Wheel flex

[jack smith]

Ive got some mavic aksium race wheels and ive just noticed over the past few days flex in the rear wheel, the tyre has actually been contacting the chainstays and i have marks on the inside of either one, ive checked for play in the hubs and there isnt any, checled spoke tension, qr ect and they dont seem out of the ordinary however if i move the wheel by hand it can easily be moved to contact the chainstays, could this just be a case of needing a service? As i remember the wheels were very stiff and to be honest when i think about it now when i put the power down i can feel the rear wheel flexing. Any ideas? As i, scared to go out on it due to the damage it could cause to the chainstays

 

[ColinJ]

Are you sure that it isn't the chain stays flexing?

My steel-framed Basso flexes when I stomp on the pedals, whereas my oversized-aluminium Cannondale is pleasingly unyielding.

 

[jack smith]

Its an s works tarmac sl4 so one of the stiffest bikes around lol

 

[Fab Foodie]

Are you heavy?
Powerful thighs?
Flexy frame?
Skewers tight?
Is the Aksium the laterally stiffest wheel in the world .... possibly not?

 

[jack smith]

15 stone, massive legs ect yes but i can move the wheel to contact the frame with little force the skewers are nice and tight, ive never had them contact before though thats the thing the chainstays arent flexing at all its definatley the wheel, can lack of spoke tension cause this?

 

[ColinJ]

Its an s works tarmac sl4 so one of the stiffest bikes around lol

Have you considered that it might be the wheel flexing?

 

[jack smith]

Its definatley the wheel! Frames fine i tried it with my friends wheel and it was fine, i just need to know how to sort it!

 

[ColinJ]

I can't be bothered to go and check my Aksiums at this time of night but you've got me curious, so I will have a look tomorrow and see what mine do when lateral forces are applied.

 

[jack smith]

That would be helpful cheers!

 

[sittingbull]

Just checked my Mavic Aksium Race wheels and they're both smooth and true after 5000 miles. I'm lighter than you at around 10 stone.

I checked at 5 or 6 places around each wheel and there's no detectable lateral movement between the blocks.

Strangely at one point on each wheel I felt a miniscule amount of "chatter" (really barely detectable), which if they were cup n' cone bearings (I know they're not) I'd keep an eye on.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

That's interesting. I noticed something similar with my Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4 bike. When I'm pedaling up steep hills, if I get off the saddle to pedal, I hear a rubbing sound which appears to be coming from the front wheel. The forks for these bikes seem to be pretty solidly built, so perhaps the wheel is flexing? I have 36 spokes rear and 32 front, so I'm surprised at this behaviour.

 

[sittingbull]

........ When I'm pedaling up steep hills, if I get off the saddle to pedal, I hear a rubbing sound ........

I would get that on the rear on my Allez with the standard Alexrims, more noticeable in the wet, but I don't think I've had it with the Mavics. Neither have ever contacted the frame, even when the cones were loose on the Alexrims.

 

[jack smith]

Might just be a curse on specialized's then haha

 

[sittingbull]

The clearance between the wheel and the chain-stays on this Tarmac SL is minimal to start with. I'd say the chain-stay is visibly flexing between 20 and 22 seconds and again at around 42 seconds.

 

[Levo-Lon]

If it was my expensive wheel or a cheaper onefor that matter, id just get it checked by a good wheel builder as spokes may be under torqued, ..stiff frame good hub and skewers,must be spokes then..