Originally Posted by
fooferdoggie
I am terrible explaining what I mean. Heavier gage spokes can be stronger yes but they are hard to tension properly hard on the rims. So using 14 gauge spokes will make a stronger wheel because they can be tensioned right. Of course double butted or triple butted spokes are the strongest thats what I have on my wheels. But what all the wheels smiths I have talked to have said is heavier gauge spokes aren to needed for a strong wheel.
And, yet again, no, thicker gauge spokes aren’t any more difficult to tension than thinner spokes. If you need to increase the strength of the wheel and don’t use butted spokes, heavier duty spokes will last longer for much of the same reason that triple butted spokes with thicker heads are stronger than double butted. Anyone who says that a spoke can’t be tensioned properly, no matter what the gauge, doesn’t know how to build wheels.