Carbon Wheels ride harsh?

[DeLuz]

I read about somebody who bought some 50mm carbon wheels and hated them because they rode so rough.
Is this a characteristic of carbon wheels or is the harsh ride just due to the deeper rim?
How would carbon compare to aluminum for the same depth, say 30mm?

Thanks

[nikospeed]

One reads so much...b/s...
People use carbon for weight and dampening benefits, i.e. to take road buzz out of the system. If someone changes a soft alloy wheel for a stiff carbon wheel he might perceive it as "rough" when it's just stiff.
I am into inline speedskating as well (Berlin Marathon A wave) and the switch from a Powerslide alloy frame to EO carbon frame was eye-opening (fwiw we uses 85+ shore wheels)

Hope this helps
Niko

[wheelsONfire]

I read about somebody who bought some 50mm carbon wheels and hated them because they rode so rough.
Is this a characteristic of carbon wheels or is the harsh ride just due to the deeper rim?
How would carbon compare to aluminum for the same depth, say 30mm?

Thanks

If you want a wheelset that rides plush, go for Zipp!
I have never had a wheelset riding as plush!

[velov]

I think it's really hard to generalize, as it depends on the inner width of the wheel, tyre, etc. As an example, the Fulcrum Zero aluminum c17 is the harshest feeling wheelset I own, and that's with latex tubes and Veloflex tyres.

[Hexsense]

Consider a rider use 15mm internal width alloy rim using a 28c tire at 80psi.
Then the same rider gets 21mm internal width carbon rim but then pump that same 28c tire at 80psi.

You see a problem? A bigger volume tire at the same pressure feels harder. So, that rider will think the carbon rim ride so much harder than allow rim at the same 80psi on the same tire.
Yes, that's true. But that's because the rider is now over inflating the tire. Reducing the tire pressure to 65-70psi would then bring back the comfort while preserving the pinch flat resistance and rolling resistance you'd get with the narrower rim in this example.

[TobinHatesYou]

An 80mm rim will almost definitely feel harsher than a 50mm rim than a 30mm rim, but there are ways to mitigate that and a 50mm rim is a lot more aero than a 30mm rim except when going very slow.

[warthog101]

I'd say carbon wheels ride smoother.
I have 4 sets and don't note a harsh ride from any of them.
I rate my campag zondas as the least compliant of my wheels.