Originally Posted by ventolin
In that case, I'm totally interested in getting an explanation about straight gauge vs. butted spokes in the context of wheelbuilding for heavier riders... I've just started building wheels myself, and am about to build a few sets for some friends that are heavier riders. Could you (pretty please) ask your wheelsmith why straight gauge is better in this application than butted? It may save some of my friends a case of the "wheels that go KaBoom!" in the near future if he (she?) is correct!
In search of perfect spokedom,
-T
You need to think of the wheel as whole.
If you had to choose between rim for stiffness or spokes for stiffness, Jobst brandt would say take the stiff rim and use butted spokes.
Best combo: Stiff rim with flexible (butted) spokes
worst combo: flexible rim with stiff spokes.
In addition you can also increase the spoke count.