Originally Posted by
Dan Burkhart
Turn the wheel so the valve is a the 6 o'clock position. Stand to the side of the bike (does not matter which side) and look down at the valve. The first spoke to the left of the valve should go to the flange on the other side.(away from you) If this is not the case, as I suspect looking at what I can see of your photos, it was laced incorrectly.
This rule is nearly universal although I have seen rare exceptions. CR 18 rims would certainly not be an exception to this rule.
The spoke to the left does indeed go to the far side as it should. So they at least got the spokes in the right place. Still not sure why the spokes have so much bend in them. Can't be a coincidence that this is the first time I have seen this and it's also the first time I have had a rash of spokes breaking at the nipple.