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Machines that build wheels do not have the 'feel' that an experienced wheelbuilder will develop over years of finding out what will and won't work. As whatever is done to any spoke in a wheel will affect every other spoke, this 'feel' is important if a pair of wheels is to aquire optimum strength. In a perfect world, every spoke would be at the same tension as every other spoke: dishing, inconsistencies in rim materials, spoke materials and drilling of spoke holes all conspire against this. Wheelbuilders are generally far better at making the necessary compromises in relative tensions that produce a strong, round, straight wheel than machines are. An experienced wheelbuilder will know from a riders weight, riding style and the intended use the wheels will be put to the minimum weight of rim, number of spokes and lacing pattern that will suit any given customer. These are individual judgements a mass producer cannot make. Hence, a pair of properly executed hand built wheels will suit the purpose better than a pair of machine-built wheels ever could.
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