Carbon rims in the rain, excessive wear?
06-24-17, 06:55 PM
#1
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Carbon rims in the rain, excessive wear?
I've got some Aeolus3 D3 rims with Swiss Stop Black Prince brake pads (approved in all conditions except mud by Bontrager).
Do I risk excessive wear on the brake tracks by using the wheels in the rain?
Thanks
Do I risk excessive wear on the brake tracks by using the wheels in the rain?
Thanks
06-24-17, 07:03 PM
#2
Senior Member
Possible, by picking up grit from the road that would not normally stick to a dry rim/brakes.
06-25-17, 01:58 PM
#5
Recusant Iconoclast
Wheels are a wear item. But relax a tad. Clean them after a ride, wet or dry. I live in the Pacific Northwest, ride with carbon wheels only, and I couldn't tell the difference in wear if riding them in the rain was caused "excessive" wear. IOW, barely any wear on the brake tracks.
06-25-17, 02:12 PM
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Regardless of the material, rain will cause faster wear of the brake track. There are two considerations.
1- rain washes grit onto the road, and makes it sticky, so the rims and shoes will pick it up and it will grind the rims when the brakes are used.
2- wet rims provide less friction, so whenever you're braking, you'll be using higher brake force to achieve the same effect. So, the grinding that grit causes will be worse.
That said, how material the difference is depends, on how much you ride in the rain, and where. If you're out on the open road, odds are you won't be using the brakes much anyway, so the difference won't be a deal breaker. OTOH - if tiding in stop and go urban traffic, and using brakes to avoid potential collisions every few hundred yards, then rim wear will be materially worse.
Rain and riding conditions drives my rim choices. I'll pay a premium for good quality road rims for my sport bike, shorter life, makes me think hard about better rims for the urban bike.
1- rain washes grit onto the road, and makes it sticky, so the rims and shoes will pick it up and it will grind the rims when the brakes are used.
2- wet rims provide less friction, so whenever you're braking, you'll be using higher brake force to achieve the same effect. So, the grinding that grit causes will be worse.
That said, how material the difference is depends, on how much you ride in the rain, and where. If you're out on the open road, odds are you won't be using the brakes much anyway, so the difference won't be a deal breaker. OTOH - if tiding in stop and go urban traffic, and using brakes to avoid potential collisions every few hundred yards, then rim wear will be materially worse.
Rain and riding conditions drives my rim choices. I'll pay a premium for good quality road rims for my sport bike, shorter life, makes me think hard about better rims for the urban bike.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
06-25-17, 02:22 PM
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In my experience with getting caught in the rain with my carbon rimmed bike, the wheels, caliper, and pads are caked with sand. I could easily imagine it grinding up the rims.
06-25-17, 02:30 PM
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Wheels are a wear item. But relax a tad. Clean them after a ride, wet or dry. I live in the Pacific Northwest, ride with carbon wheels only, and I couldn't tell the difference in wear if riding them in the rain was caused "excessive" wear. IOW, barely any wear on the brake tracks.
If you're going to ride occasionally it's not a big deal. Use front brakes only if it's wet as the rear wheel picks up more grime.
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