The arrangement of spokes in a tangentially spoked wheel is shown in the photograph. The diagram illustrates the shape of an individual spoke and how the spokes are attached to the hub and the rim. The attachment method requires the spokes to be in tension, and they are normally loaded so that their stress in tension is about half the yield stress of the spoke material. The tangential configuration permits the wheel to better accommodate the torques experienced in acceleration or braking. The tension in each spoke is adjusted using the threaded nipple at the rim end so that the wheel rim runs 'true,' i.e. without a local sideways deflection. With a rider on the bike, the tension in the spoke goes through a stress range each revolution of the wheel, but always remains a tensile stress.

From: McMahon and Graham, "The Bicycle and the Walkman," Merion (1992)