Carbon fiber is incredibly strong, and the odds of a rock hitting the side of your rims is pretty small to begin with, unless I suppose you’re riding in a group and someone to the side of you kicks up a rock.

The bigger risk is if you have a flat tire or low pressure and smash into a rock or pothole, and crack a rim.

As I got into gravel this was a concern. Yes in races I have heard rocks hit my rims. And my frame. I run the HED Vanquish 6 and have had zero issues and see no more aesthetic issues than on the road.

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24 Hour World TT Champs-American record holder
Fat Bike Worlds - Race Director
Insta: chris.s.apex

In the past 12 years I have graveled Jets and Vanquishes (not aero disc wheels) fairly extensively. Probably 7000 miles. In the 90s we made a Jet wheel for mountain biking called the cross country. I rode those for years too. In that time, I have certainly heard some rocks whack my wheels, but it is not common. No cracks or holes from rocks flying around. Ever.
I have run into things like logs and rocks - and potholes and curbs. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Impact on a static object can dent an alloy rim or crack a carbon rim - I have done both. At some point you're going to leave a mark but damage is less common than you might think.
We design our carbon rims to be more impact resistant than alloy, but not unbreakable.

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Andy Tetmeyer (I work at HED)