A couple of years ago I rode a 40K TT in pouring rain with a set of Real Design Supersonic 60’s. These wheels are an aluminum rim with a deep carbon fairing. During the race I thought the bike handled very strange, like i had a flat tire only my tires were fine. To my surprise the rims were sloshing full of water when I finished the race, adding a lot of rotating weight and resistance … and it was a pain to get the water out of there after the race.
Now I am in the market for a set of deep racing clinchers for my roadbike that can also double as TT/Tri wheels for those days when the wind gets really ugly.
I’ve got my eye on Hed Alps or Jet 50. I understand that these are also wheels with a non-structural carbon fairing.
Will water in the rims be a problem with all deep wheels with a carbon fairing? Is this a problem only if there is a torrential downpour like I experienced in my TT or will the same happen in a 120K road race on a normal rainy day?
Should I just get the Hed 50s and ride a box rim on rainy days? Are there any 40-50mm deep clincher alternatives with a structural rim that will not break the bank?
Sindre