Originally Posted by
Kontact
This is pure hogwash. The spoke elbow will never seat itself and will always be sprung, unless it breaks.
Eric Hjertberg, founder of Wheelsmith and Wheel Fanatyk would disagree.
Now that each spoke is adjusted to the same length as its neighbors, it's time to bend the spokes near their elbow so they fully conform to their direction. Do it by inserting a stout screwdriver shaft between two spokes, just under one of the crosses. Once in this triangle, lever the screwdriver so the handle end rests against the outside spoke and the blade end presses against the inside spoke. A gentle push will bend them into conformity. Go around the wheel "setting in" pairs. This procedure stabilizes the wheel by doing immediately what normally occurs during miles of riding. The life of each spoke is enhanced because each elbow bends less after it conforms to its path. Otherwise, it constantly tries to recover its original shape during riding and fatigues more quickly.
Spokes are also thin pieces of wire that are fairly easy to bend. Thinking that they are springs that are stiff enough to resist bending is silly.