Originally Posted by
Steveytaaffe
A flathead screwdriver should work fine, if it fails do not cut the spoke out. This could cause the rim to be bent, the truing process to be much more difficult. You would most likely force the spoke you replaced to be overly tensioned making it hard to create a true, hop-less wheel. Down the road nipples heads could possibly pop off and spokes would break.
Say what?
How would cutting the spoke out have a different effect from simply loosening the nipple via a wrench or screwdriver? Both have the same effect of de-tensioning that single spoke. Granted, if you cut it, it de-tensions very rapidly, though nothing to worry about on a 32/36H wheel I feel. Certainly better than having that same spoke break out on the road.
In any case, if the choice is to cut out and replace a single spoke, or to leave an unadjustable nipple in place, that's a no-brainer!