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Following on from my earlier question about truing them, I was wondering if anybody could point out the advantages (and perhaps disadvantages) of flat spoked wheels?

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3  
Can we have a picture of them (or something similar), please? – Amos Nov 15 '10 at 14:19
@Amos: same comment as previous question, youtube.com/watch?v=QEDaGiWdhJI&t=1m54s :) – Matt Ball Nov 16 '10 at 3:51

3 Answers

up vote 5 down vote accepted

From what I've read, they claim an aerodynamic advantage, but sometimes at the expense of extra weight. I've been told that they're recommended for flat-land riders, where aero is more important than weight, and to avoid them if any climbing is involved...

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The bladed spokes on my father-in-law's bike don't appear to have more metal than the round spokes on mine, just that the metal they have is flattened out for said aerodynamic advantage. – alesplin Nov 17 '10 at 23:14
up vote 3 down vote

When building or truing a wheel, it's easier to notice if you put a twist in to a flat spoke.

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up vote 2 down vote

Advantage? They make more money for the spoke company.

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