Spokes and Wheels

[Drunkskunk]

Yesterday I broke my first Spoke on the 40X. I'm amazed at how easy it broke, too. the ramp from the sidewalk to the street had a 2 inch lip and I rode off it. I hardly felt it with the long travle fork, gell springer seat, and suspension seat post. but I heard a sharp TWANG, and the anoying "wack wack wack wack" of the spoke whipping the frame.

I'm running 700c wheels, with a 42c rear tire. the new bike is a 26 incher and I was debating moding it to run the 700c wheels. But since I have to replace the spokes anyway, I'm soundering which would be stronger?

Is 26 inch a stronger rim for spokes?
How much less efficent is a 26 inch wheel over a 700c?
Is there a better brand of spokes in sizes for the hub motors?

 

[Mathurin]

Been reading about this over the past few days. Mostly what I've found is hearsay but in a nutshell general belief seems to be that, for a given extrusion and tire width:

26" has better aero, lighter, accelerates faster, is more nervous, stronger.
700" has less rolling resistance, rolls over bumps better, is more stable, better braking.

Also it seems the "26 at 28, or was it or 32 spokes? (I forget) would be comparable in strength to the 700 at 40 spokes. However, with the way the larger rim & tire handle bumps, it seems a 700 can get away with using narrower tires & rims so as to get better aero and less weight, making for a faster bike.

http://www.precisiontandems.com/artbillwheelsize.htm
http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/700-26.html