>Sheldon "Flange Size Is An Aesthetic Issue" Brown
>Newtonville, Massachusetts
I agree except where the flanges are large enough to exchange rear spokes without removing the freewheel. That, in addition to aesthetics, was the reason behind the very large flanges on 1940s French bikes and tandems.
Speaking of myths: Remember the one that wheels with less spoke
tension were more comfortable? If the spoke tension is low enough
that it can vary significantly when going over bumps (and thus absorb
shocks), the wheel goes completely out of true within less than 100
miles - usually much sooner.
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.mindspring.com/