and bring my wifes front 808 to use w the 1080 rear…prob not a bad idea but 808 front could even be too deep?
shrug
I would think about using 1080 front and rear. Granted I’m a bigger guy. I dunno.
I guess it depends on how confident you are in your handling skills and how much you weigh.
Guys have gone 8:08 on Zipp 440’s in Kona (predecessor to 404). You’ll probably be fine on the 808
Guys have gone 8:08 on Zipp 440’s in Kona (predecessor to 404). You’ll probably be fine on the 808
8:08 is a long time to spend on the bike. 
bigger dude dont matter… you do NOT want to be messing around with a 1080 on the descent from Hawi. I’ve had probs in the past with a 404 front. Should I be out there I’ll be on a 404 or 808 in the front. 1080 in the rear of course!
what about a hed3 front? First time doing Kona and I have heard horror stories from some pretty cyclist that they were miserable with anything deeper than a 404? My options are a newly purchased used 30mm depth real design front with round spokes or a hed3. Will be riding a flash point 60 in the back.
Any insights appreciated,
Thanks,
RF
calling upon anecdotals here… i’ve “heard” that an 808 is easier to control in a strong cross then a HED3. If you’ve seen over the years from photos taken of the event (particularly the W’s field) that they will ride a 303ish front with HED3 back. Not many HED3 fronts in Kona.
calling upon anecdotals here… i’ve “heard” that an 808 is easier to control in a strong cross then a HED3. If you’ve seen over the years from photos taken of the event (particularly the W’s field) that they will ride a 303ish front with HED3 back. Not many HED3 fronts in Kona.
I respectfully say that I find hard to understand why so many talk about such a deep wheel being hard to control. If you spend enough time training on them and do not use them only for racing, you will race with them at ease on most but the most extremely windy courses. I have seen 12 to 14 year old kids using Blackwell 100’s, 808’s and H3s rear and front in very windy places. These are 100 - 120 lb kids. Sure most of them use them to road and track race, but my son has used deep dished front wheels to race triathlons since he was 13.
Putting aerodynamics aside, fear to using deep wheels in windy places is more related to lack of riding hours or not training on them enough than anything else.
Sergio
I road the course 2 weeks ago and I said to myself, glad I do NOT have my H3 in front. It was really bad out near Hawi and I was on a road bike and have very good bike skills. I would choose 404’s, maybe 808’s, no 1080’s for the front for me. I don’t think it would be impossible, just not the best choice.
But maybe you’ll get a windless day----Hahahahaha
and bring my wifes front 808 to use w the 1080 rear…prob not a bad idea but 808 front could even be too deep?
Translation: Look at me! I’m going to Kona! Kneel before Zod!
Maybe it’s because I had a really hard group ride in the heat and my brain isn’t working properly, but I can’t stop giggling at your Superman 2 reference. What was with that cellophane ‘S’ that Superman threw at the mute??
I’ve already declared swaco as this year’s Marisol with the drive-by Kona gloats. The guy’s just excited, it’s kinda cute. Marisol was great with her once a week “what wheels for Kona?” “who wants to swim with me in Kona?” "where to stay if your name begins with an ‘M’ and ends in ‘arisol’ and you qualifed for Kona’ threads. Swaco has about 5 or 6 and I’m sure that number will grow.
Kneel before Zod!
Leave the 808 at home too!
**8:08 is a long time to spend on the bike. **
Gotta be a typo, I even did better than that at Kona with a strong head wind and pretty nasty cross winds near Hawi. Good times
He probably meant 5:08, since the course record at Kona is 4:18 by Stadler.
He meant 8:08 total time. I was just teasing him
Granted my last experience out there was in the, ah, gale of 2001, but if I was doing it again I’d bring the 404’s and be good to go no matter what might happen weather-wise.
**He meant 8:08 total time. I was just teasing him **
So by referencing “guys”, Dev actually meant really fast pros
You obviously have not ridden in hawi when the wind is blowing hard.
Please leave your ultra-deep front wheels at home - were too many accidents (and close to accidents) due athletes not handling the bike in the strong gusts.
And for most athletes, a 35-50wheel will be faster; makes it possible to stay in the bars instead of sitting upright on the hoods struggling to control the bike.
I have a 440 but will will use a 303 because wind in Kona (regardless of handling skills) can be dangerous with seemingly calm moments then getting blasted by gust over 35 mph in a second…poof…there you go in the ditch. Not saying I’m Ned Overend or Tinker on handling skills, but fighting the wind’s “push” from side to side can tire you out more than you think in that hot Kona sun. Going with a Corima 4-spoke on the rear.
Putting aerodynamics aside, fear to using deep wheels in windy places is more related to lack of riding hours or not training on them enough than anything else.
I will not disagree with you about this. Consistent strong and steady winds are one thing. However, the issue on the Kona bike course is not so much the winds themselves, it’s that they can go from nothing, to a howling blast in an instant.