superslomo

When I get out of the saddle, and even when I lean into a pedal stroke, I'm noticing some light brushing of the brake pads against the rims of the wheels on my bike.

It's a Cannondale T800, and it's 36 spokes front and back. I thought that even at 210 lbs. I would not have to worry about flexing the wheels under power... it seems almost like there's a slight play when you push sideways on the rims.

They are Coda hubs, which I believe are sealed bearing. do I need to adjust them in any way? Is there any way to even adjust them to tighten them up slightly?

Other option, should I have the spokes retensioned at the LBS? I'm a little bit in the dark, any info would help.

I_bRAD

Wheels flex, especially when you're 210lbs. You could check the bearing adjustment (do you have side to side play if you grab the tire with your hand and push and pull on it?)

Probably you just need to back off the brake pads a bit.

superslomo

There is some play when I push from the side of the rim. More, that is, than on my beater where I rebuilt the cup/cone hubs a little while back.

It's improved a bit by really cranking down on the skewer to tighten it as much as physically possible, but both front and rear seem to rub when there are side to side forces. The pads are backed off a bit, so I'm wondering whether I need to have the cartridge bearings looked at.

draxine

hmm.... by leaning into the pedal stroke, do you mean that you are tilting the bike from side to side quite a lot? Remember all wheels are designed to be strong in the plane of the wheel and not perpendicular to it, so even the best wheels will bend slightly under those forces. Like the other forummer said, I'd suggest setting the brake pads just slightly further out, but not so much that you compromise braking ability.

superslomo

I wouldn't be surprised by it while standing and pulling back and forth on the bars in a sprint motion, but I'm getting it also while seated, which is a new development as far as I can tell.

The pads are backed off a bit as is, so I'm not sure how much further I can loosen them and still be able to brake effectively.

draxine

Do you mean that the wheels rub even when you're seated and not pedalling? If so then you just need to true the wheels.

But if they rub even when you only pedal lightly, I wouldn't feel very confident in those wheels if they bend so easily.

Are you absolutely sure that it's the brake pads and not something else that may cause the rubbing?

superslomo

Seated pedaling while climbing is what typically causes the issue (not light pedaling, hard pedalling while seated, and efforts when standing and cranking on the bars.)

Never used to have this problem with them, so I think I might just go and get the spokes retensioned. I'm also noticing a bit of play in the hub, which might mean that the cartridge bearings are going south??

I think it's the brakes as it makes the same sort of scuffing sound that I get when I just let the pads brush the rim. I haven't dressed the pads in a little while and they have some metallic flaking embedded in them, which makes the contact much more perceptible.

Let me know if any of this makes sense.

draxine

hmm, loose spokes sounds like a plausible explaination, and it never hurts to have someone take a look at them and to get the tension back.

As for the movement in the hub, it sure points to worn bearings. How long have you had these wheels for, and how often/hard to do you ride?

splytz1

You should be able to test for loose spokes just by going around the wheel and testing by hand - if any seems looser than the others, then retensioning the spokes might help... but, I would think that if this were the case, the wheel would be out of true. Is it?

From what you describe, though, it sound like an issue with the hub. If it were a traditional cup and cone hub, I'd say repack the bearings in fresh grease and have a look at the axle. But you say it's a cartridge hub and I have no experience with those.

Have you removed the wheel and had a look at the qr skewer? Maybe it's bent or tensioned improperly?

superslomo

I've had the wheels for about 6 or 7 years, and rode frequently in the first two, and started back up again after a hiatus at the beginning of last year. So four years, three times a week on average I would say.

nitropowered

I've got my brakes set up so you basically have to squeeze the lever to the bar to stop and still have the ability to lock them up. So you should be fine with your brakes.

But, back the the wheel, my guess is the spoke tension is pretty low. If you don't know how to tension up your spokes, take it to a shop and they should take care of you.

sknhgy 

When mine did that it ended up being a broken axel. Funny thing is I rode it almost daily for several weeks that way.