I'm no engineer but I do know that the rim/tire is a continuous hoop running from the ground to the top (where rim brakes are usually found) and back to the ground again. I would suggest that braking forces are transmitted through the rim, around the rim, and to the caliper/fork. The spokes will see extra stress from the weight transfer but not from braking forces being carried through the spokes.


Consider that the braking forces are far greater then any ability for the rider to power the bike forwards. Yet under the lesser (compared to braking) forces of pedaling will and do wind up a fully radial rear wheel. Were the same spoke path of changing rotational forces be the case for braking (as for pedaling) then we would see many radial front wheels suffering from brake induced wind up. That we don't suggests to me that the spokes don't carry the braking forces when a rim brake is used.


It's really neat how this stuff has already been figured out in the lab of real world use. Regardless of what we think we need to look at real life models and apply their results into our theories. Andy.