OK, after months of umming and ahhing, I'm on the verge of ordering a shiny new Alfine hub. But what spokes to get?

I had been assuming that a normal 3-cross pattern would be appropriate, but I have seen a few comments to the effect that 2-cross would be preferable. Would anybody like to comment?

Oooops

Write out 100 times:must do a search first, must do a search first…

As you were. 😀

Indeed 3 cross is tough on a large flange.

For style go 2 cross snowflake. 🙂

I went 3 cross to a Salsa Delgado Disc rim with 257mm spokes. A Mavic 717 would need 259s.
I have had problems with spokes breaking at the thread but I don't know if that's due to the angle of the spokes or because I used Sapim spokes which I have now heard a few rumours about suggesting they aren't as good a DT Swiss.

Mostly Balanced, I asked about this and got some interesting replies on the Thorn forum.
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=2056.0
Short answer, kink the rim at each spoke hole. 😯

Just built one. Its going well.
2 cross, 32 x 238mm rohloff spokes (sapim really) from SJSC.
Mavic xm317 rim.
No complaints at all.

I have 2 cross on my dynohub.

2x better on 26s, 3x might be ok on 29er rims…

MilitantGraham — I tried kinking the spoke holes but gave up after the first hole when the screwdriver I was using bent without seeing any movement in the hole.
At least I can conclude that Salsa rims are well tough!