Originally Posted by
Banzai
Most of what anyone thinks they perceive in these kinds of tests, whether it be on frames or wheels, is a psychological construct of acoustic feedback. That's pretty much it.
If you could deafen yourself, and blind yourself, you would find that humans are mostly incapable of "feeling" the differences between wheels, if all the wheels being compared are properly made and functioning. Typically, differences in vertical stiffness amount to the thickness of a sheet of paper. If there are lateral flex issues, then the wheel was improperly tensioned, or has too few spokes for your weight.
That's pretty much it.
Neat. I am so glad you said that. I have never felt a difference between wheels as far as stiffness is concerned. If anything I feel differences is overall bike comfort, but nothing that feels like it is specifically in the wheels. No slop or looseness or any such thing. Of couse I don't push my wheels like some do, but I just can't imagine what some folks are feeling. Any unsteadiness that I may feel seems to be more in the frame, not the wheels. I ride light stuff: 20 mm deep rims, 20/24 Revolution spokes, 1250-1270g. But no flex that I can FEEL. Go figure.