Wheels do play a role in comfort, but in a slightly different way than you might expect. The most important factor that determines how comfortable your ride feels is the tires. The wider they are, and the lower the pressure you can run in them, the better they absorb bumps and rough surfaces.
When it comes to the wheels themselves, the key element is the internal rim width. That’s what dictates how the tire sits. On a wider rim, the tire mounts more securely and can be run at lower pressure—without increasing rolling resistance.
You may come across opinions online like: “these wheels are very stiff, so they must be uncomfortable.” Sounds logical? Not really.
• Vertical stiffness of wheels is virtually irrelevant. Wheels deflect by fractions of a millimeter in the vertical plane—far too little for you to feel while riding. That’s why, contrary to popular belief, high-profile rims are not inherently less comfortable than low-profile ones.
Lateral stiffness, on the other hand, is a completely different story—the more, the better. It’s what ensures stability, precise handling, and immediate response to steering input. Wheels that are too “soft” laterally make the bike feel vague, delayed, and unstable. Comfort has nothing to do with it.
In summary: riding comfort comes primarily from the tires and their pressure, while wheels influence it through rim width. As for stiffness, the stiffer the wheels, the better for handling—and comfort doesn’t suffer in the process. At Dandy Horse, we design our wheels with these principles in mind: wide rims combined with strong lacing and spokes thicker than most of the competition. The result? Plenty of stiffness, combined with comfort and confident bike handling.
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