Originally Posted by
Jeff Wills
IMO: there's very little difference in strength between having the "pulling" spokes on the outside as opposed to the inside. However, there's a good reason for putting them on the inside: if the chain comes off to the inside of the cassette (or freewheel), pedaling will tend to push the chain away from the hub because it's rubbing against "leading" spokes. If the spokes are "pulling" or "trailing", the chain will tend to be forced towards the hub, jamming it that much harder.
I hear this logic and can't understand the thinking involved. At the height where chain/spoke interaction is important, namely close to the flange, the spokes that are elbow out are the ones that matter. If these are leading, they act like turbine places coming over the top of the chain and forcing it inward until it is forced past the elbow and trapped.