Many high-wheelers suffered from the same low-tension problems as wooden rimmed wheels. The spokes were very long, the metallurgy precluded tensioning the spokes like harp strings, and many (most?) wheels did not use the bent head, threaded nipple design that is in general use today. I have even seen wheels that had spokes threaded into the hub flange--but these were radially spoked. So the reason for T&Sing wheels for ordinaries may have been the same as that for wooden rims, to keep the spokes from rubbing against each other.
Since we all have seen evidence of spokes wearing where they cross, I think we have seen first hand that a spoked wheel is not "infinitely stiff in the vertical plane." While there is certainly more give in the tire than the rim, I think it is ludicrous to think that that a complex structure like a tangentially spoked wheel doesn't change its shape when loads are applied. It violates basic laws of physics. I read once that MIT had developed measuring devices that were precise enough to measure the deflection of a steel I-beam when a quarter was placed on it.
Steve Barner, psyching himself up for the four-gap ride this weekend. Should I go wood or aluminum? Hmm....Where''s my soldering iron?
No, tying and soldering started with the Ordinary (high wheeler) bicycle before wood rims. A broken spoke getting wrapped around the hub had disastrous consequences.
Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal