When building a three-cross pattern wheel, I've always been accustomed to the outside spokes crossing over two and go under the third spoke. However, I noticed that the Fulcrum Sport rear wheel on my Bianchi with a 3-cross pattern on the drive side, has the outside spokes crossing over all three spokes instead of over two and under one. The non-drive side of the wheel has eight radial spokes and there are 16 spokes on the drive side.

So I recently built a spare rear wheel with a 24-spoke, 3-cross pattern. This wheel has 12 pokes on each side and was built with all outer spokes crossing over three spokes instead over over two and and under one on both sides.

Does anyone see a problem with this unusual - to me - crossing pattern?

Thanks!

Jason

I've never built a 24h wheel, but it's been my understanding that with 24h, 3X will give you spokes that are greater than tangent to the flange circle and that you will have interference between spoke heads and adjacent spokes. Been told that 2X is max crossings for 24h hubs.

Thank you for the reply desconhecido.

Yes, the clearance between spokes and spoke heads is indeed marginal with a 24H 3X pattern. But what are your thoughts about crossing over three spokes instead of over two and under one?

Jason

It's called interlacing. Interlacing is a good thing, and I can't think of a reason not to interlace. They didn't interlace the wheels on the old Raleigh 3-speeds. I guess it took a while for them to discover the advantages of it.

There are arguments for one way over the other and vice versa. Theoretical in nature, however in the real world it makes no difference, just so long as the spokes are woven over or under. I have done it both ways without a difference in performance or longevity.

More likely, they were able to shave a few seconds off the time to build each wheel by not interlacing. With 32 (front) and 40 (rear) spoke wheels, they were plenty strong even without the interlacing.

I got a job as a shop mechanic in 1978. The shop sold Raleigh bikes, among other brands. We sold a few Sportses but not many. The spokes were still not interlaced on the Sportses but they were on the other models. It was as if there old folks making the Sports but young folks making the Grand Prix etc.

Interesting bit of history on "interlacing" from a Raleigh perspective. Attached is my 24H by 3X wheel without interlacing. Some folks were concerned that 24H was not suitable for 3X but it seems OK to this non-wheel-building expert
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OK, Looks like 3x 24 is like 4 x 36 hole, tangent pull.. long spokes..

My Small 349 wheel, Bike Friday is 24 hole , 2x, rear hub, a skip hole 36..

Front of the other a 20" wheel BiFri, interlaced also, 32 hole 3X Rohloff; rear interlaced 1 cross..