Suspension’s got to help, but rigid dirt jump bikes seem to do OK with 32 spokes.
Fatigue’s got to come in to it as well. DH bikes take some big hits, but for what, ten 5 minute runs in a day between uplifts ? Meanwhile, a touring tandem has done 100 miles.
Stu, when you say the rims battered, do you mean dented ? More spokes wouldn’t help that.
identicalbutlighter, thanks for the real world example.
I’ve built a pair of wheels for the current tandem, Rohloff rear and Hope Bulb front, both 32h, on Spank Stiffy rims with Maxxis Larsen tyres.
We haven’t used it much since I put them on, so I wanted to hear from anyone who has done it long term before deciding what to put on the new bike.
We won’t really be doing “mountain biking” on it. We want to do longer road rides, but with the option of linking up tow paths, Sustrans routes and easier bridleways and forestry roads.
The sort of thing that would best suit a CX or hybrid solo.