I’ve decided to have a go at my first wheel build.

I’m using a Mavic XC717 Disc rim (32 holes) and a front Hope Pro 2 disc hub.

I’m planning to get the spokes from Chain Reaction, which use 14mm nipples.

I want to copy an existing wheel, which has a spoke pattern like this:

Is this a ‘cross 3’ pattern?

I’ve tried a couple of calculators, including DT Swiss but don’t seem to be getting very far with determining the correct length to order.

Any help would be appreciated to avoid a catastrophe.

Looks like a 3 cross, what are you having problems with on the calculator?

Well, I fill ot all of the boxes on the DT Swiss calculator and then I get a page of writing in German after hitting ‘calculate’. I get no indication of spoke length.

Strange, give me two minutes and i’ll get the lengths for you.

261mm and 263mm

Use this when you’re ready to build – the diagrams are great and really helped me.

OK, just figured it needs left and right pattern.

Now I get this:

So, which size do I order? It’s telling me 259 and 261.

Chain Reaction list 258, 260 and 262.

Is there much room for error?

Using an Excel calculator, I get this:

Now I’m more confused.

Different lengths for left and right?

So now from 4 sources I get the following:

Coatsey: 261.0 and 263.0
DT Swiss: 259.0 and 261.0
Spocalc (from Sheldon Brown) 261.0 and 262.8
Wheelpro: 260.8 and 262.6

Now, Chain Reaction won’t take them back if they’re wrong and only supply in boxes of 36.

😕

260 and 262 is the closest you’re going to get from CRC whatever source you go for. CRC always used to send out the correct spokes if you told them what rim and hub you were using – and they might even do you a box of mixed lengths

Don’t know how you’ve got that answer on DT site,but check the exact length just above and it shows 261 and 263. guess it’s because you’re using 14mm nipples rather than standard 12mm. If that’s the case then 260 and 262 will be fine.

as coatsey says, only the DT calculator allows you to specify a spoke length so it has made an adjustment fof the fact that you are not using the 12mm standard.

If you’re going with 14mm nipples Id go with a box of 260, if with 12mm nipples then a box of 262.

Thanks for all the replies.

Stoner: The only reason I’m going with 14mm nipples is that that’s what CRC say they supply.

So, based on all of this I’ve ordered everything this morning and asked CRC to sort the spoke lengths!

Are those spokes really gold? 🙂

No, that’s just the lack of flash in the picture.

Wheel is all built up now. CRC supplied me with 260 and 262mm spokes.

I now have a nice true wheel.

If only it was round!

What’s the top tip for getting it round without upsetting the trueness again?

No top tip i’m afraid, get fairly true side to side, true radially, true side to side(tighten/loosen in pairs to prevent losing radial trueness) then tension fully.