- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
Cannondale Synapse Carbon- RS11 wheel flexing into brakes
Not a problem I'm unfamiliar with, the old Fulcrum 7 wheels on my CAAD9 used to do the same, but a little extra tension on the spokes seemed to solve it. On my 2015 Carbon Synapse, the RS11 wheels seem to flex into the brakes with the gentlest of out of saddle efforts. I like my brake pads quite far away from the rim as well so that's not the issue.
Before I go and tension the spokes beyond their limits, is this a frame flex issue or are RS11s typically flexy?
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- Dunnoeither 1 hour 10 min ago
It may surprise the people at Grundig to hear this but bike thieves are aware of the AirTag situation and even the most hamfisted person can break...
- wtjs 1 hour 56 min ago
Let's hope that it makes other drivers think twice before attacking cyclists...
- wtjs 2 hours 13 min ago
You've missed the bit where it's going to court...
- brooksby 2 hours 26 min ago
Don't worry, Gore: the Orange One will probably soon make the use, and possibly the consumption, of PFAS compulsory after he read this TikTok...
- biking59boomer 2 hours 29 min ago
Never been a fan of the hanging merthod of storage. Too much weight on the front wheel for my liking.
- wtjs 2 hours 50 min ago
Ashford only needs something to break down or a slight accident and you might as well forget it as it's gridlocked...
- chrisonabike 3 hours 27 min ago
Japan - luckily people can see what that's about through the power of the Internet. Short - not transferrable (although bringing in kei cars and...
- Hirsute 3 hours 52 min ago
All sorts of people are subject to hatred and othering under the fascist, nazi regime of trump and musk. I'm sorry I did not give a exhaustive list.
- ChrisA 3 hours 57 min ago
Blade Mews is private, so you have to ask why the council thought it reasonable to (legally) restrict cycling on a public right of way, that...
- Born_peddling 10 hours 5 min ago
To be fair as much as I like to see decent public rack being put up just not at the cost of taking spaces like these specifically designed to allow...
Add new comment
12 comments
I've just bought a pair of Swissside Franc Evo 3 27mm deep alloy clinchers. I have yet to ride them, but the quality appears to be top-notch, and reviews compare them favourably to Dura-Ace C24s, with the stiffness supposedly a very strong point. With 20% off (until year end), I paid £276.
Mmm... they do look nice, maybe a toss up between the RS81 C24s, the Fulcrum Racing 5s/Quattros, or some handbuilt Archetype rims on a suitably nice hub.
Anyway, best let this thread die off now, will be a couple of months before I start spending on new wheels! Thanks all
More to the point, RS-81s.
Yikes, better start saving now then... handbuilt or Fulcrums, hmm...
Have a look at Racing Quattros. I race on Sciroccos (same wheels) and they're plenty stiff.
I had RS10s that displayed similar flex. Tightening the spokes only led them (the spokes) breaking more often (and they broke a lot!). Bite the bullet and get better wheels.
Yeah, apologies monty Dog, poorly written title on my part!
AJMarshal, I don't weigh myself often but seem to fluctuate between 83-86kg, although relatively lean! Hard to know if that is considered 'heavy' by road cycling standards.
Anyway, can't ride at the moment so won't be able to test it for a week or two, maybe time to research building my own rear wheel.
It's the frame that's carbon, not the wheels.
The construction of many carbon wheels i.e. narrow hub flanges, deep rims and shallow-angle spokes makes lateral stiffness a challenge. Best get someone with a spoke tension meter to check/tension the wheels rather than simply winding up the spoke key - carbon rims like even tension.
Fulcrum R7s and Shimano RS11s are shallow / medium profile aluminium....
How heavy are you? I only ask as I have some Fulcrum R7s with about 8,000 miles in them, they have never required trueing and the only time they rub is during hard cornering. I'm 80kg when at my absolute heaviest and not exactly shy on the watts.
Oh well, just to follow up on my own thread, it has been pointed out to me that I am unlikely to be putting out more power than Peter Sagan, so it will not be a frame flex issue!
Apparently spoke tension also makes little difference, so I may not achieve anything by tightening the spokes.
Time to back the brake pads off a bit further until I can afford a stiffer wheel then!