Re: [CR] tubular rims/straightgage spokes

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:29:34 -0500
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] tubular rims/straightgage spokes
In-Reply-To: <018701c87686$e61fad30$4001a8c0@compaq>
References: <022320080420.28405.47BF9F00000E280D00006EF52215575114CE0D909F09@comcast.net>


At 05:45 PM 23/02/2008 -0800, David Snyder wrote:
>I fail to see how a 15g spoke in a slightly larger hole creates any
>additional cyclical stress on the bend.

When there is clearance in the hole, the tension will cock the end of the spoke at an angle and try to straighten the elbow. The variation in tension between when the spoke is on the top and on the bottom will flex the elbow every rotation of the wheel. It's at the elbow where spokes usually fail from fatigue. Even with a butted spoke in the same situation, there will be less flexing at the elbow because some of it will occur in the narrow part of the spoke.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada