Originally Posted by ls01

1) the spokes at the bottom contribute more than the spokes at the top. HOW? They have LESS tension. how can something have less tension and do more work?
2) He also states that the spokes at the bottom pull the hub down. But all the spokes are pulling on the hub ,all in different directions. the load is pushing the hub down which causes the rim to deform ,lowering the tension on the bottom spokes. those spokes are doing less. How do you see an increase in tension in the bottom of the wheel if several of the spokes are relaxed
If you can say that the spokes on the bottom are pulling the hub down , then I can say that the bottom spokes are actually pulling the rim up, and since the rim at the top is attached to the hub with spokes that are in tension, which by the way is higher than the tension of the spokes at the bottom, then the top spokes are pulling the hub up, or the hub is suspended from the upper spokes.