Originally Posted by
Dave Nault
Again, This is one of those areas where "what can you find for replacement" on the road should dictate. I had my wheels built with straight gauge spokes because in the event I break more than the spares I carry, I was told that straight gauge are available everywhere.
This makes absolutely no sense. It is
not an issue to replace a butted spoke with a straight gauge one if you can't find an identical butted replacement. The important parameter for replacements-in-a-pinch is the length and possibly the gauge of the threaded end (if you don't want to/can't replace the nipple).