Just exactly what does spoke count and rim type have to do with ride comfort?

J

JimmyS

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Like do some rims have more natural flex than others? Do fewer spokes/type enable more shock absorbtion on a rough surface? Is there really a significant difference relative to tire selection? Can you reference your answer, or is it just your opinion?

Thanks for the help here.
I credit Jie C for stirring this subject up. Great answer bikework. You'll likely get the points.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anc9.QPeN_GpHSOjPV4oPP1axQt.;_ylv=3?qid=20090319222932AA88qTu
 
The answer to your question is much more complex than you might think. It is actually a combination of every part on the wheel that contribute to the ride... even spoke material, tension, gauge, and lacing has a lot to do with it.

Generally, wheels with more spokes require less tension on them to maintain structural rigidity. Combine this with a low profile rim and you have a VERY strong yet compliant wheel. If you were to compare a 48H wheel with 4x and radial patterns you would know that the radial wheel, although lighter, also is the weakest but stiffest of them all but does not handle lateral loads very well at all. The 4x wheel would be the heaviest but be far more comfortable and much stronger than the radial.

You can find high performance wheels with as few as 12 spokes (assuming a traditional design spoked wheel) in a radial pattern. The rims are usually a deep profile and have VERY short spokes. Extremely stiff and strong and usually light, they endure high stresses which limit their life.

I am getting too involved here.

Suffice it to say that (all else being equal) a 4x laced wheel with lower tension will be more compliant, stronger, and last longer than the aforementioned radial pattern.

Tire selection is very important when it comes to ride quality. Higher air volume (NOT necessarily higher pressure) and more flexible sidewalls will help ride but reduce durability.

This is physics at work here and if you had the gumption it would probably be easy to find formulae to prove out these things. I, however, have no desire to go beyond what I learn in real and practical application.
 
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