No it's not. It's threaded through a spoke hole. It will just follow the circular (but vertical) motion of the wheel.emember, every rotation of the wheel puts a twist in the lashing... because it’s threaded THROUGH the wheel, not just attached to the outside.
Around and down, then around and up. repeating. Try it, Hold a piece of string in half. The ends are at the bike, The half is at the wheel.
Move your hand like the wheel going around. It doesn't twist and get tight.... just up and down wobbling the width of the wheel.