« on: January 09, 2013, 03:10:10 pm »
More Wheel Facts.Double butted spokes are stronger than straight gauge. On the surface, it doesn't make sense. Double butted spokes are thinner in the middle (butted) than a straight gauge spoke but they are stronger because they will stretch instead of break. This is also critical because fatigue is what breaks a spoke.Contrary to popular belief, when you ride, the spokes on the top part of the wheel don't gain much tension but rather the spokes at the bottom of the wheel release tension (as the wheel flattens slightly). Although the top spokes do increase in tension a little the spokes on the bottom lose a significant amount of tension. In that sense you are not adding a lot of tension to the wheel while riding but rather releasing tension and, although I am not an engineer (I am sure I will hear from some who are), I would imagine that fact helps to contribute to the fact that fatigue is what breaks spokes (and not ultimate strength).I would suggest you place bets on this at your next bike club meeting and Google for results. These are pretty well documented.Thanks for reading! John Neugenthttp://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/tension.htm
« Last Edit: January 09, 2013, 03:44:17 pm by jim-ratliff »
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