Wondering, if you were to rent wheels for race day…what wheels would you want to rent? So many different brands out there to chose from nowadays…costs could be lower for rental fees if one used a less expensive wheel to begin with. Let me know…obviously anything by Zipp is going to top most lists…what else would you rent?
Just a tubular disc.
I took my last disc wheel to IMFL and the airlines did a number on it. I will not take my disc over to Germany this summer for Roth and would consider renting a disc there if they were available.
Would it matter a whole lot if it were Zipp, Hed, Renn, Bontrager, Corima…or just that it be tubular?
Would it matter a whole lot if it were Zipp, Hed, Renn, Bontrager, Corima…or just that it be tubular?
oh no that’s a can of worms.
Me ,I’am tubular race wheel guy for some people clinchers.
Also you really can’t go wrong with renting HED or Zipp its what works best for you and the course ,at a certain point it becomes like spliting hairs about drag,yaw etc…
I own a set of Hed 3c and a Tubular disc ,most of the time I use disc(rear) hed 3 (front).There are alot of different combos disc/808 , disc/stinger90 ,808 r/f, Stinger 90 r/f ,HED3 r/f …
Just that it be tubular to match my current race wheels - no brand preference for a disc to use only one day.
The whole tubie/clincher debate aside…would people renting race wheels be more apt to be wanting tubulars? Is wheel renting more of a high end thing where one could expect that tubulars might be the better choice? Obviously the general masses aren’t going to be renting them and, really, they are the ones using clinchers most often.
I’m one of the masses and I’ve rented for 2 of my IMs thru Race Day Wheels. Once was 404s front and back and this past summer it was 404 front 808 back. I requested clinchers because that is what I know and I can change a flat quickly on them. You can get tubulars.
In your case it comes down to which one could you change a flat on quicker.
Very valid point kdw…same would apply for the general rentere of such wheels I guess.
Most of our rentals are clinchers, actually. We have tubulars for roadies and cyclocross racing, but triathletes overwhelmingly choose clinchers.
As for brands, Zipp isn’t our biggest seller. HED is by far. We already have reservations for HED Jet 69 and H3 clincher set ups through August.
I think the general economy is helping out with the rental market. And since we’re a rent to own program, lots of people are taking advantage of that feature to sort of pay off a wheelset as they get to try out other models.
hi echappe…thaks very much for the input…sent you a PM as well.
If you have to change a flat, be it tubular or clincher, you’re screwed in terms of any sort of finishing time. Even if you can change a clincher faster, it still takes too long. So why not go with tubulars?
I disagree that you are screwed if you have to change a flat. I would say that it is still possible to win the race.
If you’ve never changed a tubular, the side of the road at an IM is a tough place to learn…and what are you gaining by using the tubulars?
Front wheel flat you can be back on the bike in less than 10 minutes, closer to 5 if you practice. Over an Ironman, you can make that up. Rear wheel takes a little longer but it can be done. Clinchers will make a definate difference over tubular in speed of changing the tire.
Ah…you know I agree with that comment in an IM race. I should have made that distinction. For me at least, if you DO have to change a flat, I can do a clincher faster.
thankfully I have never had tp change one of my tubies (yet) but I once changes out a tube on a Mavic Ksyrium/Michelin Pro Race combination during a race…from the time I stop until the time I was back on the bike was a hair under one minute. Not sure if that combination in general works that well for everyone…but on this day it was like butta. I’m going to guess that most people renting race wheels do so for big events like Ironman distance ones…so maybe clinchers would be the way to go.