VegasJen

Bought a pair of Reynolds 80mm carbon fiber wheels for my tri bike and finally got them mounted and all sorted on the bike today. I took it for a fairly short ride, only about four miles, but the one thing I noticed is that I hear and feel so much stuff through these wheels. Like every little pebble, every bump, every expansion joint. Pothole, twig, dead bug, everyting. It's like the sound and the feeling is amplified. Is this normal for carbon fiber wheels?

bargainguy

Carbon wheels can be harsh, but they don't have to be. They all have one thing in common, though - they don't have much "give" compared to traditional alloy spoke & rim wheels, and it can be a jolt the first time you ride them.

The greater surface area from the carbon fairings reflects sound and vibration a lot more than traditional alloy spoke & rim wheels. It's like they resonate briefly and not in a good way. That's why you're hearing and feeling more than before.

You're starting off in the deep end with 80mm section wheels. You might find a better compromise with a less severe section. I have a set of Bontrager Aeolus 5's (50mm depth) and I like the ride - stiff, but not overly so, and not transmitting every road imperfection.

Russ Roth

I've noticed riding near people with 80mm wheels there tends to be a lot of transmitted noise, but with shorter profile wheels that noise isn't there. I think its something you just have to cope with and get used to.

rsbob 

What kind of pressure are you running? Be very careful in crosswinds and on fast descents with trucks displacing a lot of air. I have issues in those circumstances with 60mm but yours are in a different, and more vulnerable, league.

13ollocks

deep-section cf wheels can be noisy AF - one of the lads we ride with rides a tri-bike with deep cf wheels, and every gear change emits a resounding clunk - the wheels are like echo chambers

VegasJen

I picked these up very lightly used at a very reasonable price, that's why I went big at 80mm. Also, these are dedicated to my tri bike so it's not like I will be riding them every day. But ya, I was very surprised at how noisy they are. I have started calling it "sproing" because that's kind of the sound they make when you hit any little thing.
Right now I'm at 95psi because that's what Schwalbe specs out. I thought you could run lighter pressure with tubeless but it seems to be about the same from what I'm seeing. Maybe I'm wrong?
These wheels are very specifically and only for my tri bike. I may go with carbon wheels for one or two of my road bikes in the future (or not) but if I do they will definitely be a much more shallow wheel.

Barry2 

I’d come down to 85psi.
Then I’d go to bicycle rolling resistance and compare your chosen tire to a 5000 S TR for performance.

Barry

wheelreason

Yeah, deep carbon wheels are noisy, but I find they make noise rather than transmit road vibrations, though it's often difficult to discern the difference. I ride fairly shallow aluminum rims most days, and as I go by folks, I'll mouth a rythmic "wuff, wuff, wuff", and when asked why, I say "404s..."

indyfabz

This thread needs photos.

t2p

rsbob 

Never go by the max pressure on the tire sidewall. (Yeah this is SO controversial). Instead go to rolling resistance.com or Silca and look up your tire type, weight, road type/s, etc and get the correct pressure

indyfabz

Probably the closest we’ll get.

Barry2 

As requested…… photo

seypat

That not the proper animal to be examining the rim. It should be a donkey.

Fredo76

Donkeys don't like that "Big Wheel" sound.

Wildwood 

Hey,....wait a minute, .... those are our Renton bozos! No carbon experts here, only bolt inspectors.

Bigly disclaimer: not affiliated

i just run the pot shop around the block from the assembly plant. Lunchtime prerolls put a smile on one's face.
(not really)

VegasJen

OMG!!! Bad bird!!!

Note to self: do not let birds out around bike (have two birds).

VegasJen

Ask and ye shall receive.

mschwett 

95 psi on 80mm deep rims? I’m surprised you have teeth left

I’m guessing as a female you’re on the lighter side, isn’t that insanely high? silca’s calculator says 75 psi at 28mm with tubes on pavement for 160lb total load.

seypat

Yes, but it appears the rim assploded!

shelbyfv

Oooops. You know what they say about assume....

wheelreason

LOL.Had a yellow naped Amazon that loved chewing brake cables, stripped them to bare metal

VegasJen

You're dead on about the assumptions. I don't think I've ever been called light. Just not built that way. I only wish.

Lamont Cobb

I'm more of a vintage guy and therefore have no use for carbon wheels, but that doesn't mean that I'm down on them. I think they're fine if you can afford them.