Interlacing 3 cross spokes ?
YO !
I'm wondering y'all's opinion about the necessity of interlacing the spokes on a 3-cross [front mtb] wheel. By interlacing I mean that in the outermost intersection, head-in and head-out spokes are usually crossed so that they make contact and a slight bend.
I have heard that this relieves the load on an extremely stressed spoke by transferring some stress to the intersecting spoke (especially in a tied and soldered wheel) and adds lateral stiffness. But I think you could also argue that not interlacing them gives a straighter line from flange to rim for more consistent tension.
The wheel in question:
Paul fhub 32h
Wheelsmith 2.0/1.7/2.0 DB spokes
DT brass nipples
DT XR4.1 rims