A Brief History of Human Powered Transportation

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With the large (120 to 150 cm) front wheel, spoke patterns became important issue in wheel rigidity. The left photograph shows the radial spokes of a standard Columbia, the right hand diagram the tangential spoking of the 'New Rapid' wheel. The latter configuration reduced spoke bending under acceleration and braking with the concomitant advantage of increased spoke life. Note the wired crossing points of the tangential spokes which reduces their effective free length.

From: Adams, "Antique Bicycles," TAB Books (1981)