Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Part of the problem here is that the rim isn't supported by the spokes, at least not in the sense of nut and bolt type of arrangement. The rim is hanging from the spokes at the top of the wheel as the wheel travels along the ground.
Not on planet Earth. Planet Stuart, which seems to have very different physics from planet Earth, that might be true. But most of us build wheels to work on Earth, where the wheel is supported by the reduction in tension of the spokes on the bottom.
Wheel failure is also seldom due to the rim failing.
In fact, rim failure is the only method that properly built wheels, which haven't been crashed or otherwise abused, fail on planet Earth.