Does anyone out there have any advice or experience with types and brands of aero wheels that are more comfortable than others? I’ve only ridden one aero wheel one time and it was a Spinergy. I realize it’s not as aero, but I couldn’t believe how much softer it made the ride feel. Usually on my Carbonaero fork and Aluminum frame I feel everything and the Spinergy was a welcome change. Others have told me that other wheels make you feel everything and they can be jarring. Is that the case for all of them? even the real high end ones?
The Spinergy Rev-X is the only wheel out there with significant vertical compliance. If you are looking for a really soft ride that is the way to go. The negatives are that the wheel isn’t all that aero, the fact that they are no longer made, and the fact that some of the wheels were not very durable.
Wheels with carbon rims and carbon spokes tend to take the buzz out of the ride, but they don’t really make the ride less jarring. If you read any of the wheel compliance tests, you will see that in there is virtually no difference in wheel compliance (Spinergy RevX excepted). This is contrary to what people will tell you, but people are not the most objective source for this kind of thing. People tend to feel what they expect to feel.
Another way to increase comfort is to go with fatter tires at lower pressure. You may pay a slight weight and aerodynamic penalty. Other ideas are a suspension seatpost, a softer carbon fork, double wrapped bar tape, etc.