Nobody (no-one, not even one) is arguing that spokes support load in compression. What is being said is that it is the reduction in tension in the spokes at the bottom which acts to support the normal load on a bicycle wheel. That truth has been amply explained many times by people who have actually studied the question, performed measurements, and done mathematical analysis.

"The load pushes on the hub which transfers the load to the rim via the spokes on the top of the wheel,which pushes down on the ground. The rest of the spokes keep the rim from deforming/collapsing through tension."

That is 100% (maybe more than 100%) wrong. In truth, the load is carried by reduction in tension of the spokes at the bottom. No, they do not support the load in compression. Nobody ( not even a ******** Labrador retriever) claims that.

"IMO a first order geometrically linear analysis without pre stress is not appropriate to draw some of those conclusions. It may be that a more robust analysis would get the same answer, but on its own I dont think that particular analysis is worth much."

What? You're criticizing an analysis by someone whose name I infer to be Ian and claiming that it is not worth much. Would you explain a bit why you think that this is not a linear problem and how a "more robust analysis" might give different results? Besides, he considers pre-stress.

" push down on a straw and it will buckle with very little force. pull on a straw and i bet you can not pull it apart."

Ok, pull on a straw a whole bunch and then push on the the straw by a half a bunch . Does the straw buckle?


**** I did not use a nasty/dirty word in reference to any Labrador retriever. Labradors, in my experience, are wonderful and very trainable animals and they make great companions and service dogs. It is my favorite breed. However, Labrador retrievers don't spend a lot of their time pondering the greater philosophical questions, and that is not what we expect of them. Even among dogs, they are "lesser" thinkers. The word which I used above, and which has been redacted, is one commonly used to describe those of lesser intellectual capacity. Apparently, Labrador retrievers everywhere have been insulted by my language and for that, I most humbly apologize.