spoke loading analysis

jim beam

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Sep 4, 2005, 11:37:39 PM9/4/05

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thought you'd be interested to see my latest mathematical perversion - a
wheel standing on it's bottom spokes.

http://home.comcast.net/~carlfogel/download/205lbs.jpeg

[that's my lardy 205lb hindquarters you can just see top right, with my
clearly defective tensiometer inset top left.]

thanks to carl for graciously hosting.

Leo Lichtman

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Sep 5, 2005, 1:02:43 AM9/5/05

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"jim beam" wrote: (clip) [that's my lardy 205lb hindquarters you can just
see top right, (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You have toenails on your hindquarters? Do you have trouble finding a seat
that's comfortable? Better have that seen to.

Phil, Squid-in-Training

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Sep 5, 2005, 1:26:42 AM9/5/05

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> [that's my lardy 205lb hindquarters you can just see top right, with
> my clearly defective tensiometer inset top left.]

If it's broken, what are you trying to prove?! ;)

In all seriousness, what's your ultimate analysis, as stated in the subject
line? You don't have the tensionmeter on the TDC spoke... what's it like
there?

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

jim beam

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Sep 5, 2005, 10:10:06 AM9/5/05

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maybe analysis is not the right word - try observation. i'm simply
showing that a slack spoked wheel can take my full body weight sitting
on the top tube of the bike - it doesn't need tension to avoid collapse.
i removed the bottom spokes because if they were already slack before
i loaded the wheel, then the "standing on the lower spokes" part of the
wheel loading explanation we all know & love is clearly irrelevant to
the ability of this wheel to support my weight.

tdc spoke? i tried that, but my tensiometer kept flopping about and
wouldn't photograph unless it was hanging with the gauge end down a
little. actually, all these spokes have a teensy little bit of tension,
but it's too low to read on the meter.

you may also be interested to know that i also stood full body weight on
one pedal of this bike with this wheel leaning over at an angle of 20+
degrees. it flexed a little, but it took the weight ok.

Sock Puppet

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Sep 5, 2005, 10:31:05 AM9/5/05

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jimmy beam, ride down Page Mill Road with that wheel!

--
Sock Puppet

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jim beam

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Sep 5, 2005, 10:33:42 AM9/5/05

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only after i've gotten around to loctiting the spoke nipples! ;)

Ron Ruff

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Sep 5, 2005, 3:51:58 PM9/5/05

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jim beam wrote:
> thought you'd be interested to see my latest mathematical perversion

Where is the math?

Well, it is an interesting demo anyway. After you get the spokes all
loctited @ nearly zero tension and ride it for awhile, let us know what
you find.

41

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Sep 5, 2005, 6:44:03 PM9/5/05

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Clarification, it might become interesting after he rides it for 1000
miles in serious use. He'd better videotape it because I won't believe
his report without it. Nice photo he took huh, what does legerdemain
mean anyway or is it legerdebutt or isn't that wall handy... what is
supporting what exactly? Anyrate, who cares, let him ride the thing and
videotape it and come back when he actually has something worth
discussing.