Originally Posted by
Lakerat
I wondered how much deflection occurs when serious forces are put on the rim as in a hard turn. Or are the forces on the wheel during turns mostly not lateral due to leaning?
Is lateral wheel flex anything to even think about and what makes one wheel stiffer in this regard than others?
While sitting neatly in the saddle and JRA, there's very little lateral force on bicycle wheels.
Various dynamic events, skids, falls etc can cause dramatic loads. Riding out of saddle, forcefully tilting the bike, or hanging off the side of the bike can cause some forces.
Things that make wheels stiffer are thicker/more/shorter spokes, wider hubs , and stiffer rims.