Originally Posted by
lazerzxr
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
Terribly sorry. You are absolutely right. I didn't rearrange the vector component directions to make the line of the spoke a component of the lateral deflection. I had it the other way around as you would do when figuring lateral tension during spoke tightening. In a way I am relieved. I knew something was wrong. Thanks for a very good catch. But I wonder about the other things I said regarding lacing stiffening the wheel. Despite my other error, can any of that be correct?