Got a question for y'all (also cross-posted in similar form to RBT...under a safe pseudonym to avoid the spam-bots :^) ).

So, I weigh about 220, and ride a set of speed dreams "aerolight" wheels on my road bike. They are 18F/24R, 14 ga bladed spokes. I love them, they have stayed true over thousands of miles, crappy roads, no problem. I love them, until I get out of the saddle.

When climbing out of the saddle, or sprinting, they seem to rub the brake pads (in front, not sure about rear). I mean, I think I can see them hitting, and it sounds like SOMETHING unauthorized is going on when I really crank. Sort of like a hissing sound, associated with my downstroke on the pedals.

So here is the question: Would I always have this problem, because of my size/strength? Should I invest in a set of higher spoke-count wheels? Should I just open my brake calipers more?

Could this be the result of the crummy carbon fork on my lemond alpe d'huez (2001)? reason I ask is that if my wheels were really flexing that much, I figure they would have gone out of true by now, which they have not. Not the tiniest wobble.

Thanks for any help,

Philbert

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Dr. Philip Skiba
Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes now available on Amazon!