Originally Posted by
cyccommute
The PSI (pounds per square inch) is a measure of the pressure. There is more total pressure on a tire that is pressurized to 100 psi than one that is pressurized to 80 psi. That increased pressure pushes around the tire so that the sides of the rim are pushed outward as well as compressing the rim inwards slightly more which reduces the tension on the spokes.
If that were true, then a 10 pound weight with a 1"x1" bottom would put more pressure on a scale than a 100 pound weight with a 10"x 10" bottom:
1x1= 1 square inch. 10 pounds on 1 square inch = 10 PSI
10x10 = 100 square inches. 100 pounds on 100 square inches = 1 PSI
But the 100 pound weight actually puts 90 more pounds of total pressure on the scale. Or rim, or whatever.
Originally Posted by
cyccommute
We are just going to have to agree to disagree. Not all "savvy pro wheel builders" look on 2.3mm spokes as a "bandaid". I would call Ric Hjertberg a "savvy pro wheel builder" who is open to new ideas and improved products.
I could call him, but I'll just quote Ric instead:
#1 – The single biggest weakness for cost conscious wheels is spoke breakage (also for many high performance wheels as well).
If spoke breakage is a much bigger issue of "cost conscious wheels", why would that be? Are cheap wheels built with lighter rims or cheaper spokes? No, cheap wheels use heavier rims and he's already assuming that the wheels are using DT quality spokes by suggesting substituting a different gauge rather than better quality.
The only real difference between "cost conscious wheels" and custom wheels is how they are built. Custom wheels (the kind you are building for yourself), feature bedded spoke elbows, even tension and stress relief that machine built "cost conscious wheels" do not. That's the difference that he's talking.
If he was talking about low spoke count wheels or lightweight rim wheels, then we might assume something other than build quality is the issue. But it isn't - this is Ric's bandaid for less quality labor, not lower quality specifications.
If you are producing wheels of lower labor quality, then by all means use a spoke with a thicker spoke elbow to make up for your work.