I’ve been riding regularly now for 18 months, with focused try to increase the FTP training over the last few months. In June of last year I bought my bike, a Ridley Fenix, spending on a carbon frame and ultegra components.
The bike still has the stock wheelset, Fulcrum 7.
Now that I’m set to keep on with the cycling, I think I’d like to upgrade the wheelset but after trying to figure out a lot on my own through the internet, I’m pretty much lost. I’m not looking to race this thing in a tri, but I am looking to continue going for consistent 60-70 mile weekend rides and I live in Marin County so my rides are always hilly and I weigh 155.
I think I need a wheelset that’s lighter than what I have since I go up and down a lot and I don’t want to break the bank, but other than that I don’t really know where to start.
I’ve been riding regularly now for 18 months, with focused try to increase the FTP training over the last few months. In June of last year I bought my bike, a Ridley Fenix, spending on a carbon frame and ultegra components.
The bike still has the stock wheelset, Fulcrum 7.
Now that I’m set to keep on with the cycling, I think I’d like to upgrade the wheelset but after trying to figure out a lot on my own through the internet, I’m pretty much lost. I’m not looking to race this thing in a tri, but I am looking to continue going for consistent 60-70 mile weekend rides and I live in Marin County so my rides are always hilly and I weigh 155.
I think I need a wheelset that’s lighter than what I have since I go up and down a lot and I don’t want to break the bank, but other than that I don’t really know where to start.
Help?
Aero is more important than weight for going faster, but you are in luck. I brought this up in another thread here on the HED JET 6+ wheelset being sold for ~$800. You really can’t beat the wheelset to begin with but for the price it is even more incredible. It is as light as other carbon similar depth aero wheels and much lighter than other aluminum wheels of the same depth.
Thanks Thomas, I’ll look into it, though it also means new brake pads right?
No new brake pads needed as the HED JET 6+ are aluminum rims with a carbon fairing. That is one of the best parts, they are ALUMINUM for better braking, and no need to swap with other training wheels if you wanted to use them as race-only wheels, which isn’t what you want to do but just mentioning for others.
If your priority is going faster, I’d go for the HEDs per Thomas’ suggestion.
If you’re not racing I think the Fulcrum 7s are perfectly fine for most purposes. I used a set on the road bike for a couple of years without any problems.
However, if I was on a road bike, riding lots of hills, and wasn’t too bothered about speed, I’d probably go for a set of wide rim alloy wheels and wouldn’t worry about aerodynamics. If speed matters, and the budget is okay, go for the HEDs.
Carbon rims are hugely popular but they really don’t make that much sense to me. Weight isn’t that important on the flat and on hills a good braking surface is worth a very small weight penalty. So either way, carbon doesn’t have much going for it. A wide rim will allow you use lower pressures for a more comfortable ride and probably lower rolling resistance and better grip, depending on the road surface, without poor aerodynamics or excessive “squish”.
The HEDs have wide rims and there are others worth considering if aerodynamics aren’t an issue…but the HEDs are hard to pass over.
If your priority is going faster, I’d go for the HEDs per Thomas’ suggestion.
If you’re not racing I think the Fulcrum 7s are perfectly fine for most purposes. I used a set on the road bike for a couple of years without any problems.
However, if I was on a road bike, riding lots of hills, and wasn’t too bothered about speed, I’d probably go for a set of wide rim alloy wheels and wouldn’t worry about aerodynamics. If speed matters, and the budget is okay, go for the HEDs.
Carbon rims are hugely popular but they really don’t make that much sense to me. Weight isn’t that important on the flat and on hills a good braking surface is worth a very small weight penalty. So either way, carbon doesn’t have much going for it. A wide rim will allow you use lower pressures for a more comfortable ride and probably lower rolling resistance and better grip, depending on the road surface, without poor aerodynamics or excessive “squish”.
The HEDs have wide rims and there are others worth considering if aerodynamics aren’t an issue…but the HEDs are hard to pass over.
So with these rims, or other wider ones; rather than buy 23mm tires you buy wider tires and you can run lower PSI without the flat risk?
A wider rim provides additional volume on 23mm tyres too, but yes I’d probably go with 25mm.
Greater volume and a wider footprint mean you can run lower pressures without risking pinch punctures.
A wider rim provides additional volume on 23mm tyres too, but yes I’d probably go with 25mm.
Greater volume and a wider footprint mean you can run lower pressures without risking pinch punctures.
I ordered the tires, and am putting 25mm tires on. What pressure should they be run at?
Flat risk is a hard one to really pin on rim width. That is more dependent on the tire you are riding and the surfaces you ride on.
Pinch punctures are hugely influenced by pressure, tyre profile and how it deflects under load. So the combination of rim width/tyre shape/pressure is hugely relevant.
Flat risk is a hard one to really pin on rim width. That is more dependent on the tire you are riding and the surfaces you ride on.
Pinch punctures are hugely influenced by pressure, tyre profile and how it deflects under load. So the combination of rim width/tyre shape/pressure is hugely relevant.
How often do you really pinch flat on a road bike???
Opinions will vary but there are a few factors to consider. Most importantly:
your weight
road quality where you ride
specific tyres use
personal preference
I weight 80kg, ride on poor road surfaces quite often, use 25mm GP4000sII and like comfort without excessive squish when climbing oyt of the saddle or sprinting.
I also use Swiss Side Hadrons which are a little narrower than the HEDs I think.
I typically use 75psi front and 90psi rear. I could go a bit lower.
If you’re significantly lighter, consider less pressure and vice versa. Since the HED rims are a couple of mm wider you could frop a couple more psi for a given weight compared to me.
A wider rim provides additional volume on 23mm tyres too, but yes I’d probably go with 25mm.
Greater volume and a wider footprint mean you can run lower pressures without risking pinch punctures.
I ordered the tires, and am putting 25mm tires on. What pressure should they be run at?
I run the HED JET+ in training with 25mm Gatorskins at 75-77 front and 77-80 rear at about 155lbs.
