Do you have more rear spokes than front spokes?

I'm under the impression that the back wheel needs to be stronger than the front for obvious reasons, so why isn't it more common to have fewer front spokes than rear?

This is much more common on road bikes, sometimes track wheelsets too i guess.

There's nothing stopping you from building a wheelset based on 18 hole front and 32 hole rear hubs.

I guess that as rims got stronger, the difference made by the number of spokes was less noticeable, and then 32 became industry standard for a while..
my fixed is 28/40.

for factory wheelsets it's more common to see less spokes at the front.
i guess it's because when people buy hubs to build wheels they just get a pair of matching 28/32/36 hubs and rims.
with fixed you can then put the unworn rear rim on the front. (you probably knew this already)
just looked at my pair of DT factory wheels and they are both 28's but radial front 2cross rear.
most of the factory built wheels on chain reaction seem to be radial front and/or a lower spoke count.

with fixed you can then put the unworn rear rim on the front. (you probably knew this already)
Yes, I did know that - I was planning on doing it in the not too distant future - but I completely forgot about it. I'm glad you mentioned it, I've now changed my mind about buying 16 spoke hub and rim.

my fixed is 28/40.

I didn't know you could still get 40 spoke hubs/rims!

I'm under the impression that the back wheel needs to be stronger than the front for obvious reasons, so why isn't it more common to have fewer front spokes than rear?

Because hubs and rims sometimes come in pairs.. perhaps? It is quite stupid though.

I didn't know you could still get 40 spoke hubs/rims!

They came with my Caygill.
Actually, I need a new 40H rim - any suggestions people?
(Not too costly please as it's only a normandy hub..)

Check sjs rims prav they have a few 40 holers, but they may be on the wider side so you might have to run 25 mm tyres minimum.

e.g http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Sun-Sun-Rhyno-700c-Alloy-Rim--Silver-790.htm

may have to go 28 mm with these.

Bloody touring wheels! Thanks mate.
Sadly 28s aren't gonna fit in my tight rear.

Search on here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html for the words "How many spokes"

I can't see why one would strive to achieve a different spoke count in each wheel when it's that much more hassle than building a matching pair? You buy matching rims and hubs suitable for your needs (i.e 28 hole if you're comfortable with that on the rear wheel), build them up and you're done.
(Quite clearly this is when applied to non-competitive cycling)

Richard Cheese: You'd never need 36 spokes in a front road-wheel with a newer rim..

Even though you are not competing theres still a difference in spinning up a wheel that weighs in at 1.2kg with tire+tube, and one thats 900g with tire+tube.

I have been very happy this summer running a MIche 36h rear laced to a CXP-14 rim, and a Campy Shamal 16h front.
Sadly it is getting winter here in Denmark, and that means a shitload of salt on the roads, so last week I got a used set of wheels, 36 spokes, Velocity Deep-V's on "Ambrosio"-hubs (no-name i guess).
I do feel a difference in how lightly the bike runs, or at least my mind is telling me that there's a difference.

Low spoke-count just simply look really nice imho..

(Sadly I don't have a pic with my winter wheels, they look pretty amazing with the yellow seat and blue bartape, since they are lime-green DeepV's, hah, weird color-combos rule)

I can't see why one would strive to achieve a different spoke count in each wheel when it's that much more hassle than building a matching pair? You buy matching rims and hubs suitable for your needs (i.e 28 hole if you're comfortable with that on the rear wheel), build them up and you're done.
(Quite clearly this is when applied to non-competitive cycling)

How is it hassle to order a 16 spoke front hub and rim, plus a 32 spoke rear hub and rim? All it takes is a few extra mouse clicks and one extra bit of spoke length calculation, if that's 'hassle' to you then I feel sorry for ya.

or get 36 F&R and take a few random spokes out as you feel like it

I like unequal spoke counts. 40R 32F for the old school English thing. 24R 16F for the weight weenie massive. Its all good. I just built a pair with 36R 32F, mainly due to hub availability. It was fun working out the three different spoke lengths for those. Which I managed to fuck up anyway (drive side too long).

You force me to repost this ! :p

I am running 1 spoke up front and 32 rear.

LexCarbon 700c clincher. on Vimeo

repost!

and where's my crimp, you crimphoarding bitch :-P

You force me to repost this ! :p

I am running 1 spoke up front and 32 rear.

Your cloning and tracking is awesome!

fake bastard :)

aye