I’m looking to buy my first pair of race wheels this winter, but I’m unsure on what rim depth to get for the front wheel.
I’ll be doing mostly olympics and halfs for the next few years with maybe 1 Ironman thrown in. I average about 20 mph for a half (don’t laugh). Is this fast enough to make getting a deeper front wheel like an 808 or a Jet 9 worth it, or should I stick with something shallower? I ride a Transition if that makes any difference.
In general get the deeper wheel if you can handle it in crosswinds. If you do some windy races and can only have one race wheel consider a 60mm. In calmer areas a 90mm should be OK.
The additional gains from a 90 are small, so any fighting with the bike erases those fast. I’m 180 and do most races on a Jet 90mm, but have a 50mm Cosmic Carbone for some races by the ocean that are Kona windy.
someone really should code up that bot for jackmott…
A Jackmott bot would be helpfull, the Jackbott? Or maybe an app…
Yes, I am familiar with all the rules. Ride the deepest wheel you can handle, and a disk is always fastest, etc, etc.
I guess I asked the wrong question. Without test riding a bunch of wheels in different wind conditions, its hard to know what is the deepest wheel I can handle. Maybe a better question is, assuming I am an average bike handler, at what yaw do handing issues start to overcome the aero benefits of the deeper wheel.
Get an 808 and a disk. Hed wheels are for losers. They may be fast but still suck. Go deeP or go home. It really wont matter for speed or handling But the bike will look much cooler in transition. That is all that matters when it comes to race wheels.
Get an 808 and a disk. Hed wheels are for losers. They may be fast but still suck. Go deeP or go home. It really wont matter for speed or handling But the bike will look much cooler in transition. That is all that matters when it comes to race wheels.
Yes, but you forget… you must unZipp before you can get Hed… and getting Hed is what matters…
get an 808 or Hed3…you’ll be fine on the wind unless a tornado comes through…too many pansy asses worry about if they’ll blow over because they aren’t on a box 32 spoke wheel
.
You can search the threads for advice on your weight and skills, but really try to take ego out. I just did ITU Vegas and wished I rode the 404 FC I left at home (I rode a 808FC. The difference between the 808 and the 404 is insignificant to feeling locked in and able to stay down and aero.
Get an 808 and a disk. Hed wheels are for losers. They may be fast but still suck. Go deeP or go home. It really wont matter for speed or handling But the bike will look much cooler in transition. That is all that matters when it comes to race wheels.
Yes, but you forget… you must unZipp before you can get Hed… and getting Hed is what matters…
Keep telling yourself that. It’s like the guy in the worked WV convinced he is superior cause his car is “faster” than the BMW next to him on the highway.
Maybe I am shallow but I feel better about myself cause I have zipp wheels. I also have a sweet set of hed Belgium wheels, they are great for a winter training set …
Keep telling yourself that. It’s like the guy in the worked WV convinced he is superior cause his car is “faster” than the BMW next to him on the highway.
That would be Koenig. His other cars were Porsches. He is superior.
Just like jackmott and The Tibbs.
808 firecrest cc front.
that is all.
The news designs do pretty well in everything but unusually high winds. If you can get a new top of the line wheel I’d go deep like an 808FC. If you can’t afford that then I’d still go that depth, but bring your normal wheel just in case. For 95% of the races you’ll have the fastest set up you can afford and for 5% you’ll be at a bit of a disadvantage. Not a bad trade off overall.
Definitely won’t be shelling out for an 808FC, unless I get lucky and find a great deal on a used one. I am considering the Jet 9 with the newer wider rim and also the Aeolus 9.0. Would you consider those one level below the FC wheels in terms of rim shape and their handling characteristics, with the older zipps, sram, and Hed wheels one level below that, or do the new Jets and Aeolus also use the standard torrioal shape, just with a wider rim.
Another thing to consider is dealing with the center pull breaks on my transition, not too easy to adjust for rim width when switching between training and race wheels.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
anyone worrying about how deep to go should go 404-ish
everyone else should go 808ish
this is my latest philosophy.
eventually some of the worriers will stop worrying and they can trade up =)
I ride a 1080 front and a disc at the back, in ALL races… never experienced any major issues.
I’m 170 lbs and ran a Jet 9 C2 front/disc cover rear in windy conditions in Chicago and Cacun this year. No handling problems whatsoever.
IMO the wind and deep front concerns are overstated unless 1) you’re hovering arond 120 lbs or 2) can’t ride a bike to save your life.
I’m looking to buy my first pair of race wheels this winter, but I’m unsure on what rim depth to get for the front wheel.
I’ll be doing mostly olympics and halfs for the next few years with maybe 1 Ironman thrown in. I average about 20 mph for a half (don’t laugh). Is this fast enough to make getting a deeper front wheel like an 808 or a Jet 9 worth it, or should I stick with something shallower? I ride a Transition if that makes any difference.
you’ve got your answer i think, but wanted to point out A) 20mph makes a deep set of wheels very worth it, many won’t ever hit 20mph avg, so don’t think you “don’t deserve” them B) the slower you go doesn’t mean the shallower you have to go, unless you start going REAL slow and have to then worry about weight.
other factor is: are your races hilly- like real hilly- then maybe shallower
you’ve got your answer i think, but wanted to point out A) 20mph makes a deep set of wheels very worth it, many won’t ever hit 20mph avg, so don’t think you “don’t deserve” them B) the slower you go doesn’t mean the shallower you have to go, unless you start going REAL slow and have to then worry about weight.
given the way most 808ish wheels perform compared to most 404ish wheels at higher yaws, a deeper front would be MORE ‘worth it’ for a slower rider, not less.
other factor is: are your races hilly- like real hilly- then maybe shallower
deeper wheels aren’t enough heavier for that to really ever matter.
we all want to make this a complicated thing where there is a right wheel set for the course
but really, the right wheel set for the course is 99% of the time - disc rear and deep as you can stand front.
even savageman.
if it was raining at savageman then probably go with a weight weenie set =)
I too am shopping for (clincher) race wheels. I probably won’t go deeper than 40mm front/60mm rear. Partly cost considerations, partly don’t want to deal with valve extentions, partly want to guarantee good handling.
My only question is if you race hillier courses wouldn’t the 404 provide better climbing than the 808?