Orient Express - Cheap Chinese Rims / Wheels / Forks / Frames / Cranks / Etc

Whatever it is, it's not really relevant. 16 CX-Rays are strong enough for a front wheel. Using stiffer spokes with low height rims probably makes their problem - too little radial stiffness in the rim - worse, by forcing higher stress concentration, rather than letting the spokes stretch to force rim deflection to spread the asymmetric loads across more spokes.

Anyway, 76kg whippets need not worry too much. My 24mm deep RS80s with just 16 spokes up front seem fine for moderate off road use under my near 100kg body.

Cheers. That makes sense. I hadn't really thought about it like that before - essentially the spokes are pulling a smaller/larger circle depending on rim size.