Originally Posted by
rpenmanparker
Yes, I kind of agree as you say, on the face of it. You have to make sure your spoke hole drilling and flange design allow this. Some are designed only for radial heads out. If allowed, the crossed lacing does give some improvement despite the longer spokes because 1/2 the spokes are heads in. He says there is data showing the crossed lacing is stiffer. As I said in an earlier post, wheel statics and dynamics are so complex, it is hard not to miss something in a quick and dirty perusal.
Thats a good point about the drilling being compatible - not all hubs would allow it. I guess the other consideration would be the deflection of the flange itself which would be larger with radial and reduced with a cross lace. Not knowing the sectional area of my hub or the exact alloy properties I cant calculate how significant that would be but I would think the bracing angle is far more influential.
I earn a living using finite element analysis, Ive often thought that one day I'll answer some of these questions for myself but I never get around to doing it. Too much like work I guess.