Spoke gauge (size)

[Crazy Nick]

Can someone educate me on spoke gauge/size ?

I have a couple of Stingrays which have S-2 rim on rear S-7 in front and a 24 inch Typhoon which has front and rear S-7 rims, all appear to have the same spoke gauge. I know that early 80's Schwinn cruisers have thicker spoke gauge but what's the specific size difference ? Is 10 gauge thicker or thinner than 12 ?

 

[RustyGold]

Lower the number, thicker the spoke. 13-14guage are normalish, 12guage pretty stout, 11guage was used for some of the heavy duti or heavy service bikes bitd.

 

[Crazy Nick]

Thanks..

I called a specific bike shop because I know they have several vintage Schwinns as displays but when I called and asked about spoke gauge the guy seemed more clueless than I was..

 

[BartRidesEternal]

The information I got at a wheel builder:
"Coloured nipples are almost always 14g and aluminum".

Though, 13g comes in black...

I almost always use 13g spokes. When mountainbiking, I broke some 14g nipples.
Never had issues with 13g stainless steel so far.

12 or 11g are used for mopeds here

 

[RustySprockets]

Also, I've discovered some Schwinn middleweights sporting double-butted spokes. I'm not sure that applies to Sting-Rays or Krates, but it certainly applies to some bikes. Not all spokes are created equal.