Black or stainless spokes?

[Gtpulse]

Think I know the answer to this already but I’d got as far as taking photos so thought I’d ask.

The braking surface on these is starting to wear quite a bit and I found a pair of identical mint rims, the Raleigh Pro-build sticker swung it as they are going on a Raleigh. The existing wheels have black spokes, nothing wrong with them just occurred to me all my retro stuff has stainless spokes. So I had a check in my big pile of spokes and I do have enough of the correct length stainless Sapim ones to change them all over.

So leave them black or swap to stainless?

The wheels and the bike they are going on

 

[ishaw]

I used to think black spokes all day long on black rims, but at some point my mind swayed and I think stainless look better against the black.

 

[retrobate]

Black spokes are the devils work!

 

[novocaine]

stainless painted black.

 

[bikeworkshop]

stainless painted black.

That's what cheap black spokes are.

The spokes you've got don't look great quality or condition - I'd say if there's nothing stamped on the head, swap them out.
Cheap spokes can become brittle and start breaking in normal use.

But if it turns out they are branded, then live with them.

There's too much crap in the world, but we should preserve the decent stuff.

Black or silver as a colour choice ought to be further down the list

 

[Imlach]

Pink.

 

[novocaine]

That's what cheap black spokes are.

The spokes you've got don't look great quality or condition - I'd say if there's nothing stamped on the head, swap them out.
Cheap spokes can become brittle and start breaking in normal use.

But if it turns out they are branded, then live with them.

There's too much crap in the world, but we should preserve the decent stuff.

Black or silver as a colour choice ought to be further down the list

if only. cheap black spokes are carbon steel painted black. medium priced are stainless painted black and expensive are blackened.

I assume the question is really, black or silver. in which case, silver, but with black nipples (just because, but make sure they are brass), but I was rather enjoying myself and my little joke.

 

[Gtpulse]

Pink.

Unfortunately not in the selection I’ve got in the big pile of spokes. I’ve got blue, sadly not enough to do one wheel let alone two!

 

[Gtpulse]

That's what cheap black spokes are.

The spokes you've got don't look great quality or condition - I'd say if there's nothing stamped on the head, swap them out.
Cheap spokes can become brittle and start breaking in normal use.

But if it turns out they are branded, then live with them.

There's too much crap in the world, but we should preserve the decent stuff.

Black or silver as a colour choice ought to be further down the list

Yep they look pretty crappy. Think I’m set on the stainless ones. I’m restricting this to what I already have to hand so other colour choices are out. Also I’ve not very adventurous!

 

[Gtpulse]

if only. cheap black spokes are carbon steel painted black. medium priced are stainless painted black and expensive are blackened.

I assume the question is really, black or silver. in which case, silver, but with black nipples (just because, but make sure they are brass), but I was rather enjoying myself and my little joke.

Those black spokes definitely look like they are starting to corrode so suspect they are not stainless underneath. Think I do have some black nipples some where, maybe not enough to do all of each wheel but I guess I could alternate them. Pushing my boundaries here! I don’t have great vision.