Actually, Greg said 'you may want to use straight-gauge 14-gauge spokes.'
Greg actually uses primarily 15-gauge spokes himself, fwiw. Often straight-gauge, sometimes double-butted. But Greg doesn't weight 190 pounds, or commute on tubulars. He does have 21 mm tubulars on his everyday ride, but here in the snow belt, the riding season can be kind of short, and starts (for him, anyways) after the potholes are filled. Additionally, he carefully avoids any remaining potholes like the plague, since he typically rides on about 290-gram rims and 250-gram tires. Plus, he doesn't ride as many miles as he used to in his younger days, anyways.
Greg Parker
Ann Arbor, Michigan
> Greg recommends 14 gauge straight gauge spokes.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> I respectfully disagree. Butted spokes, with their thinner section on the
\r?\n> straight portion where there is only tension, not shear, force, go a very long
\r?\n> way in preventing damage at the elbow of the spoke, the flange of the hub or the
\r?\n> spoke hole in the rim. This is especially important when using a hardened rim
\r?\n> like the GP-4.
\r?\n> A stronger spoke does not necessarily make for a more durable wheel, at least in
\r?\n> my 30 years of wheelbuilding experience.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Earle Young
\r?\n> Madison, Wisc.
\r?\n> Offering expert wheelbuilding services for classic and modern bikes