Originally Posted by
Lombard
A wider rim does not necessarily make a stronger wheel. It has more to do with build and a higher spoke count.
I don't agree. All things equal, a wheel with a heavier rim, with more metal in it, will be less likely to break spokes than one with a thinner rim. Dish also matters a lot. Dishless tandem wheels can be very strong in spite of a low spoke count.
First, I used to tour on a 36 spoke rear wheel made with a Mavic MA3 rim (470g weight), and broke three rims and ten spokes before lacing the same spokes and hub to a Rigida Sputnik (745g weight), and it has not had any trouble under the same conditions. Same builder (me), same spokes, same hub.
Second, Look at Santana's tandem-specific Shimano wheels, which only have 16 spokes, but are dishless and have special, heavier rims. According to Santana, they were subjected to the same mechanical test trials as Santana's 40-spoke wheels and the 40-spoke wheels broke first.
I would also love to have more spokes, yes. But above 36 you get into specialist tandem components. Heck, even getting 36 is hard sometimes. I put an ad up looking for a 135-spaced silver 36h rear cassette hub and have had no responses in two weeks. And even tandems are going to heavier rims with fewer spokes now.