How to Lace Bicycle Spokes

① Rim selection ② Hub selection ③ Deciding the number of spokes ④ Calculating spoke length. These are the steps for lacing spokes. I will explain in detail.

How to Lace Bicycle Spokes ① Rim Selection
First, check the rim width suitable for your bicycle, such as for off-road or on-road use. Also, consider the tube valve type when choosing the rim width. It might be quicker to consult a bicycle shop for this.

How to Lace Bicycle Spokes ② Hub Selection
For hub (spoke hole) selection, it's best to choose one that matches the width of your rear wheel.

How to Lace Bicycle Spokes ③ Deciding the Number of Spokes
The number of spokes is determined by the regulations I just explained, so you can refer to that. The general number of spokes is 4-cross. The number of hub holes is 24 or 16.

How to Lace Bicycle Spokes ④ Calculating Spoke Length
The spoke length can be determined from the length of the left and right hub flanges, the flange diameter, the spoke hole diameter, and the ERD of the rim. After completing these four steps, let's actually assemble the wheel.

[Bicycle Spokes] What is the most common lacing pattern?

8-cross is the most common lacing pattern for bicycle spokes. However, I understand that hearing "8-cross" might not make sense to everyone, so I will explain in detail.

Bicycle Spoke "4-cross (2-cross)"

4-cross is also called "2-cross," and has 24 or 16 hub holes. Wheels using a 4-cross pattern are the lightest compared to other spoke counts.

Bicycle Spoke "6-cross (3-cross)"

6-cross is also called "4-cross," and has 32 or 28 hub holes (number of holes). By the way, you can think of a hub as something like a screw hole for spokes.

Bicycle Spoke "8-cross (4-cross)"

8-cross is also called "4-cross," and has 36 hub holes. An 8-cross pattern results in the heaviest wheel. In other words, the more spokes there are, the heavier the wheel becomes. 8-cross has the strongest durability.

So, what's the recommended number of spokes?

Bicycle Spoke Lacing Methods: "Radial Lacing" and "Tangent Lacing"

There are two main types of bicycle spoke lacing methods: "Radial Lacing" and "Tangent Lacing." I will explain each in detail.
Bicycle Spoke Lacing Method: Radial Lacing

Radial lacing differs from typical spoke lacing in that the spokes are not tangled; they extend radially. Road bikes with rim brakes often use this radial lacing.
Bicycle Spoke Lacing Method: Tangent Lacing
Tangent lacing is used in most bicycles and is a very common lacing method. A key feature is its high vibration absorption. There are four types of lacing patterns, which I will explain in detail.

Tangent lacing has 4 patterns

There are four lacing patterns: "Italian Lacing," "Reverse Italian Lacing," "JIS Lacing," and "Reverse JIS Lacing." I will explain them in detail.

Pattern ① "Italian Lacing" used in many road bikes
With Italian lacing, when viewing the bicycle from the right or the left, the spokes closest to you appear in the same position. For example, if you look at the bicycle from the right, there's a spoke at 90 degrees to the right. Then, if you look at the bicycle from the left, there's a spoke at 90 degrees to the left. Also, when looking at the rear wheel from the left, the spokes emerging from the outside of the hub point in the opposite direction of the wheel's rotation. This is Italian lacing. It's easiest to understand by looking at the top of the hub.

Pattern ② "Reverse Italian Lacing" for disc brake road bikes
It's easy to understand reverse Italian lacing if you remember that it's the exact opposite of Italian lacing. Let's give an example. Look at the rear wheel from the left side with Italian lacing. The spokes at the top of the hub emerge from the outside, but with reverse Italian lacing, the spokes emerge from the inside. This is reverse Italian lacing. Also, reverse Italian lacing is often used in disc brake road bikes.

Pattern ③ "JIS Lacing" used in many bicycles
JIS lacing works similarly to Italian lacing. If you look at the top of the hub, with Italian lacing, the spokes emerge from the outside, but with JIS lacing, the spokes emerge from the inside. And with JIS lacing, whether you look at the wheel from the right or the left, the spokes emerge in the same way. In other words, with JIS lacing, the spokes emerge in the same way regardless of whether you look from the left or right.

Pattern ④ "Reverse JIS Lacing" is rarely used
Reverse JIS lacing is simply the exact opposite of JIS lacing in terms of how the spokes emerge. With JIS lacing, the spokes emerge from the inside, but with reverse JIS lacing, the spokes emerge from the outside. And with reverse JIS lacing, similar to JIS lacing, the spokes emerge in the same way whether you look at the wheel from the right or the left. However, reverse JIS lacing is rarely used.

Ultimately, what's the recommended lacing pattern?

While I've written about many complex things, ultimately, the recommended lacing pattern is "Italian Lacing." It looks good, is strong, and can achieve high speeds. For now, Italian lacing seems like a good choice.

[4-cross (2-cross)]

ICAN AERO S rear wheels feature a 4-cross 2-cross pattern. While not as durable as 8-cross, these wheels prioritize lightness above all else. They are a must-have for those who want to ride their bikes easily and quickly in daily life. Furthermore, these wheels use NOVATEC hubs. NOVATEC has been supplying hubs to brands and manufacturers since 1971, and their technical expertise is recognized by cyclists who purchase NOVATEC products.

[Radial Lacing]

NOVA series front carbon wheels use radial lacing and CX-Ray spokes. While radial lacing might raise some concerns about durability, this product is ideal for those who prioritize speed. However, because it uses CX-Ray spokes, it is very robust. With other spokes, they might bend slightly when pressed vertically, but not these spokes. They don't bend even when pressed vertically.

Summary

That concludes the explanation of bicycle spoke lacing. There are various types of spoke lacing methods and patterns, so it's best to customize them according to your cycling purpose. You can find a list of articles in this bicycle blog.