Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
First, as I understand it bracing angle is the angle of the spoke from the vertical at the flange to the rim. The sine of the angle increases as the angle increases, so as the bracing angle increases, the force needed to stretch the spoke the required length to realize an x mm lateral shift DECREASES.
Read that over a few times and you will see where you have gone wrong. Think in terms of the spoke, when a lateral load is applied it is the spokes job to provide the equal and opposite lateral force to prevent the rim moving. What is the most appropriate orientation for the spoke to do this? Remember that as the spoke stretches more, the force it provides increases. Think of a spoke pulling down almost vertical trying to resist a 100kg lateral load, The lateral deflection will need to be huge before the spoke force builds sufficiently to resist the load