Originally Posted by
DannoXYZ
...3. this "compression force" reduces the pre-loaded tension on the bottom spokes....
This is really all he's saying, it's not really very novel. To Josbt, it's a breakthrough. To a good engineer, it's a reference point issue. The fact that Josbt thinks it's a breakthrough is telling. The fact that he claims this is proof the wheel is standing on the bottom spokes makes me wonder what he really understands about this. My conversation with him was all the confirmation I needed.
The debate is really about how to describe those spokes at the bottom and what they experience and whether that can be considered "load"? I don't like to use either the "stands on bottom" spokes or "hang from top spokes" terms. I prefer to say a wheel carries load by "reducing tension on bottom spokes and increasing tension on top spokes".
Agreed, any freshman engineering student understands that. You have to met Josbt and hear him preach about his breakthrough, he reminded me of Elmer Gantry...all hat.