Medic Zero- In no way am I saying that a loosely spoked wheel is right or what we want. The condition will have other consequences (broken spokes, rubbing brakes, etc) that are not conducive to finishing a ride quickly.

But if put in isolation of these other issues does a "soft" wheel retain energy? I'm just not sure how much looseness creates how much energy gain (as in how much energy is transfered from the forward rolling of the wheel to friction of the spokes rubbing against each other or against the hub/rim holes).

Once again, I maintain that most people confuse the issues at play when talking about what is perceived VS what is actually going on. Andy.