Wheel advice required

topcat291169

I hope someone may be able to offer me some advice. At present I have a pair of Fulcrum 3 wheels on my bike and I was thinking about buying a set of zipp 303 of this year. I am getting a lot of mixed advice. It is my intention to do a number of 160k runs with an post Sean Kelly tours and the Wicklow 200.

I am a small bit concerned about the cross winds with these wheels, especially with all the hills I intend to do.

I hope someone may be able to offer me some good advice about what to do in relation to my purposes purchase.

fat bloke

303's shouldn't be a problem unless it's fierce windy altogether. If you can stand the purchase price, buy and enjoy.

topcat291169

fat bloke wrote: »

303's shouldn't be a problem unless it's fierce windy altogether. If you can stand the purchase price, buy and enjoy.

Thanks for your advice

macnab

I am usually about 61kg mid summer so cross winds can be a factor for me. I have done the Ring of Kerry and Sally Gap from all angles (ohhh Matron:D) with Zipp 404's, which I presume are deeper than 303's. I wouldnt have a problem using them in this environment. Being honest I had one hairy moment at 65kmh while passing a gateway (coming down from Sally Gap) but I would say I could have had a similar reaction with shallow rims.

Lumen

I wouldn't use wheels with carbon braking surfaces in a sportive. There's too much braking on descents.

For something like the Wicklow 200 deep section wheels are a bit pointless anyway, since there are few flat bits, and that's ignoring the questionable logic of spending a load of money on equipment to go 1% faster (or whatever) in a non-competitive event.

Billycake

Lumen wrote: »

I wouldn't use wheels with carbon braking surfaces in a sportive. There's too much braking on descents.

For something like the Wicklow 200 deep section wheels are a bit pointless anyway, since there are few flat bits, and that's ignoring the questionable logic of spending a load of money on equipment to go 1% faster (or whatever) in a non-competitive event.

But they're nice though!!! You were able to get these with alloy braking surfaces in the past but I don't know if you still can. If you can handle the cost and fancy a pair then why not?

Lumen

Billycake wrote: »

But they're nice though!!! You were able to get these with alloy braking surfaces in the past but I don't know if you still can. If you can handle the cost and fancy a pair then why not?

Whatever floats your boat, but the alloy rim versions are quite heavy and therefore (perhaps) might not feel as nice as a much cheaper set of lightweight shallow section alloy wheels.

I have a pair of 50mm carbon clinchers that I love dearly, but I don't use them for sportives for the reasons I've stated.

Sometimes more expensive things are worse.

topcat291169

Lumen wrote: »

I wouldn't use wheels with carbon braking surfaces in a sportive. There's too much braking on descents.

For something like the Wicklow 200 deep section wheels are a bit pointless anyway, since there are few flat bits, and that's ignoring the questionable logic of spending a load of money on equipment to go 1% faster (or whatever) in a non-competitive event.

thanks for your kind advice. i was told that with all the downhill breaking they could overheat.

topcat291169

macnab wrote: »

I am usually about 61kg mid summer so cross winds can be a factor for me. I have done the Ring of Kerry and Sally Gap from all angles (ohhh Matron:D) with Zipp 404's, which I presume are deeper than 303's. I wouldnt have a problem using them in this environment. Being honest I had one hairy moment at 65kmh while passing a gateway (coming down from Sally Gap) but I would say I could have had a similar reaction with shallow rims.

the 303 would not be as deep as the 404 and thats why i felt i may be alright with any cross winds

topcat291169

Lumen wrote: »

Whatever floats your boat, but the alloy rim versions are quite heavy and therefore (perhaps) might not feel as nice as a much cheaper set of lightweight shallow section alloy wheels.

I have a pair of 50mm carbon clinchers that I love dearly, but I don't use them for sportives for the reasons I've stated.

Sometimes more expensive things are worse.

what good wheel would you suggest please?

Raam

topcat291169 wrote: »

thanks for your kind advice. i was told that with all the downhill breaking they could overheat.

You would want to be doing some seriously heavy braking to cause them to overheat. I've ridden my Reynolds Assaults in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains for a week with no probs. There have been reports of rim warps occurring over in Marin County or somewhere like that where there is lots of descending on very steep roads. I think there is some sportive over there which bans them for that reason! Personally I wouldn't be too worried, just open the brakes and let it flow

Oh, you will get used to the feel of the crosswinds. It's a bit un-nerving at first but you quickly learn to deal with it and then you won't think twice about it.

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

You would want to be doing some seriously heavy braking to cause them to overheat. I've ridden my Reynolds Assaults in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains for a week with no probs.

What are they like in heavy rain? My carbon clinchers are fairly woeful, not just in terms of braking power/modulation but also because Irish roads tend to be covered in crap which gets on the pads and sounds like it's eating away at the braking surface (alloy rims are the same, I guess, but it feels worse when the wheels cost over a grand).

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

What are they like in heavy rain? My carbon clinchers are fairly woeful, not just in terms of braking power/modulation but also because Irish roads tend to be covered in crap which gets on the pads and sounds like it's eating away at the braking surface (alloy rims are the same, I guess, but it feels worse when the wheels cost over a grand).

Dunno about long descents in the bigger mountains cos I haven't used them in that manner, but I haven't noticed any problems over here. I know the feeling about the crap on the roads. I've been riding em for the last few days and I can feel the money burning away.

Lumen

topcat291169 wrote: »

what good wheel would you suggest please?

There are many good wheels.

I would pick these, for me:

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/news/63-new-wheelsmith-race23-tweaked

colm_gti

Raam wrote: »

You would want to be doing some seriously heavy braking to cause them to overheat. I've ridden my Reynolds Assaults in Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains for a week with no probs.

All well and good when you weigh about the same as half bag of sugar :pac: