Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ?

Jun 12, 20 9:43

Post #1 of 18 (2246 views)

Actually I'm building two front wheels with a pair of 16h hubs.
One will be 60 mm and the other 88 mm. Tubular rims. Yes, tubular rims.
They will be used for short TT's mostly (15km to 40 km).
I'll be using Veloflex Record tubular tires (the new ones are reported 23 mm).

I'm scratching my head as wich shape will make the best compromise.

So people who are used to drive a deep section front wheel, what are your comments on wider VS thinner, regarding stability, "aero-ness", etc.. ?

Thanks for your inputs.

Louis :-)

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 10:21

Post #2 of 18 (2230 views)

What's the rim profile?

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 10:37

Post #3 of 18 (2222 views)

By "building" you mean, making your own carbon molding?

You should start looking into the 105 rule

But companies spend many millions coming with optimal shapes... and that is a subject where smart people will argue with each other for a long time.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 10:46

Post #4 of 18 (2215 views)

Narrow is aero.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 11:09

Post #5 of 18 (2202 views)

With same design, narrow rim with narrow tire will be faster at zero yaw. I realize that goes against current trends but it's true. Also I believe the tubular corsa speed is a hair faster than the veloflex record. (I've only tested this indirectly though.) If you want I'd be happy to head down to the garage and measure installed/inflated width for that tire.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [rruff] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 18:53

Post #6 of 18 (2124 views)

23 mm is "U" shaped and 25 mm kind of a wide torroidal shape:

LOuis :-)

Last edited by: louisn: Jun 12, 20 18:54

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 21:39

Post #7 of 18 (2075 views)

I'd favor the wide one for 23mm+, the narrow for 22mm-. Just a guess, though.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 12, 20 21:53

Post #8 of 18 (2069 views)

I would go with the 25. Tubulars tend to be a bit misshapen where the tire and rim meet so I am going to guess that the transition to the 25 works better anytime there is much of a breeze.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jun 13, 20 4:50

Post #9 of 18 (1992 views)

Are these the actual profiles?

The bottom one looks like something I would draw while intoxicated.

.

Once, I was fast. But I got over it.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [rruff] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 8:07

Post #10 of 18 (1676 views)

Since I’m going for 22mm TT tubs I went for 23mm profile on one of the rims. Déception.
Will post pics soon.
Louis :-)

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Dec 19, 20 10:42

Post #11 of 18 (1631 views)

I've got 60mm 25's (of that shape) front and back on my track bike.

I've got clinchers but I really wish I'd have bought tubulars for the track.

If I buy track race wheels they will definitely be tubulars.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 2:02

Post #12 of 18 (1496 views)

http://www.speedercycling.com/...SC-25R88T-_p279.html

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [benleg] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 5:56

Post #13 of 18 (1449 views)

benleg wrote:

By "building" you mean, making your own carbon molding?

You should start looking into the 105 rule

But companies spend many millions coming with optimal shapes... and that is a subject where smart people will argue with each other for a long time.

how does one make their own carbon wheel?

Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
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Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [jaretj] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 6:29

Post #14 of 18 (1427 views)

Here's the 50 mm X 23 mm wide rim I got, with a Continental Podium TT (22 mm) tubular on, as an everyday or "windy days" TT wheel. I also ordered a 25 mm wide 88 mm deep one. Veloflex Record 23 mm tubs should go on that one :

Louis :-)

Last edited by: louisn: Dec 20, 20 6:37

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Dec 20, 20 6:45

Post #15 of 18 (1415 views)

Interesting...I'd be using Conti Tempo II's and they only come in 19's and 22's. Looks like the narrower rim would be better for me.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [jaretj] [ In reply to ]

Jan 7, 21 16:19

Post #16 of 18 (1260 views)

Here’s the Veloflex Record 23 tubular on the 88mm x 25mm wide rim. I really like the shape !
https://imgur.com/a/mEbSjuC
Louis :-)

Last edited by: louisn: Jan 7, 21 21:53

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [louisn] [ In reply to ]

Jan 8, 21 6:58

Post #17 of 18 (1187 views)

Looks nice, you don't think that tire is too narrow? Hard to tell from picts.

Re: Building a front 88 mm wheel. Consensus: 23 or 25 mm wide ? [jaretj] [ In reply to ]

Jan 8, 21 7:34

Post #18 of 18 (1167 views)

I think the Veloflex Record 23 mm/25 mm wide rim fit is better than the Conti Tempo 22 mm/23 mm wide rim fit, but definitely not an "eye expert" aerowise.
IMO for TT/Tri applications that is, the "rolling band" of the Record is very narrow. On sharp corners, when leaning the bike, grip would certainly be an issue but not especially related to rim width (IMO), as the tub sits low in the rim channel, and won't bulge or move sideways. This one will be our "nice tarmac, dry day" TT front wheel.

Louis :-)

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