Choices for wide rim brake wheels

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m stuck with a 23mm max front tire on my p3, because I gather that a 25+ tire might cause a front wheel lockup under hard braking, as a result of the fork flexing and the tire touching the down tube.

I’m currently riding cheap Chinese wheels, 60mm deep, with 18 inner and 25 outer width.

I want something a little cushier and a little bigger contact patch for confidence in downhills and anything technical. If I’m stuck with the height of a 23mm tire, that means going for the biggest internal width I can get.

Not looking to spend more than $1500, and less is better. I’m not fast but am a bit of an aero geek, I’m looking for 50-60mm deep for all the big aero gains without getting pushed around every time a truck passes close.

The wheels will be raced with a disc cover.

I’ve found these 21mm internal rim-brake wheels:

Fast Forward Tyro II
29mm external 21mm internal
45mm deep
On sale right now for $900
https://ffwdusa.com/...MN8TymBoC18kQAvD_BwE

HED Jet 60 Performance
28mm external, 21mm internal
Aluminum rims
On sale for around $1200
https://hedcycling.com/...es/?sku=SKU-36B5D26E

The Fast Forwards at that price would be a clear winner, except that 45mm up front feels a bit too shallow… even though I think I’d be happy enough with 50mm. What does a 45mm front wheel give up vs 60mm, like 2-3 watts on average?

The HEDs are super nice, though I’d rather stick with carbon than go to aluminum, because I’d like to use the current cheap Chinese wheels for training, and keep race tubes & tires and wheel cover on the race wheels. Then again, the aluminum brake track might be nice.

Any hot takes here are welcome. But my big question is: What other options are there for 21mm rim brake aero wheels?

2

Are the spokes round on the FFWD? That’ll probably be a bigger difference than 45 vs 60 mm.

I’ve always found using round spokes a sneaky way of saving money with most people not noticing. That said, if you’re handy with a spoke wrench you can install proper aero spokes yourself for ~100 dollars.

3

TYRO wheels have round Sapim spokes

From their FAQ page
https://ffwdusa.com/faq/

The TYRO is a budget friendly model that is built to last with quality components, the primary differences from the RYOT series are as follows:

Available in rim brake or disc brake model
29mm external and 21mm internal rim widths
Round Sapim spokes
FFWD 36 tooth ratchet hub with 1:1 spoke lacing pattern
Slightly heavier system weight
Does not included padded wheel bag
.

4

Good catch on the round spokes, I completely missed that. At this point I just assumed all remotely aero wheels had blades ones. I’m sure it’s good experience in the long run to learn wheel building, but I think I’d only take that on if I were building a wheel from the ground up.

Any insights into the learning curve like for wheel building? I’d consider it if it could reasonably be a sub-5-hour project? I’ve got a new young one around and unfortunately don’t have a ton of time for the hobbies.

5

I’d look into winspace, they have an 65mm rim that’s 28mm external, 21mm internal for $1300. Looks quite nice. If you’re not super heavy I’ve heard the braking is reasonable and they’re quite light for a wheel with that depth.

6

I’ve built over 1000 wheels. Not as much as a bike store owner but more than the average bike mechanic.

It used to be better to build your own so you can pick your own components but now, buying a wheel system matched together is cheaper and machine building is much better than it used to be.

I learned from a book called The Bicycle Wheel by Jobst Brandt. It was long ago and I would guess that now youtube would have some pretty good videos.

Unless I’m repairing a wheel or re-spoking an older set, it’s not often I build a new one. Your first wheels will take a while and you’ll probably make 5-6 rounds of tensioning and maybe even have to loosen up and start over. You’ll need a good truing stand, wheel dishing tool, wrenches and some linseed oil. Spend the money and buy the Park ones.

It’s a fun hobby, your first wheels will take a while. It takes me about 90 minutes to put one together now, maybe shorter, it’s been at least a year since I’ve build one.

Edit: And you’ll need to learn how to measure hubs if the values are on the manufactures website and how to use a spoke length calculator.

7

You’ll need a good truing stand, wheel dishing tool, wrenches and some linseed oil.

I got the tensiometer thing, which likes quadruples the time it takes for newbies (me). Being true isn’t enough. You have to check tensions in the Park Tool app with OCD-grade precision, to make sure everything’s totally symmetrical.

8

I use a belt tension gage. I started using it a few years ago but i still pluck spokes to see how uniform the tension is.

9

If you haven’t, make sure your brake calipers can handle the widths you’re looking at. My Chinese trispoke with an external of right around 29mm only barely fits in the Omega One brake with the set screws backed all the way out. I’d imagine most rim brake calipers will struggle with 28mm or above of true brake track width.

10

If you haven’t, make sure your brake calipers can handle the widths you’re looking at. My Chinese trispoke with an external of right around 29mm only barely fits in the Omega One brake with the set screws backed all the way out. I’d imagine most rim brake calipers will struggle with 28mm or above of true brake track width.

Low profile (aka: thin) brake pads will solve much of that problem.

11

I ran 25s on my Flo 45s on my P3. Great company and great customer service. I still have the wheels even though I sold the P3 with the thought of putting them on a future new road or tri bike. I’m running Boyd’s on my main road bike and they’re a great company too.

12

Lightbicycle wheels are really great, pretty low cost, and hit the 28mm width you’re looking for. They even have their own take on the wave pattern rim, which looks pretty cool to me.

https://www.lightbicycle.com/carbon-road-bike/carbon-road-bike-wheels/page/1

13

Thanks for the tips on wheel building, that description really helped me get a sense of it. Would love to try my hand at that one day, that would be one of the last things I haven’t touched on a bike, but with the tooling to buy & learn it sounds like too much at this time.

The Winspace 60/67mm deep wheelset look nice, as far as that side of the market goes. I found a 10% discount code so they come out to $1170. The carbon spokes are interesting for sure, and the wheels are very light, though again I’m not sold on the value there but would be happy to have it.

I didn’t realize Light Bicycle had a 21 inner / 28 external rim, their 55mm set probably going to be the one I get. I priced a set out for $900 with bitex hubs. Nice spokes, nice rim profile, upgraded brake surface.

For the price and features I’ll pretty sure I’ll end up getting the Light Bicycle set.

I’ll look more into getting 25mm tires on the front, but I’m skeptical of their safety in an emergency braking situation. There’s an older post of Slowtwitch where someone locked up a 25mm front tire on a hard downhill brake, on either a p2/p3, when the fork flexed and the tire dragged against their frame. But then again, other people seem to have done this with problems. I’ll have to get a 25 on there and check clearance to the frame.

Really appreciate the input!

14

If looking at Chinese wheels with modern wide profiles, I’d probably also take a look at something like Nextie, CarbonBeam Wheels, FarSports and CarbonBikeKits, that are all quite alike to Light-Bicycle. I’m sure there’s more, but those all seem decent - with all the plusses and minuses buying directly from China gives.

15

If you haven’t, make sure your brake calipers can handle the widths you’re looking at. My Chinese trispoke with an external of right around 29mm only barely fits in the Omega One brake with the set screws backed all the way out. I’d imagine most rim brake calipers will struggle with 28mm or above of true brake track width.

have Omega brakes as well. Sounds like they’ll handle 28mm but without a lot of room, I’ll take some measurements to be sure. Do you find the braking is any weaker with the wide caliper angle?

16

I’m using Omega One and used a training wheel with a brake track width of 28.5mm all last season without any problems. I even think I ran new full height Campy red pads without issue. I think you’d have to go 30+ mm brake track width to run into any problems with that brake caliper.

17

If looking at Chinese wheels with modern wide profiles, I’d probably also take a look at something like Nextie, CarbonBeam Wheels, FarSports and CarbonBikeKits, that are all quite alike to Light-Bicycle. I’m sure there’s more, but those all seem decent - with all the plusses and minuses buying directly from China gives.

Premier Tactical (who seem to have a good reputation) say they will have a wider wheel in the spring. here

18

If looking at Chinese wheels with modern wide profiles, I’d probably also take a look at something like Nextie, CarbonBeam Wheels, FarSports and CarbonBikeKits, that are all quite alike to Light-Bicycle. I’m sure there’s more, but those all seem decent - with all the plusses and minuses buying directly from China gives.

Premier Tactical (who seem to have a good reputation) say they will have a wider wheel in the spring. here

I’ve always liked the look and philosophy of their bikes. Their website doesn’t have a lot of detail on their wheels so it’s hard to compare them against other options. But I’ll certainly keep an eye out for the new release. I’m in the Northeast so no riding is happening here until March or April anyway.

19

If looking at Chinese wheels with modern wide profiles, I’d probably also take a look at something like Nextie, CarbonBeam Wheels, FarSports and CarbonBikeKits, that are all quite alike to Light-Bicycle. I’m sure there’s more, but those all seem decent - with all the plusses and minuses buying directly from China gives.

Premier Tactical (who seem to have a good reputation) say they will have a wider wheel in the spring. here

I’ve always liked the look and philosophy of their bikes. Their website doesn’t have a lot of detail on their wheels so it’s hard to compare them against other options. But I’ll certainly keep an eye out for the new release. I’m in the Northeast so no riding is happening here until March or April anyway.

They are light on the marketing. However I know Desert Dude tested them in the tunnel and apparently they did quite well. I think he mentions it in that thread.

Next spring I want to do some wide wheel/low pressure CRR testing with a sensor we’ve developed. I just need a new bike and new wheels and these may be my wheel of choice.

Just got to get the bike part past the CFO.