This may be a REALLY elementary question, but I am having some trouble finding an answer.
I took a broken (at the elbow) spoke to my LBS to get a replacement. They measured it and sold me a handfull of spokes. I didn't think to measure them it at the time and, I have used a couple as spokes have broken, including one this morning. I decided to go ahead and order a box to have on hand and went to measure a spoke to see what size to order. I grabbed the broken one (again, at the elbow) and one of the new ones, stood them on the threaded end and held a ruler up next to them. The new spoke seems to be about 4 mm longer than the broken on, measuring to the (approximate) inside of the elbox. Now I am 1) wondering what is the correct way to measure a spoke and 2) picturing 3-4 mm of spoke extending through a couple of nipples, threatening my tube!
So my question is, what is the correct method of measuring a spoke? Also, I have read that a spoke stretches under the tension of tightening. Is it necessary to adjust any actual measurement of a broken spoke to allow for this, ie, subtract 1-2 mm, or is the stretching so minimal as to be irrelevant?
Help, I am imagining a hissing sound already.
Thanks,
Raymond