Anyone seen a wheel built with alternating black and silver spokes?

[Fab Foodie]

I was riding alongside a pals Bianchi with a black wheelset with the exception of 2 spokes painted white. The thought occurred that I'd never seen a wheel with alternating black and silver spokes.
Is it because it would look carp or is there any another reason?

 

[theclaud]

The thought occurred that I'd never seen a wheel with alternating black and silver spokes.
Is it because it would look carp?

Yes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Yes.

Do you know or do you surmise?

 

[srw]

You build it, we'll do the artistic criticism.

(For what it's worth, I think the wheels built with two red spokes look horrible - as if someone's done a bodged repair.)

 

[theclaud]

Do you know or do you surmise?

I know it would look crap. That this is the reason people do not do it is surmise. Wild surmise, if you like.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Wouldn't it mean that one side of the wheel would be white and t'other side black?

 

[Biker Joe]

The two white spokes indicate where the valve hole is. Or so I've been told.
Don't ask me why this should be necessary.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

The two white spokes indicate where the valve hole is. Or so I've been told.
Don't ask me why this should be necessary.

On Easton wheels the 2 white ones are actually thicker than the rest - it's to offset the weight of the joining block in the rim, which just happens to be opposite the valve hole.

...and they are bloody annoying

 

[winjim]

The two white spokes indicate where the valve hole is. Or so I've been told.
Don't ask me why this should be necessary.

I usually locate my valve hole by looking out for the valve that's poking through it. I've found it to be a reliable method so far.

 

[Davidc]

I usually locate my valve hole by looking out for the valve that's poking through it. I've found it to be a reliable method so far.

But how do you find it when there's no tube on the wheel? After all a hole is, by definition full of nothing, so how do you look for and find nothing when there's nothing in the hole to show you where it is?

 

[cyberknight]

My commuter has 2 black spokes and the rest are silver, i cannibalized an old wheel for the spokes when they broke but i reckon as they are hidden by panniers i can get away with it.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Not exactly what the OP meant, but it does prove @theclaud to be exactly right

 

[dellzeqq]

never mind what it looks like - imagine, if you will, how it might have happened.........

 

[Biker Joe]

Oh no! I can't pump my tires up because there are no coloured spokes showing me where to find the valve.

 

[Bryony]

I saw a black specialized mountain bike for sale in cycles uk today with black spokes and 2 lime green ones! I just thought it was weird!!