How deep is too deep?

Harrybelafonte

Am currently pricing up carbon wheels for track (but also hoping to get some for road). At the moment Planet X seem the best overall for value and accessibility. Am wondering though if 50mm is far enough to go or would 88mm be any better. They'd only really be used for the weekend races, but there can still be a bit of wind at Sundrive. Anyone care to share experiences with wheel depth (road or track)?

lennymc

With 50mm i can notice gusts and sidewinds. Mostly its ok tho but on a blustery day it can be a bit ropey. Bigger wheels would catch more wind.

Harrybelafonte

Is the summer weather usually alright for them?

Lumen

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Is the summer weather usually alright for them?

Is the what what?

Harrybelafonte

I'll rephrase. Is the fortnight of the Leaving Certificate alright for them?

lennymc

for bigger guys they are fine, you get used to them. i would imagine little guys get blown a lot more (hehehe)

DirkVoodoo

No one mentioned screaming yet?

Ryath

Does it not depend on what position you're riding in?



















Hoods?
Drops?
Tops?
TT Bars?
:P

Beasty

I use 58mm American Classic in the track league - no problems whatsoever. Have also used a Trispoke or 808 on the front and disk on the back for IVCA/Masters championships (last year was very blustery) and was fine in the races I did (I did get blown half way up the track in the pursuit, but had no problems in the sprint, TT, scratch and team sprints particularly when using the regular bars). For someone of your build Harry you should be fine with deep section - they are definitely better provided you keep a strong grip when it's windy. You can always swap out the front wheel if it is really needed (deep section on the back should be fine pretty much whatever the wind)

Harrybelafonte

Beasty wrote: »

I use 58mm American Classic in the track league - no problems whatsoever. Have also used a Trispoke or 808 on the front and disk on the back for IVCA/Masters championships (last year was very blustery) and was fine in the races I did (I did get blown half way up the track in the pursuit, but had no problems in the sprint, TT, scratch and team sprints particularly when using the regular bars). For someone of your build Harry you should be fine with deep section - they are definitely better provided you keep a strong grip when it's windy. You can always swap out the front wheel if it is really needed (deep section on the back should be fine pretty much whatever the wind)

Thanks. I already have an old HED3 disc wheel for Nats etc (If I could just get the bloody cassette off it), so was thinking of getting deep road wheels, which I can swap out the QR for a track axle and throw it on. I figured size was a factor. Though witnessing that pursuit experience that day did make me wonder.

Unregistered.

Can someone define "small guys"? Are we talking both height/build and weight? Or is weight bigger factor than height? (or vice versa)

Beasty

When it comes to being blown off your bike (or not as the case may be), "ballast" is more critical than height

Some of us have that in abundance (I did a 25m TT a couple of years ago in 50+kph winds - some guys didn't risk riding at all whereas
I was fine with my 808s on the front and disc on the back - half of that ride remains my fastest KOM over any decent distrance)

dave_o_brien

Beasty wrote: »

When it comes to being blown off your bike (or not as the case may be), "ballast" is more critical than height

Some of us have that in abundance (I did a 25m TT a couple of years ago in 50+kph winds - some guys didn't risk riding at all whereas
I was fine with my 808s on the front and disc on the back - half of that ride remains my fastest KOM over any decent distrance)

(And the other half was so slow I'll never admit that I didn't have a puncture to fix on the way)

Beasty

dave_o_brien wrote: »

(And the other half was so slow I'll never admit that I didn't have a puncture to fix on the way)

Funnily enough I was less than a minute outside my PB at the time IIRC. Basically the "sail" effect of the disc sped me up, and the 808 Firecrest is claimed to have similar effects as an ordinary 404 in the wind

dave_o_brien

Beasty wrote: »

Funnily enough I was less than a minute outside my PB at the time IIRC. Basically the "sail" effect of the disc sped me up, and the 808 Firecrest is claimed to have similar effects as an ordinary 404 in the wind

Yeah, that's what they all say!

Harrybelafonte

Unregistered. wrote: »

Can someone define "small guys"? Are we talking both height/build and weight? Or is weight bigger factor than height? (or vice versa)

I'm guessing weight. I'm tall enough, but, eh... wide too. About 87kg and 6'1". All muscle I might add, the softer kind of muscle.

Unregistered.

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm guessing weight. I'm tall enough, but, eh... wide too. About 87kg and 6'1". All muscle I might add, the softer kind of muscle.

So is there a rule of thumb for cyclists who are 60kg and under?

colm_gti

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

I'm guessing weight. I'm tall enough, but, eh... wide too. About 87kg and 6'1". All muscle I might add, the softer kind of muscle.

I'm almost identical in height and weight to you...I like to think of it as relaxed muscle!

Beasty

colm_gti wrote: »

I'm almost identical in height and weight to you...I like to think of it as relaxed muscle!

I'm nearly half an inch taller ...

on_the_nickel

I can't be the only one singing the Arctic Monkey's all week as a result of this thread?

dave_o_brien

Unregistered. wrote: »

So is there a rule of thumb for cyclists who are 60kg and under?

Yes. Quit complaining.