Wheels - is the choice fast or comfortable?

Baybash

Can I have both and of so what would you recommend? If not what would you suggest for comfort?

balthazar

Comfort isn't a variable for wheels: bike wheels are practically rigid in the vertical plane. Tyre deflection is two orders of magnitude (100x) higher, so that's where to look for comfort. Useful wheel considerations are durability, ease of repair, cost, aerodynamics, weight (in roughly decreasing order for me).

dennisn

balthazar wrote:

Comfort isn't a variable for wheels: bike wheels are practically rigid in the vertical plane. Tyre deflection is two orders of magnitude (100x) higher, so that's where to look for comfort. Useful wheel considerations are durability, ease of repair, cost, aerodynamics, weight (in roughly decreasing order for me).

+1... comfort is in the tires(mostly)

Barteos

You can have both if you go for wider tyres.
On typical british roads they will make you more comfortable and faster.

topdude

A lot depends on how the wheel is constructed. Deep profile rims with fewer spokes at high tension can be quite harsh. Lower profile rims with more spokes at lower tension ie (handbuilt 32 3cross) can be quite compliant giving a less harsh ride.
If you want speed and comfort get some handbuilt by a respected wheelbuilder and specify what you want from them.
Also as above, 25mm tyres at reasonable pressures ie (70/80/90 psi) will make a big difference to comfort and still be quick.

Baybash

Thanks for the answers. I've currently got Mavic CXP-22's on my Specialized Secteur Elite. These have Specialized All Condition Pro II, 700x25c tires on them. They seem comfortable enough (particularly at lower pressure) but was thinking about what mighht be a decent upgrade.

balthazar

Baybash wrote:

Thanks for the answers. I've currently got Mavic CXP-22's on my Specialized Secteur Elite. These have Specialized All Condition Pro II, 700x25c tires on them. They seem comfortable enough (particularly at lower pressure) but was thinking about what mighht be a decent upgrade.

If you already have 25mm tyres at low pressure, there isn't a lot further to go for more compliance on most road bikes. If your frame has clearance for 28mm tyres (or larger), they will help, with no cost to rolling resistance if you don't choose thickly treaded and belted ones. You may consider padded bar tape, or two layers of normal tape.

As I wrote, it's a red herring to look at rigid elements like wheels (and frames) for compliance: they have none to give.

alan_sherman

I'd disagree with balthazar, but based purely on experience rather than a sound scientific basis. My Kyserium SSCs feel less comfortanble than my 32 SSDB 3x handbuilt wheels with open pros. Same tyres and tubes on both.

25c good supple tyres (Vittoria open Corsa CX) with latex tubes at 90 psi on the handbuilts are sublime. Some lighter hubs, (28 spoke front), alloy nipples and veloplugs instead of rim tape would make them an amazing pair of wheels for what you want. Fairly light (fast uphill), comfortable, and the added properties of durable, repairable and cheaper than a lot of factory wheels.

Wheelspinner

Buy the fast wheels.

Comfort is for nancies.

Rezillo

alan sherman wrote:

I'd disagree with balthazar, but based purely on experience rather than a sound scientific basis. My Kyserium SSCs feel less comfortanble than my 32 SSDB 3x handbuilt wheels with open pros. Same tyres and tubes on both..

Same here, with some anecdotal evidence on top. Swapped Aksiums on one bike for open-pro rimmed wheels with similar 23mm tyres at 120 psi. With the Aksiums, a handlebar camera mount was unuseable due to vibration on anything other than flat tarmac whereas on the Open Pros it was ok.

I had put the camera vibration down to the bike's straight forks and light frame (camera was fine on my winter bike) but clearly these were not over-riding factors. The ride is noticeably smoother although perhaps not as dramatic as this example sounds - there may be some resonance involved for the mount as well.

John

AsthmaticPieEater

My own experience is that comfort is critical. I'm relatively new to cycling but my LBS built my bike and lent me some Spinergy XAero Lite wheels for a few weeks whilst I decided which wheels to buy for myself.

I lasted one day on the Fulcrum racing wheels I bought before going back to the shop. They were kind enough to take the Fulcrums back and the private joke was that they knew I would be back (just not the next day)

The Spinergys aren't cheap but they are pretty light and extremely comfortable. They use PBO for the spokes which absorb a lot of vibration but it is also very strong.

wildmoustache

I agree with those saying you can feel a difference in comfort between wheels. Perhaps the lateral stiffness of wheels (which does vary considerably) has an impact on comfort? Spoke type, tension and length?

As an extreme example, I've ridden a rear disc wheel back to back with a shallow rimmed wheel with steel spokes and they felt very different, the latter being far more comfortable.

I can also notice a difference in comfort between some of my alu and steel spoked clinchers - the latter being more comfortable.

No doubt though that tyre pressure and width has a huge bearing on comfort