Heading to Kona for the first time this October. I have two issues I’m trying to resolve:
- helmet in the heat. I race with an S Works tt helmet mostly (black) but have used an older Evade (also Black) for hotter full distance races like IM Chatt. I train with a POC Ventral Spin (matte white) that I like a lot but am concerned the aero penalty is too much for racing. I want venting and will be pouring water in. Race the white POC or black Evade?
- I have trained and raced on Enve 6.7 wheels since 2013 and now sub in a Zipp Super 9 full rear disc for races since I got it last year. I have a Trek SC 9.9. I could do Kona on the 6.7 pair but I did have a spoke break at 70.3 Worlds in Chatt, the only DNF I’ve ever had. I put a lot of miles over Seattle-area roads on these. I could have them rebuilt at my LBS to increase my trust, or invest in new wheels (7.8, 808, or other.).
Throwing this out for thoughts, suggestions. Thanks.
I have raced Kona several times and will be again this year. I don’t think the colour of your helmet will make that much difference and most likely will be wearing a black Giro Vanquish. It is if you go a fully aero helmet that you start to worry about over heating on the back end of the bike.
As for wheels the Enve 6.7 is a great and safe wheelset. The wind there can do crazy things and on the worst days it would be perfect as descending Hawi can be a white knuckle ride. Minimal gains going deeper but if you want a new set of wheels then go for it.
If you worry about crosswinds at high speed (which can happen in the descent from Hawi) then a shallow front wheel is an option. For the rear it doesn’t matter
(There have been written zillion posts about diskwheels and wind, and, although there is no consensus, many allege that a diskwheel does not destabilize you in crosswinds. I belong to those people and rode a disk in Lanzarote this year without problems).
So for Hawaii I advise as deep as allowed on the rear, and shallower on the front. I will ride an 808 on the rear (disks are forbidden in Hawaii) and a 4 cm on the front this year in Hawaii.
Furthermore, my experience and that of others is that you are more stable staying on your extensions in areoposition, if possible of course. It seems more natural to get up if it gets spooky (especially because in aeroposition you have no access to the brakes) , but you’ll notice you get more instable in an upright position.
It also helps to get out of your pain cave, stop Zwifting and ride outside to get accustomed to handling the bike.
Helmet is very personal. I rode a giro aerohead two years ago in Hawaii (a white one) without any problems and will thus do that again.
Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll most likely use the Evade though I have been coveting an Aerohead. I agree with the full rear disc and stability. In my experience, I am more stable with the disc, less twitchy descending. I’ve ridden 40-50k miles on the Enves over the six years I’ve owned them, first on a P3 then the SC. At least I know what to expect and am comfortable.
I have raced Kona several times and will be again this year.
NEMESIS!!!
https://youtu.be/kGvRhpAxgeI
I used a road helmet last year, and was glad it did…more vents. For wheels, I used 303s…it wasn’t very windy on race day, but when I was training, those were plenty shallow enough. Good luck and have fun!
The foam in your helmet is such a good insulator that there is virtually no conductive heat transfer between the inside and outside of the helmet. As a result, color is basically irrelevant; what matters is airflow. If you are concerned about the heat, use the Evade: better airflow than a full TT helmet, and you can pour water in through the vents.
Not really sure what to make of that but I did have a laugh 
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Not really sure what to make of that but I did have a laugh
I figured you two race against each other at Kona
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I plan to use a 303 front, 808 back. I also have a 404 front, but want the extra handling.
I own the same Specialized TT helmet. I would hate to use that at Kona—it gets very hot on 80 degree plus days. The evade should work well. I use a Bontrager Ballista in conditions like this.
Helmet is very personal. I rode a giro aerohead two years ago in Hawaii (a white one) without any problems and will thus do that again.
Happy to see at least one person say this. It will be my first time in Kona and I race with the vent-less Aerohead. It got a bit hot during the last hour in Frankfurt this year but temperatures there were hotter than Kona, I believe, though probably less humid
Your questions are almost exactly what I was thinking about and going to ask! It’ll be my first Kona too, and I have an Aerohead and Evade (first model) and was leaning towards the Evade. For wheels I’m debating HED 6 or 9 front, but leaning towards the 6.
Your questions are almost exactly what I was thinking about and going to ask! It’ll be my first Kona too, and I have an Aerohead and Evade (first model) and was leaning towards the Evade. For wheels I’m debating HED 6 or 9 front, but leaning towards the 6.
I would not take a front 9 to Kona. It is a long day on the bike and while some days the winds aren’t bad, it would be a weird day that wasn’t pretty darn breezy on at least some parts of the route. If the cross winds are strong at Hawi any advantage of the 9 will be totally wasted as you crawl down the descent wondering if you are going to end up in the ditch