For the past few yrs. I’ve been using Mavic Ksyrium SR wheels. Stiff, lightweight, great wheels for both training and racing. They are 21mm deep on the front and 25mm on the back. Recently I purchased a time trial bike so I’m looking at some deeper profile wheels.
So here’s the deal - I weigh about 133 lbs (61kg). I have friends who are around 200 lbs. (90kg) and they’ve commented about the twitchiness of their 60mm wheels during windy rides. This makes me kind of hesitant to switch to deeper profile rims. Even with my Ksyrium SR rims I sometimes have to fight crosswind gusts when I’m riding around town.
Any of you lightweight riders have any experiences on deep-profile rims in the wind? Is it a waste of money for someone like me to even think about getting a C50 or anything deeper than that?
Don’t let your friends scare you that much. That being said, don’t just be reckless.
Anyways, I’m about your size, 6’ and 134, and on my P3 I ride a Zipp 900 tubular disc, and a Zipp 808 tubular, pre-firecrest. I would take a 404 (58mm deep) only on the 20+ mph days. Which aren’t all that common. So YMMV, but I’m fine with as deep as anyone else.
First off, you can absolutely use as deep of a wheel in the rear as you want. I suggest a disc, because that is the fastest option. If you are a regular at Kona, then maybe a 808-ish type wheel instead, since they are nearly as fast and legal at Kona. The rear wheel doesn’t steer, so doesn’t present a handling issue.
Up front though, is trickier. A lot of people will insist on their limitations, and thus they will keep them. Many women cyclists are 130ish pounds but can run 90mm deep front wheels in time trials no problem. My wife is 130ish lbs and TTs on 80 and 90mm TT wheels, sometimes even in horrific winds, she does fine.
It is really more a question of your mental state than weight. Do you stay calm, are you coordinated, are you a solid bike handler, is your fit and frame size appropriate so that your bike is stable to begin with? etc etc.
So, if you are confident, run an 808ish (80mm) type front wheel
If you are slightly worried, run a 404ish (60mm) type front wheel
If you are really hung up on this and terrified, run a 303ish type front wheel.
Since the Mavic Kysrium is about the slowest racing wheel made, even a 303 front disc rear setup will be much, much faster.
I’m 6’ and 148lbs. I ride HED Jet 9 (90mm) front and rear and while it does take a little getting used to in the beginning, once you are aware of how they react and prepare properly it isn’t an issue.
I love mine, I ride them as race wheels and training wheels and haven’t had any big issues I couldn’t handle.
I’m 6’ and 148lbs. I ride HED Jet 9 (90mm) front and rear and while it does take a little getting used to in the beginning, once you are aware of how they react and prepare properly it isn’t an issue.
As someone in the 200lbs range I can say it is very much mental. While yes I’ve got a little more size to resist being blown around the reality is you sort of have to not use that size to fight it or it is worse. It takes time like you said to get used to it and how to react, the less you fight the easier it is to ride the deeper wheels. Maybe it is easier due to my size and I just don’t understand but I started the season on some new 90mm deep wheels and was bringing smaller ones just in case. I finished the season not even really aware they are there and can even ride no hands with a cross wind and handle just fine (never in a race just tooling around with the gf working on bike handling)
To be honest, the Ksyrium SR wheels are not the best when it comes to cross winds… I found them to more difficult to handle than my HED Jet 9’s… The front wheel is what really makes a huge difference, but interestingly, adding a disc or deep rear helps a lot. Basically, you “normalize” the pressure over the entire bike. I tend to ride my disc in the rear if I use my 90mm deep front and if it’s extremely gust (steady wind is easy to handle), then I may drop down to a 90 rear with a 60 front…
My wife is just over 100lbs and rides Zipp 808’s on her road bike and HED Jet 6/9 (650’s) on her tri bike even in the gustiest conditions. It’s just as much about core strength and bike fit as it is about weight when it comes to handling deeper wheels in windy conditions.
I’m 135 pounds… have been down to 129 within the last year. I race with a 60mm deep front and use a wheelbuilder disc for the rear. Yes, I can feel a difference when riding in windy conditions with the 60mm front vs my regular 26mm wheel. However, it’s not that big of a difference. The main thing to overcome is knowing the wind can have a slight impact but you have the ability to maintain control. So that means taking your race wheels out more than just on race day and riding a bit in various conditions. Include some windy days so that you get used to the feel. It’s like riding in aerobars the very first time… things seem a bit shaky but ride a few more times and that seems to disappear. Ride the deep front a few times in windy conditions and the nervousness will disappear.
So, is it a waste of money? No, I think you will like the performance gains and the concern about wind will fade. If you have the means to get deeper wheels without breaking the bank or ticking off the family, go for it.
I’m 6’ and 148lbs. I ride HED Jet 9 (90mm) front and rear and while it does take a little getting used to in the beginning, once you are aware of how they react and prepare properly it isn’t an issue.
As someone in the 200lbs range I can say it is very much mental. While yes I’ve got a little more size to resist being blown around the reality is you sort of have to not use that size to fight it or it is worse. It takes time like you said to get used to it and how to react, the less you fight the easier it is to ride the deeper wheels. Maybe it is easier due to my size and I just don’t understand but I started the season on some new 90mm deep wheels and was bringing smaller ones just in case. I finished the season not even really aware they are there and can even ride no hands with a cross wind and handle just fine (never in a race just tooling around with the gf working on bike handling)
You weigh 50% more than the OP, you don’t get an opinion. Imagine if you started a thread asking about climbing better as a heavyweight rider and I popped in and told you that going uphill is mostly mental and I would know because I’m 60 kilos.
To back this up, I’m lighter than Jack’s wife. ~120lb I have ridden 80mm deep fairly typical V shaped wheels all year for road races and time trials. I also did the buffalo springs bike leg this past year which featured some great open field 25 mph winds, during which everyone got blown around no matter what they were on.
I also once did a road race that featured 30mph constant winds and gusts of up to 60mph. Everyone moved a lot on the road we bumped into each other, I was the only person on 60mm wheels, it wasn’t a big deal.
Just focus on pointing the wheel straight and pedaling.
For the past few yrs. I’ve been using Mavic Ksyrium SR wheels. Stiff, lightweight, great wheels for both training and racing. They are 21mm deep on the front and 25mm on the back. Recently I purchased a time trial bike so I’m looking at some deeper profile wheels.
So here’s the deal - I weigh about 133 lbs (61kg). I have friends who are around 200 lbs. (90kg) and they’ve commented about the twitchiness of their 60mm wheels during windy rides. This makes me kind of hesitant to switch to deeper profile rims. Even with my Ksyrium SR rims I sometimes have to fight crosswind gusts when I’m riding around town.
Any of you lightweight riders have any experiences on deep-profile rims in the wind? Is it a waste of money for someone like me to even think about getting a C50 or anything deeper than that?
My $0.02: get something like a 303 firecrest up front. It’s an almost magical wheel: decent aero gains over your box rim and, in my opinion, it is less twitchy than a box rim in strong cross winds. Get a disc in the rear. The only time a disc will be a problem is if it’s so windy that riding with normal wheels would be dicey.
It’s more complicated because it depends on what you are riding, where you are riding, what bike, what you consider a gusty day to be.
I’m a 60 Kilo guy, climber type, and a road racer. I have a set of DuraAce 7800 50mm (V shaped) wheels that I really love in crits and flat to rolling Road Races. I HATE them in climbing races and any race with a descent that approaches 50mph, which is primarily climbing races. They get really twitchy with a bit of crosswind and I back off which tends to reduce the advantage I have in going up. The pre-Firecrest 404s are a little better, but my preferred front wheel is a 303-depth toroidal or fat rim.
On the other hand, I’m pretty good with an 808 on the front of the TT bike, usually. I find a HED3 to be twitchier than an 808 but still usable for most races. Then again, I’m not racing on the Colorado Front Range where they get really strong winds.
Disc in the rear, always regardless of wind or weight, i would do a 50-60mm up front. You will be fine. The advantage of going deeper in the front past a 50-60mm wheel is not worth the handling penalty for you most likely.
I race at 140lbs and go with a 60 front and disc, with no problems. Gusty days will push me around a bit, but just practice on them so you get used to the difference.
I’m 6’ and 148lbs. I ride HED Jet 9 (90mm) front and rear and while it does take a little getting used to in the beginning, once you are aware of how they react and prepare properly it isn’t an issue.
As someone in the 200lbs range I can say it is very much mental. While yes I’ve got a little more size to resist being blown around the reality is you sort of have to not use that size to fight it or it is worse. It takes time like you said to get used to it and how to react, the less you fight the easier it is to ride the deeper wheels. Maybe it is easier due to my size and I just don’t understand but I started the season on some new 90mm deep wheels and was bringing smaller ones just in case. I finished the season not even really aware they are there and can even ride no hands with a cross wind and handle just fine (never in a race just tooling around with the gf working on bike handling)
You weigh 50% more than the OP, you don’t get an opinion. Imagine if you started a thread asking about climbing better as a heavyweight rider and I popped in and told you that going uphill is mostly mental and I would know because I’m 60 kilos.
Just got the internet huh?
I’ve got no problem going uphill, that is a lot mental too actually.
My point and opinion are still 100% valid as they are based on my experience that once I stopped using my weight and strength to make the wheels work they actually got easier to ride. Something you’ll see all the light people have said as well.
