is key to getting the precise readings needed for consistent spoke tension and great wheel performance.
Wrap-Up
Maintaining minimal spoke tension variance is crucial for building top-quality carbon wheels. It makes your wheels more durable and reliable, and contributes to a better ride. At TMWORKS, we’re committed to precision with our ±2.5% variance and full transparency through detailed measurement reports. Our use of Sapim’s calibrated spoke tension meter ensures that we achieve and maintain this level of precision. Whether you’re a professional wheelbuilder or just a cycling enthusiast, paying attention to spoke tension and using high-quality tools can make a significant difference in your cycling experience.
Interested or do you want to know more? Get in contact with us!