Wheel Balance

[Falco]

Just wondering, does anyone here balance their road wheels, and if so is there any noticeable difference between balanced and unbalanced?

 

I've never worried much about it, but recently got some 50mm rims, so obviously a longer, heavier valve stem as well. When these wheels come to rest, it is always with the valve at the bottom. Putting the magnet on the opposite side doesn't make much difference ~ it is too light.

 

Internet searches indicate most riders just ignore it. I can't help but think that at speeds over say 60kph, a balanced wheel will roll smoother than an unbalanced one. Anyone tried balancing? What was the outcome?

[GaryvdM]

The efficiency gain is negligible. On a car, if the wheel is not balanced, it causes the energy to be dissipated into the damper and the tire. This does happen on a bike but it is much less energy that is dissipated, because there is no damper (for road bikes) and tires are at a much higher pressure.

 

I would like to do the maths sometime to actually calculate how mach the energy loss actually is.

[Eugene Oppelt]

My carbon hoops has the same effect and also when riding I can clearly feel the valve area whizzing about.

 

I've seen PRO teams use a counterweight on the opposite end of the wheel's rim (180 degree) to off-set this imbalance.

[Pure Savage]

My carbon hoops has the same effect and also when riding I can clearly feel the valve area whizzing about.

 

I've seen PRO teams use a counterweight on the opposite end of the wheel's rim (180 degree) to off-set this imbalance.

 

Just take them to tiger wheel and tyre and they can put it in the spinny thingy and then hammer some lead on

[David Marshall]

You will get no advantage by balancing wheels. Too many other forces in play. If you put a bike on a workstand and crank it up you will see just how unstable the whole set up is. That said, I always offset my valve with my magnet directly opposite!

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

The efficiency gain is negligible. On a car, if the wheel is not balanced, it causes the energy to be dissipated into the damper and the tire. This does happen on a bike but it is much less energy that is dissipated, because there is no damper (for road bikes) and tires are at a much higher pressure.

 

I would like to do the maths sometime to actually calculate how mach the energy loss actually is.

It's also because the rotational weight of a cars wheel is WAY higher than that of a bicycle

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

 

Just take them to tiger wheel and tyre and they can put it in the spinny thingy and then hammer some lead on

 

Imagine that hey

:-O