Originally Posted by
Rowan
I understand what you say, but wouldn't it be obvious that the spoke wasn't going to line up with the original hole in the fairing... that there would be a significant bend in it which would then put undue force on the fairing? Or that the spoke wouldn't protrude in the right place to actually thread into the hole on the rim itself?
We still don't have a good description of the actual config and damage.
I haven't seen those wheels in person, but if the fairing is non-structural, then it would likely be designed to be as light as possible. And, a decade old, it probably wouldn't take much to do some damage.
It is quite likely the holes are only off by 1mm or so. Lacing the wheel, everything is loose, and you couldn't tell a thing. Only as the spokes are brought up to tension would it become clear that something was seriously wrong.
Still, the rim isn't transparent. So, one would only see the spokes resting on the side of the spoke holes, and might not realize how serious of a problem was occurring.
Hopefully the OP has had a chance to inspect his wheel.
PICTURES?