hi sender, you who have experience with wheels, don't you think that 18 spokes per wheel are not enough to make the wheel rigid? I was thinking about wheels with 20 Peter spokes, but I'm held back by the idea that for a weight like mine, I'm well over 80kg, closer to 90kg, they are too delicate. can you give me your opinion? thanks
Hey! I know a bit about this
but not as much as some! – for context, I was riding my CRW 50-60S wheels when I was around 90 kg and had zero issues. Those wheels have a max rider limit of 100 kg and run 16 spokes in the front and 20 in the rear, also XMC use T1100 in there higher end wheels which is more expensive that most of the the other OEMS I know use T1000 in there higher end wheels.
T1000 vs T1100 Carbon Fiber
Both T1000 and T1100 are high-grade carbon fibers made by Toray, a leading Japanese carbon fiber manufacturer. But T1100 is a step above in performance:
Tensile Strength:
T1000: ~6,370 MPa
T1100: ~7,000 MPa
→ That’s around 10% higher tensile strength.
What does that mean in practice?
With T1100, manufacturers can build wheels that are:
Stronger under stress (better for sprinting, cornering, and heavier riders)
Stiffer with less material
Lighter, since fewer layers or thinner layups can achieve the same strength
Stiffness Difference (10%+):
A wheel built with T1100 can be up to 10–15% stiffer compared to an equivalent wheel made with T1000, assuming similar layup and design. This can translate to:
Sharper power transfer (more efficient sprinting and climbing)
Better handling at speed
A more responsive ride feel
Of course, stiffness has to be balanced with comfort – too much can feel harsh – but T1100 gives designers more flexibility to fine-tune that balance without adding weight.
Toxin probably has a bit more experience than me on this topic, but wheel stiffness depends on a bunch of factors: rim depth, spoke count, spoke type, hub quality, lacing pattern, etc. It’s not always as simple as just counting spokes.
That said, going from 18 to 20 spokes likely won’t make a noticeable difference in stiffness. If you’re really concerned, you might as well go up to 24 spokes, at least in the rear. Stiffness tends to matter more in the back wheel, especially for heavier riders. So you could run 18 in the front and 20 or even 24 in the rear.
To put it in perspective, adding 6 carbon spokes only adds about 18.6 grams (carbon spokes are around 3.1 g each), which is basically nothing.
Also, deeper rims are naturally laterally stiffer than shallower ones, which helps even more with wheel rigidity. Rim depth plays a key role in stiffness too, especially lateral stiffness, so it’s another factor to keep in mind when looking at overall wheel feel.
In general, increasing spoke count and switching from steel to carbon spokes both increase wheel stiffness. Carbon spokes can add around 8–15% more stiffness compared to steel. Each step up in spoke count (e.g., from 18 to 20 or 20 to 24) can increase stiffness by roughly 5–8%, though the gains tend to taper off beyond 28 spokes. The goal is finding the right balance between stiffness, weight, and comfort depending on your riding style and terrain.
By the way, what rim depth are you considering? And what wheels are you currently riding – have you had any issues with them?
Personally, I wouldn't want super stiff wheels either – it has to be a balance. But finding that sweet spot can be tricky. Some riders know exactly what they like and stick to that format.
A 50/50 or 50/60 mm front/rear setup is a great all-round rim depth option – enough aero benefit without being too twitchy or overly stiff.
