Topic: spoke question

[friedfish80]

Ok so im in the middle of watching "Long Way Round".

(To bring you up to speed on what it is. Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman ride from London to New York on a BMW GS1150.)

As there setting up to leave there taking zip ties and tieing them around the spokes of the wheels where they cross.

What is the reason for this?
Would i benefit from this?
Anyone heard of this?

[rhinoracer]

It's a trick used by desert racers, watch closely on some pics of SCORE bikes and you'll see. Some use zip ties, others use safety wire. My guess is safety wire will give you more strength than zip ties but if JC uses zip ties he should know better. It also helps when a spoke snaps.

[Bill Vaughan]

No idea about the movie, but certain races/events (i.e.: SCORE Baja) require that spokes be wire tied for safety reasons.  Some also suggest that it reduced wheel flex, although that's debatable.

Unless you're planning to race your bike in such an event, you can probably leave the zip ties in the tool box.