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Stiff wheels for 90kg rider

Can anyone recommend a stiff set of wheels for a 90kg rider (me). Having dropped down from 125kg in weight, I still have issues with brake rub on the rear wheel when climbing. I have released the brake caliper to allow more space between rim and pad, but still have the same issue. Bike is a Merida Reacto, which feels super stiff so I'm sure it is the wheels that are flexing. Current wheels are Fulcrum Racing Quattro and I'm looking for something that won't flex so much. 

 

Any thoughts/advise would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance

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15 comments

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chrislee99777 | 8 years ago
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wavey_davey | 8 years ago
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I'm about 120kg - clearly not built for going up hills  - but I have Shimano Dura-Ace C24s on one bike and Reynolds Strike SLGs on another and both cope really well with the weight/power.  I haven't experienced any issues with brake rub, flexing etc.  Have read that Bontrager wheels don't have any rider weight limits on them too.

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cooperman | 8 years ago
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I am 103kg and like to hammer up hills from time to time... I have some 2015 Mavic Aksium Elites and some DT Swiss R23s ... and I don't have issues with brake rub.

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VeloUSA | 8 years ago
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With spoke counts of 18/21 that is not enough spokes to handle your body mass which is causing your hoops to lose torsional stiffness. You should be looking at hoops with spoke counts of 32+. Also, rears should be 3x on the drive side.  JMO

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Fish_n_Chips | 8 years ago
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Even cheap rims won't flex if the wheel build is good.

Get your wheels checked by LBS if you don't know how to check and tru them.

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Rapha Nadal | 8 years ago
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I'm 93kg and run Campagnolo Bora 35's.  I think I've made them rub once and that was up some stupid percentage climb.  Thumbs up from me!

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dave atkinson | 8 years ago
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one thing i've noted in the past is that the under-the-bb rear brake position as used by the reacto is much more susceptible to brake rub than the seatstay position. wheels don't flex the same amount in all planes, it's a factor of how the drive forces act upon them.

if you're a powerful rider, you'll make any wheel flex; quattros are pretty stiff, like many people have said above. i'm more or less the same weight as you and i've had similar problems with bb-braked aero bikes.

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allanj replied to dave atkinson | 8 years ago
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dave atkinson wrote:

one thing i've noted in the past is that the under-the-bb rear brake position as used by the reacto is much more susceptible to brake rub than the seatstay position. wheels don't flex the same amount in all planes, it's a factor of how the drive forces act upon them.

if you're a powerful rider, you'll make any wheel flex; quattros are pretty stiff, like many people have said above. i'm more or less the same weight as you and i've had similar problems with bb-braked aero bikes.

I've not ridden one myself but from the reviews of bikes with brakes down there this seems pretty common.

 

Sounds like you need a new bike!

 

 

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DoctorCrankenstein | 8 years ago
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I'd make sure there is no play in the bearings (with wheel in place check for any side to side wobble). If there is then tighten the cones slightly so there is no play and then tighten the lock but to it. If its not that then get the spoke tensions checked by lbs. Quattro's really shouldn't flex that much at all.

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700c | 8 years ago
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On reflection both the quattros and zondas are known to be stiff in the rim - different spoke pattern on zonda and rim treatment *might* yeild greater stiffness but debatable.

So as others have said, perhaps your wheels are not correctly adjusted or knacked/ out of true. That said, my Zondas have never needed truing and are still very stiff after 0000's of miles and potholes and 85kg of rider on them!

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Nat Jas Moe | 8 years ago
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Just a thought and you haven't said but are the bearings loose as I have just read that they are addjustable. I don't know anything about these wheels first hand so just a suggestion.

 

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Jack Osbourne snr | 8 years ago
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Summat very wrong if you're rubbing a rim with the brakes opened up.

I'd be getting the wheels checked over by an expert at the first opportunity.

First thing you can do though is check alignment of wheel and brake pads. Undo the QR and allow the wheel to settle into the dropout. Check that it is straight in the frame and that it is centred between the brake pads.

Once happy the wheel is centred, horse the QR as tight as you can.

Then, check the pads for alignment on the rim.

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Vejnemojnen | 8 years ago
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what? quattros flexing?

 

i would usually recommend those for anyone below 111kgs.. :\

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700c | 8 years ago
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Campagnolo Zonda

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CXR94Di2 | 8 years ago
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Bit extreme, but move onto disc frame bike. No more rub and better braking performance

You need to have 32 spoke triple lace to aid stiffness

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