Black rim, black hub, should I use black spokes?

I'm about to build up a pair of the skinny Rigida SX100 rims (all black) onto formula hubs also in black with gold nipples (to match the rigida logos). I'm undecided as to weather to use black spokes or plain shiney stainless ones. Most if not all the bike will be black also.

what would you go for black or silver spokes (probably use ACI ones from cyclebasket to keep costs down)??

been thinking the same thing for a future build, basically come to the conclusion that black is for stealth, silver to give a bit of bling!

which in fairness isnt a conclusion at all more just a summary of my reasons....

Some people think spokes are compromised by anodizing. I can't say I've noticed any difference in fatigue resistance between black and silver per se.

It's a Bucks Fizz situation.

I'd go silver, it will look nice

yeah silver

Some people think spokes are compromised by anodizing. I can't say I've noticed any difference in fatigue resistance between black and silver per se.

It's a Bucks Fizz situation.

+1

but black scratches quickly and looks shit.

silver is more hetero

indeed so.

Silver.

silver,
black apparently shortens the life/strength of the spoke, fuck knows why, some one told me.

basically come to the conclusion that black is for stealth, silver to give a bit of bling!

+1

black on black looks very stealthy

i think black, sorry!

I like the look of black wheels, I don't know about the life/strength of the spokes, but sound I bit of a myth, innt?

old school says silver, but black is back.

silver.

black is faster

I've heard the anodizing can weaken spokes too (but I've never broken a spoke on my own wheel builds) I've also heard the finish it leaves can cause rubbing spokes to creak more than plain unfinished stainless. I honestly cannot see either of these issues really being an issue.

I think I'm leaning towards black, or maybe 3 leading in silver and 3 trailing in black?

in the grand scheme of things .. it's not really that important.

just make up your mind and HTFU.

If anodizing weakened the spokes, folk like DT Swiss whose business and reputation lives and dies on their spokes (and that reputation is good) would either not anodize their spokes black or find an alternative method for blacking up their spokes.

black is faster

Yes, black spokes are around 3% faster than silver spokes.

dt did some ti-metal matrix GOLD spokes a few years ago, highly expensive, but ultimate in bling!

What about powder coating spokes?

in the grand scheme of things .. it's not really that important.

just make up your mind and HTFU.

Nope, not really important at all, but things like this pass the time at work :p

If anodizing weakened the spokes, folk like DT Swiss whose business and reputation lives and dies on their spokes (and that reputation is good) would either not anodize their spokes black or find an alternative method for blacking up their spokes.

agreed, I cannot imagine it is an issue, even if it does weaken them they must still be plenty strong enough

Yes, black spokes are around 3% faster than silver spokes.

so if I go with black leading and silver trailing I should be 3% faster in the forward direction, bit like Sheldon's 'power wheels' maybe I should go black trailing on the rear so I can skid 3% harder???

What about powder coating spokes?
Thought about that, I wa tempted to do a set white and have black hubs and rims, black nipples and white spokes, PITA preparing them though, I would meed a conductive stand (bit of steel box section) with 72 holes drilled in it and tapped to M2 to thread the spokes into, to earth them for the powder coating to stick and prevent the threads getting covered. At some point I will do powdercoated spokes but I'll go for a much sillier colour.

dt did some ti-metal matrix GOLD spokes a few years ago, highly expensive, but ultimate in bling!

Are your gold nipples alloy? Lots of lube and a careful hand needed with the spoke wrench to prevent seizing and rounding off the nipples.

Are your gold nipples alloy? Lots of lube and a careful hand needed with the spoke wrench to prevent seizing and rounding off the nipples.

Yep alloy, I have built rims with plain alloy nipples before, plenty of linseed oil on the spoke threads and nipples, and a PROPER fitting spoke key is a must, I use one of these which I have had no problems with:
http://sports.ciao.co.uk/Buddy_Spokey_Red_Euro_US_Spoke_Key__6837994