Originally Posted by TandemGeek
Three:
- Don't use the triple-butted Alpine III's; the heads are VERY fat and often times get overly distressed at the spoke hole during the initial wheel build. A lot of folks -- myself included -- thought the Alpine III's would be a tandem wheel builder's dream; however, that was not the case as already described.
- Do use double-butted spokes.
- Do make sure your wheel builder knows how to build a very high-tension wheel that is checked with a tensionometer before and after distressing the wheel.
+1
I'd add that it may be worth considering thinner double-butted non-drive spokes as they will be less likely to go slack even though they have less tension than the drive side. The reason is that they have to elongate more than a thicker spoke to provide the tension, so the displacement required to make them slacken is greater than for a thicker spoke.