How many spokes are on an adult sized bicycle wheel?

Answer 1

Wheels can have as few as a dozen or so spokes to well over 100 depending on the intended use, but traditionally most bike wheels on single rider bikes have had 28, 32 or 36 spokes and wheels on tandems have 40 or 48 spokes. Wheels with fewer spokes tend to have aerodynamic advantages for two reasons: firstly, the drag from the spokes themselves is reduced. Secondly, the reduced number of spokes means larger sections of rim are unsupported, necessitating stronger, deeper-section rims. Such rims tend to be aerodynamic, although there is often a weight penalty. More spokes usually means more strength and durability. However, equal and appropriate spoke tension is the key factor to strong bicycle wheels that remain true (circular and wobble-free).

Answer 2

No definitive answer to that. Most common spoke number on standard bikes is 36/wheel, but pretty much anything goes. Nice road bikes can have 24 or lower, while tricked out cruisers can have 72 or even 144. A smaller wheel can survive with fewer spokes, so the good money is on 36 or lower.

Answer 3

That's really hard to answer, as the preference varies with style of bike, vintage and country of origin. Nevertheless I'd say that for some sort of general-use utility bike most will have 36 spokes in heach wheel.

Answer 4

No way of telling. Old standard was 40 for the rears and 32 for the fronts. A very common spoke count is 36 for both front and rear, but 32 is getting quite common too. More expensive bikes and pure road bikes can have 24-28, but you can find down to 16.

Answer 5

There's really no telling, as there are too many factors that would influence the decision. What discipline? Road, Cyclocross, MTB-XC, MTB-DH?

What riding conditions? Road-time trial? "regular" road race? Flat or hilly terrain? Smooth or poor roads?

Type of rider? Heavy? Light? All-rounder, or a climb/sprint specialist?

Could be anything between 16 and 36. Most probable something between 18-24.

Answer 6

Depends, most have 36 spokes in each wheel but some have 48. It's also entirely possible to have different numbers of spokes in front and rear.

Answer 7

The spokes on a bike are the thin wire-like rods which attach the rim of a wheel to the hub of the wheel.