Aerospokes! High performance bicycle wheels and aerodynamic bladed spokes...
Aerospoke wheels are made of a carbon composite material, not carbon fiber. They'll never need to be trued, unless of course you ride straight into a curb.
Bike Spokes are made by several different manufacturers, including Phil Wood, DT Swiss, and Sapim.
Phil Wood makes a spoke cutter/threader combination machine. This machine retails for around $3500-4000 and is a complex work of art. The main purpose of having a spoke cutter is so that a shop can carry less inventory. A shop can carry one standard length and guage of spoke and use it to replace spokes in wheels ranging from 27 1/2" to 700c or mountain bike sizes like 26" and 24". Spokes differ by length as well as thickness (gauge). Some bicycle spokes are butted, meaning they are thicker at the ends and thinner in the center for weight savings. Reduction of rotational weight allows one to build a wheelset that accelerates and decelerates quickly.
More info coming soon! Check out eBay auctions for aerospokes as well as aero spokes.
