I've been trying to find an aero, laterally stiff wheel set, and that's some what light weight in that order, but I've been coming to a wash each time.

I've tried Zipp 101s and 303 Firecrests with Zipp 188 & 88 hubs and those are very flexy when I put lateral force on the brake track with my hands--meaning, if I push the rim of the wheel towards the brake pad it would easily touch (with greater than 5mm pad clearance!).

My friend has told me the Enve 45s laced to DT Swiss 240s do the same as well. Will the Enve SMART 3.4 tubulars laced 20/24 to Chris King R45 hubs do the same?

Anyways, what's the issue here? Am I overlooking something or are wheels supposed to flex that much from side to side? I don't get it.

The 3.4s laced to Alchemy hubs or Tune hubs will be laterally stiffer than CK or DT. When I build 3.4s I use Sapim Race on the drive side of the rear wheel. That build will be much better than other options mentioned.

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You are not missing anything. That is why some of us pay up and ride Carbonsport Lightweight Tubulars. No more flex.

So pushing the rim with your hands is the indicator and test for how stiff a wheel is?!?!

I can do that with any wheel, they are carbon fiber, not solid tempered steel.

But seriously, I believe the stiffer the wheel, when pedaling, the more it will move between the brake tracks.

Mavic Cosmic Carbone ultimate tubies are some of the stiffest out there.

I run Zipp 303 firecrest, pretty darn stiff.

If Big Tom Boonen can ride stock 404 FC...I'm sure they are good enough for just about anybody for stiffness, aero and ride quality.

He also said aero.

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as Zigmeister said, many here have a ill conceived notion on wheel stiffness.
Both a very stiff wheel and a very soft wheel will rub the brakes.
The difference is that a very stiff wheel won't deform as a soft wheel does, meaning a lateral force on once side creates a deflection to the opposite on the top side of the rim.

as for the Zipps, better make sure the preload is set correctly or they'll move quite a bit.

Forget the side to side, or at least place less of a priority on it. Wheels all deflect - they need to otherwise they would need to be incredibly over-built (heavy) to survive. The rotation rigidity is more important, as that is where your effort transfers & translates to forward movement.

Adrien's posting here (clipped from a previous repost) explains with more scientific basis (& a lot more experience) what you are raising question against.

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