We sell Wheelsmith, Sapim, Rohloff and DT spokes. And we'll sell you as many Wheelsmith and Sapim spokes as you need. If you need just 20, fine and dandy. If you need 2,000, finer and dandier. Rohloff spokes are only sold in packs of 37 with Sapim Polyax Secure Lock brass nipples. We sell spokes to the home wheelbuilder, as well as to bicycle shops.

I've been building wheels with Wheelsmith spokes since 2000, when DT made a change to their spoke design which I didn't like. They lengthened the "J" bend, requiring the use of spoke washers to prevent the spokes from breaking. That added time and expense to every wheel build. Since then I mostly use the Wheelsmith DB14 spokes which are 2.0mm at the ends and 1.7mm in the center. This makes for an extremely strong spoke that's light weight and flexible, which helps to prevent cracks in light weight aluminum rims. Wheelsmith's quality control was excellent. "Was", you say? Yes. Unfortunately, Wheelsmith spokes are no longer being made. But we have quite a few left and are still very happy to build wheels with them.

In the winter of 2018-2019, when Wheelsmith began to wind down their production, I began stocking Sapim spokes, and since then I've been increasing the selection of Sapim spokes that I stock.

I give my lifetime warranty on wheels I build with Rohloff, Wheelsmith and Sapim spokes. All of the spokes I sell are made from stainless steel. Almost all of the Rohloff, Wheelsmith and Sapim spokes I stock are "butted" spokes. Some are single butted and some are double butted. Single butted means that the diameter of the spoke is greater at the hub end than in the middle and rim end. For instance, the DB14 measures 2mm at the ends and 1.7mm in the center of the spoke. A Wheelsmith DH13 is a single butted spoke. A double butted spoke is thicker at both ends and thin in the center. A Sapim "Sprint" spoke is 2mm diameter at both ends and 1.7mm diameter in the center. Since spokes generally only break at the ends, that puts extra strength where you need it most. The thinner section in the middle saves weight, and allows the spoke to stretch slightly as the wheel is subjected to stress while riding, resulting in fewer cracks around the spoke holes in the rim, and less stress at the elbow of the spoke.

Wheelsmith XL14 and Sapim Laser spokes are 1.5mm diameter in the center. They save quite a bit of weight with little or no loss in durability. Since the center cross section is so thin, these spokes cannot take as much tension as thicker spokes, and are not suitable for use on the right side of dished rear wheels, of with disc brakes. As you tighten them, they don't achieve high tension, they only stretch out longer and longer until they break. However, they are perfect for front wheels and for the left side of dished rear wheels, which don't need as much tension. I highly recommend them for front wheels and the left side of rears. But I do not recommend them for the right side of modern road rear wheels since the right side requires very high tension.

So, for the right side of modern road bike wheels, I recommend either Sapim Sprint (2.0mm-1.7mm-2.0mm) Sapim D-Light (2.0mm-1.65mm-2.0mm)or Wheelsmith DB14 (2.0mm-1.7mm-2.0mm). All of these spokes can get to high tension without damage. As I write this in February 2021, we are close to running out of longer lengths in Wheelsmith DB14 spokes. But we have plenty of Sapim Sprint spokes which have identical dimensions.

Sapim also makes a 2.0mm-1.8mm-2.0mm spoke called "Race". I don't stock it, and here's why. If the Sapim Sprint with a 1.7mm center couldn't hold enough tension for the right side of a modern rear road wheel, I would stock the Race spokes. But since the Sprint can hold the tension, and since it's the same price as the "Race", I don't stock the "Race". Some builders will prefer building with the heavier "Race" spokes because they tend to wind up a bit less when tensioning the wheel, so the build takes less time since the builder doesn't have to "unwind" the spokes. I've been building wheels since 1969, and I take out the windup without really thinking about it. Maybe it takes me an extra minute to build a wheel. The Rohloff spokes are made by Sapim and have the same diameters as Sapim's "Race" spokes.

Wheelsmith DH13 spokes (2.3mm at the hub and 2.0mm from there to the rim are extremely strong and stiff and should only be used with very strong, stiff rims. Lightweight rims are likely to crack around the spoke holes with heavy stiff spokes like the DH13.

In order to use the Wheelsmith DH13 spokes, the hole in the hub flange must be large enough for the thicker spoke end. Shimano road hubs like Ultegra and Dura Ace have small spoke holes.

Aluminum nipples can save some weight at the perimeter of the wheel, which aids in acceleration. They cost a bit more and aren't as durable as brass nipples. But if you're trying to get to the top of the mountain as fast as possible, let us know and we'll use aluminum nipples for your wheels. Be aware that if an aluminum nipple should crack, it is not covered by my lifetime warranty!

When you order black spokes, we'll assume you want black brass nipples, unless you ask for nickel plated brass nipples. Some people want black nipples with their unplated stainless spokes. Spokes and nipples are priced separately.

Please don't ask me to build wheels with other brands of spokes, or to rebuild wheels for bikes with rim brakes with your rims or spokes. I only build wheels with the rims I sell and the spokes I sell. I go to great lengths to be sure that the wheel components I use are good enough that I can give them my lifetime warranty. The exception is using rims for disc brake bikes. For disc brakes, the roundness of the rim is a bit less important than it is for rim brakes. So I don't need to be quite so fussy.

The fact that I don't use certain products doesn't mean that they're no good. What it means is I haven't determined to my satisfaction that they are good enough for me to stake my reputation on them, or perhaps that I don't consider them a good value. I can't know everything, and life is short. So I stick with what I know and that keeps me out of trouble, even if it annoys a few people. ;-)

If I've built you a wheel in the past and you've worn out the rim, and you now would like the wheel rebuilt, it's not cost effective to have me re-use the spokes. Nor will I re-use the spokes if you take the time to unlace them from the rim. There are too many potential issues when re-using spokes, and I will not risk having a wheel fail in order to save a few dollars. And I'm perfectly willing to lose some business to uphold my standards. Sorry, but this is not a negotiable issue.

So, in a nutshell, if I'm going to build you a wheel, it will be with new spokes that I sell you, and a new rim that I sell you. Also, the hub must be suitable to the task. Whether or not you buy the hub from me is irrelevant, and whether or not it's suitable is something you and I can discuss either in person or over the telephone.

Sapim CX-RAY

Sapim CX-Sprint

Sapim Laser

Sapim D-Light

Sapim Sprint

Sapim Force

Sapim Leader

Wheelsmith DB14

Wheelsmith XL14

Wheelsmith DH13

Brass Nipples

Aluminum Nipples

Rohloff Spokes & Nipples