26" front wheel lacing pattern?

[QuestionMan]

When lacing 26" front wheels, with 20mm QR hubs.

What is the best lacing pattern to use? What is the best spoke gauge to use?

This will be for a downhill geometry ebike, which will see lots of off-road use.

 

[-dg]

When lacing 26" front wheels, with 20mm QR hubs.

What is the best lacing pattern to use? What is the best spoke gauge to use?

This will be for a downhill geometry ebike, which will see lots of off-road use.

3X, 14-15 double butted.

 

[botz244]

3x 13 gauge half butt thats what i run on my 85 lb. Ti Muk fatbike with a 100mm rim and 4.8 tire

 

[johnrobholmes]

3 cross. I typically use 13/14 butted. If you could find the right size, 13/15/14 butted would be good too.

But plain old 14g works fine too.

 

[davec]

single cross
13/14 works fine

EDIT:
my mistake i thought this was a hub....
"dg ahhhh okay- yes 3x is correct

 

[-dg]

single cross
13/14 works fine

This is not a motor wheel, it has a normal bike hub, so 3 cross is preferable. One cross is for large hubs to keep the spoke angle more normal at the rim.

 

[Drunkskunk]

3X for sure. The Spoke gauge needs to match the rim. A heavy, stiff, doublewall rim might need 14 gauge. If you're using a light weight singlewall, 16g might be a better answer.

Using Single and double butted spokes is a good idea if the hub and rim can take a larger size. 13/14 single butted or 13/15/14 double butted spokes make for a stronger wheel.

 

[-dg]

13/14 single butted or 13/15/14 double butted spokes make for a stronger wheel.

Several people have suggested a 13/14 or similar spoke. This is a bicycle hub. There is no need to have any part of the spoke 13 ga because bicycle hubs don't have excessively large spoke holes like motor hubs. This is a normal bike wheel and best practice is 14/15 double butted. Most common practice is 14 straight gauge which is cheaper and easier to build but not as quite as reliable. However, a well built straight 14 wheel will last until the rim wears out or the hub flange fails due to fatigue so it is more than good enough.

 

[Drunkskunk]

...There is no need to have any part of the spoke 13 ga because bicycle hubs don't have excessively large spoke holes like motor hubs...

That isn't always correct. The OP stated this is for a 20mm axle hub on a DH style setup. There may be need of 13G heads on the spokes depending on the hub. While we can agree that a shaft of 14 to 15 is all that is needed, the spoke head and elbow take a good deal of punishment, and 13g will make for a stronger wheel.

 

[-dg]

That isn't always correct. The OP stated this is for a 20mm axle hub on a DH style setup. There may be need of 13G heads on the spokes depending on the hub. While we can agree that a shaft of 14 to 15 is all that is needed, the spoke head and elbow take a good deal of punishment, and 13g will make for a stronger wheel.

Perhaps. If the 13 ga elbow is a better fit in the hub, then sure.