Race Wheels....

trinewbie

Hi All -

looking for some pointers on race wheels...Im going to try a bit of road racing this year,

Current Bike setup is the 08' version of http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30565 with Ultegra.

For Triathlons Ive Profile CarbonT2Cobra clip on aero bars, and a planet x wheelset, 101mm rear and 82 front, (They are tubular, wrapped in tufo s3's)

Think there may be a pic in the 'images of beauty ' thread from a while back.

Ive a few upgrades on the way inc integrated carbon stem/bars and carbon crankset, what Im wondering is do you think the 101,82 wheelset is too deep for road racing? Would I look like a gobsh!te showing up to a race with them on?

Should I consider selling and getting maybe a 50mm deep wheelset?

Cheers

tunney

trinewbie wrote: »

Hi All -

looking for some pointers on race wheels...Im going to try a bit of road racing this year,

Current Bike setup is the 08' version of http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30565 with Ultegra.

For Triathlons Ive Profile CarbonT2Cobra clip on aero bars, and a planet x wheelset, 101mm rear and 82 front, (They are tubular, wrapped in tufo s3's)

Think there may be a pic in the 'images of beauty ' thread from a while back.

Ive a few upgrades on the way inc integrated carbon stem/bars and carbon crankset, what Im wondering is do you think the 101,82 wheelset is too deep for road racing? Would I look like a gobsh!te showing up to a race with them on?

Should I consider selling and getting maybe a 50mm deep wheelset?

Cheers

Carbon cranksets are not necessarily an upgrade. Often they are less stiff.

I don't road race but I'd imagine that 101/82 is too deep. Also Tufos are the slowest tubs you can run.

Tackleberry

They mightn't be as stiff in some cases but they look TEN times better!!!

Depends on your budget I guess, I have Zipp 404's and they've never given me a problem, they mightn't be the lightest but they weren't mad pricey 2nd hand, seem very sturdy on all types of Irish roads.

You can get good deals from ebay.co.uk. You should check out those new detec wheels in cyclesuperstore, seem like brilliant value, but dunno what they're like long term. Plus they seem very very deep and that could be a problem. I think anything up to 50mm deep will be fine in most weather conditions besides the worst crosswinds.

I'd buy tubulars if you're only racing them and clinchers, like me, if you plan to use them for everything.

scottreynolds

Tackleberry wrote: »

I have Zipp 404's

Not hijacking or not trying to. How do you find the 404's. I have been thinking of getting something for long distance biking. I was think 303 front and 404 rear.

Tackleberry

scottreynolds wrote: »

Not hijacking or not trying to. How do you find the 404's. I have been thinking of getting something for long distance biking. I was think 303 front and 404 rear.

No worries scott - I love them! I'd looked into all the alternatives when I bought them, and for the combo of price, performance, weight, sturdiness, looks, maintenance etc they were the clear winners. I think the Bora's are prob my dream pair but they're so bloody expensive. I went for clinchers coz thats all I know but unless I start racing I won't change to tubulars.

I've used them for every spin over every kinda surface for the past 3 years, and funny you say its for long distance, because that's when they've impressed me most - 2 day cycle Dublin to Cork they were fantastic, Wicklow 100km and other sportives were a pleasure, and I'm a fat git so they get a hard time too! They're very smooth and start whirring away when you get over 32kmph, and thats when you feel they start doing the work, they just hold their momentum and make it that bit easier to plough along - so in that regard they're perfect for long distance. I don't know why you'd pick different rim depths but if crosswinds are your concern I can tell you thats never been a problem for me, however I weigh half a tonne so maybe thats why!

I think the only downside with the pair I have is that you're simply more nervous with them, at first anyway. You're a lot more mindful of potholes, poor surfaces and even small things like the odd bunny hop over a big pothole is a scary affair, I'm always checking the rims for cracks in the glue, but after nearly 3 years of hassle free riding I've learned to relax on them! I suppose its like having a shiny sports car and not wanting to scratch it! They've amazed me how durable they are.

That said after some mucky winter riding I did buy a cheap pair of fulcrum racing 7's for my training rides, mostly to save the Zipps from the winter muck and general wear and tear, but also to save them so when you do use them its a bit of an event - sad but true!! So I'd recommend a tough / cheap 2nd pair for the not-so-glamourous cycles!!

Buy 'em - you won't regret it!

scottreynolds

Tackleberry wrote: »

I think the Bora's are prob my dream pair but they're so bloody expensive.

Expensive -- :eek::eek::eek: -- your not joking. Not in the past few days I have seen in this forum a £799 deraileur , $500 USD brakes, but $4100 USD wheels.... someone is having a laugh. I hate to think how much one could spend on a bike...
http://www.cbike.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2

Edit -- Actually I found some Lightweight Wheels for 6500 USD -- the world i a made place.

Chips Lovell

You can get Boras for way cheaper than that. €1,880 at Ribble

Chips Lovell

trinewbie wrote: »

do you think the 101,82 wheelset is too deep for road racing? Would I look like a gobsh!te showing up to a race with them on?

Should I consider selling and getting maybe a 50mm deep wheelset?

No one would think you're a gob****e if you're fast enough. You might struggle in the cross winds though with rims that deep and if you're riding at close quarters it could be hard to keep your line.

E@gle.

scottreynolds wrote: »

Expensive -- :eek::eek::eek: -- your not joking. Not in the past few days I have seen in this forum a £799 deraileur , $500 USD brakes, but $4100 USD wheels.... someone is having a laugh. I hate to think how much one could spend on a bike...
http://www.cbike.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2

thats a u.s price, campy stuff way more expensive over there.

scottreynolds

el tonto wrote: »

You can get Boras for way cheaper than that. €1,880 at Ribble

Oh.. that better - :-)

dave2pvd

My race wheels are Zipp 404s and Ksyrium SLs. The 404s come out for 'safe' road races, the Ksyriums for criteriums. Both are very tough.

As Tackleberry said, you are a bit more concerned about your Zipps at first. In races, this can make you a bit nervous. Mine are tubular and remarkably light. They have taken some pretty big hits, yet never needed to be trued. Crosswinds don't seem to be an issue. TBH, I think the crosswinds 'problem' is overstated. Wearing a rain jacket would probably have more effect than deep dish rims.

The Ksyriums are a benchmark tough, light race wheel. I don't know of other wheels that come close. I'm sure they're out there, but where I live, the consensus seems to be that Ksyriums are the ultimate pothole surfers. Mine have endured some atrocious abuse. Worst was sprinting and having someone steer into my front wheel from the side. His skewer went into my spokes. One spoke was instantly deleted from the wheel, but I was able to continue the sprint and score some points. The Ksyriums have been back and forth to the shop a few times. After >12,000 miles, the hubs are in perfect condition - they use SKF sealed bearings. The freewheel has been overhauled a few times (easy). It likes Mobil 1 0W40.

Forgot to add: don't spend any money upgrading until you first get a pro bike fit. It's far and away the best performance:money you can spend. Other than taking off the rain jacket

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

You can get Boras for way cheaper than that. €1,880 at Ribble

Jaysus, at that price you'd be mad NOT to buy them.

Tackleberry

el tonto wrote: »

You can get Boras for way cheaper than that. €1,880 at Ribble

When you're talking about €600 odd for a mint 2nd hand pair of Zipp 404's that just looks like a total ripoff

ba

i have the ksyrium sl's, yet to race on them... only two weeks till their maden voyage. should you be interested in picking up a set, my mate is selling his 1yr ksyriums for 450eur....? as dave said above, i hear they are the shiz for racing across potholes, and particularly S3 racing circuits which tend not to have the best surfaces. i wouldnt invest in zipps until i upgrade to S2.

Raam

ba wrote: »

only two weeks till their maden voyage.

Navan?
I had forgotten about that. How are you sorted for it?

Tackleberry

ba wrote: »

i have the ksyrium sl's, yet to race on them... only two weeks till their maden voyage. should you be interested in picking up a set, my mate is selling his 1yr ksyriums for 450eur....? as dave said above, i hear they are the shiz for racing across potholes, and particularly S3 racing circuits which tend not to have the best surfaces. i wouldnt invest in zipps until i upgrade to S2.

For 150 lids extra its not really an investment!

trinewbie

tunney wrote: »

Carbon cranksets are not necessarily an upgrade. Often they are less stiff.

I don't road race but I'd imagine that 101/82 is too deep. Also Tufos are the slowest tubs you can run.

It really depends on the crankset Tunney , also the Ultegra is a bit of an anchor weight wise

trinewbie

Thanks for all the input - I may look at ksyriums, hang onto the PX's for TT's only,

Re : Bike setup - I agree, most important money spent..

tunney

trinewbie wrote: »

It really depends on the crankset Tunney , also the Ultegra is a bit of an anchor weight wise

But one of the stiffest around. As your name suggests you're looking at this from a triathlon/TT persepective where stiffness, aero and power transfer is more important than weight.

trinewbie

tunney wrote: »

But one of the stiffest around. As your name suggests you're looking at this from a triathlon/TT persepective where stiffness, aero and power transfer is more important than weight.

true tis very stiff, but as per the title of the thread Im speaking in the context of road racing at the moment, probably should have mentioned that I will be looking at getting a TT bike this year.

If Im doing a self build the Ultegra Crankset will go onto the TT bike....

Chips Lovell

Slightly off-topic, but I remember from the Tour magazine test that surprisingly Sram Rival was found to have far and away the stiffest crankset on the market.

ba

raam, my club are hosting a pre-season race, the week before navan. as for navan i will be getting a lift...i hope.

tackleberry, the investment not always depends on what price you pay, but the quality of the component or accessory. and the ksyrium sl's are a quality wheel. just because they dont have a 1600e price tag doesnt undermine their performance. those wheels are common site at the classics and other professional road racing events.

i still wish i had zipps tho.

Raam

ba wrote: »

raam, my club are hosting a pre-season race, the week before navan. as for navan i will be getting a lift...i hope.

I was thinking more about your training

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

Slightly off-topic, but I remember from the Tour magazine test that surprisingly Sram Rival was found to have far and away the stiffest crankset on the market.

Here's the data, sorted by stiffness/weight:



Is it not the case that most of these are "stiff enough", the only real outliers being the Tune and FSA SL-K.

niceonetom

this is, apparently, the thread of the day.

//waves to all the people who wouldn't normally find themselves in this bit of boards.

i have no advice to give the OP other than to point out that if you get dropped in a race on €1500 tubs you will look a lot sillier than getting dropped on €300 clinchers. deep carbon tubs are a statement of intent - be sure you can back it up :P.

MCOS

niceonetom wrote: »

this is, apparently, the thread of the day.

//waves to all the people who wouldn't normally find themselves in this bit of boards.

i have no advice to give the OP other than to point out that if you get dropped in a race on €1500 tubs you will look a lot sillier than getting dropped on €300 clinchers. deep carbon tubs are a statement of intent - be sure you can back it up :P.

**waves back**

ba

Raam wrote: »

I was thinking more about your training

i think it will prob be late march or april by the time i peak according to a sports test and the revised training i have recently gone through. i was told not to be too optimistic about my early season... we'll see. still going to give it a lash, worked over christmas.

back to wheels tho, +1 with niceonetom.