I’m looking to purchase a set of tires flo 90 or Profile design Altair 80 tires and would like some feedback on in the direction I should go.
I’m just a casual rider also.
Thanks.
Profile Designs is just starting to release a new wheel called the 58 Twenty Four. It’s a 58mm carbon clincher with a better braking surface, wide-ride 24mm width, better hubs and way better graphics. They’re also doing a 78mm version as well. MSRP is around $1800
My local bike store has a new pair 0f Altair 80 for $1100 or I can order the flo 90 delivered for about $980.
Assuming the Altair is the clincher version, I would say that the Flo90 is the superior wheel. Are you prepared to wait until the next pre-order?
Assuming the Altair is the clincher version, I would say that the Flo90 is the superior wheel. Are you prepared to wait until the next pre-order?
I thought the Flo 60 was faster than the 90 for most situations?
John
pretty much just a tie
Assuming the Altair is the clincher version, I would say that the Flo90 is the superior wheel. Are you prepared to wait until the next pre-order?
I thought the Flo 60 was faster than the 90 for most situations?
John
i got the scoop from the company today on the 78’s as i was interested in them myself - i guess there was a problem with the spoke length and they are all being shipped back over to get fixed. release date has been moved to July / mid summer. bummersville…
bummer!
Then why would one ever buy a Flo 90? Same aero, but heavier. Looks cooler?
Then why would one ever buy a Flo 90? Same aero, but heavier. Looks cooler?
For some it might be vanity, but the deeper wheel in the back improves stability in some wind/speed conditions.
pretty much just a tie
Assuming the Altair is the clincher version, I would say that the Flo90 is the superior wheel. Are you prepared to wait until the next pre-order?
I thought the Flo 60 was faster than the 90 for most situations?
John
This just changed… drastically 
Because of tire shape?
chris
Come on, spill the beans.
Jack, am I interpreting these charts correctly? When comparing the FLO chart you posted, against the Zipp chart here:
Is the FLO data suggesting that all of their wheels, including the climbing wheel, have less drag at 0 yaw (bear with me I know what you’re thinking) than all of the wheels on the Zipp chart, including the 808? Furthermore, are the FLO wheels all producing less drag than the 808 right up to about 12 degrees at which point the 808 starts to have an ever-so-slight advantage until about 16 degrees when the FLOs regain advantage. And then the FLOs don’t stall, like every other deep wheel on the market?
Sincerely,
Confused in the 'Cuse
Because of tire shape?
chris
Yes tires change things drastically. During our first trip to the wind tunnel we had enough funds to test several tires. This time we spent more time testing tires after seeing the effects tires had for other companies. Using the Conti GP 4000s our drag numbers changed significantly.
Take care,
Come on, spill the beans.
We are hoping to have the report on our blog by Monday.
Chris, can you address my post to Jackmott above? Am I misinterpreting the charts?
Chris, can you address my post to Jackmott above? Am I misinterpreting the charts?
I don’t think you are misinterpreting anything. What do you feel you are misinterpreting? What I don’t know (maybe it’s posted somewhere) is the protocol of the Zipp test. All I can tell you at this point is about the protocol we used. Our new numbers will be out Monday. Here is the testing procedure we used for our latest round of testing…
The wind tunnel was set to simulate a relative velocity of 30mph (industry standard) and the data was normalized to account for barametric pressure conditions at different times of the year.We took two runs (measurements) of each angle.We tested the uprights that hold the wheels by themselves to determine the drag produced. This is considered tare and we subtracted this value from the overall drag value seen at each angle by the wheel. This is for the most part an industry standard.The measurements from each run were averaged and that data value was the value used in the final calculation.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thanks for the reply Chris,
I was wondering if I was misinterpretting it due to the results demonstrating that all of your wheels, including the climbing wheel, have less drag at 0 yaw than all of the wheels on the Zipp chart, including the 808. Additionally, the FLO wheels all produce less drag than the 808 right up to about 12 degrees at which point the 808 starts to have an ever-so-slight advantage until about 16 degrees when the FLOs regain advantage. And then the FLOs don’t stall, like every other deep wheel on the market.
If the 808 is the gold standard of the aerodynamic wheel, the FLOs would appear, on paper, to be even more impressive. I look forward to today’s results.