I know this has been a frequent topic, but I could really use some some guidance and advice.
I am a lucky lottery winner (after 18 years …) and am headed to Kona this year. I have a pair of Enve carbon clinchers (70 rear, 60 front) that I have been training on
since March and will race on at IM Mont Tremblant later this month. (IMMT will be my 2nd IM.)
I am a decent rider but am on the smaller and lighter side (5’7" and 138 pounds). (I am expecting to ride between 5:45-6:00 at IMMT.) I am wondering if these wheels will make sense given the cross-winds in Hawaii? Or are they too deep given my weight?
That may be perfect is you are a coordinated and capable bike handler.
If you are worried about the handling, use/borrow a shallower front wheel, but keep that rear one on there, it is perfect. Big crosswinds == big yaw angles so having a deeper rear will be a nice advantage and are usually no problem handling wise.
Go for low profiled front in Kona if your bike time is slower than 5h30. At that speed there is very little performance benefit and a low profile front will provide way better handling!
See you in Mt Tremblant
At that speed there is very little performance benefit and a low profile front will provide way better handling!
There is no magical cut off where the laws of physics are suspended and aerodynamics stop being important. The aero benefit does decrease as a person goes slower, but that person is on the course longer and has more time to benefit from the aerodynamics.
For handling, a person should ride with what they’re comfortable with, but most folks can handle a 60-90mm deep wheel in most wind conditions. I know Kona is pretty tough from a wind perspective, but folks who make it to Kona should have more than enough experience to handle the conditions.
The OP mentioned he got in via the lottery…
I have a friend about his weight that was literally blown off the road around Hawi with 50mm rims in 2009…
My point is:
If you want a hassle and worry free ride in Kona: go for low rims
If it matters to you whether you have a 5:45 or a 5:47 bike split and are willing to take some risk, go for tall rims (and hope that that 5:47 is not your tall rim speed because you had to fight to stay on the road all the time)
As for my personal experience: I bike 80-90mm front rim in Kona and have no issues with that (most of the time).
The OP mentioned he got in via the lottery…
I have a friend about his weight that was literally blown off the road around Hawi with 50mm rims in 2009…
My point is:
If you want a hassle and worry free ride in Kona: go for low rims
If it matters to you whether you have a 5:45 or a 5:47 bike split and are willing to take some risk, go for tall rims (and hope that that 5:47 is not your tall rim speed because you had to fight to stay on the road all the time)
As for my personal experience: I bike 80-90mm front rim in Kona and have no issues with that (most of the time).
I hear you, which is why I said a rider has to go with what they’re comfortable with. The OP also mentioned 18 years of trying for the lottery, so that’s a lot of experience. I just wanted to be clear that there’s still a clear aero benefit regardless of expected finish time.
I have raced Kona 2x on a 60 and an 81. I have also raced Honu on a 92. I would recommend you find a shallower wheel. Nothing over a mid 40s would be my call. Best of luck in both races.
Thanks for the all the input. I think I will bring a shallower front wheel with me to give me the option. Having never raced in Kona before, I’m less concerned about my bike split as I am about just setting myself up to enjoy the day/experience. (I’m more focused on trying to PR at IMMT …)
I’ve got decent strength and bike handling skills, but my fear is that my weight could get me blow off the bike despite good bike handling skills …
In terms of my experience, I’ve probably done 2 half IM races each year for the last 18 years and did IM Canada about 10 years ago …
Wow, this OP is nearly the same as what I was about to post(ask). I too, am wondering what wheelset I should run In Kona. In all fairness, I earned my spot to Kona by way of the Legacy Lottery (Kona will be my 20th Ironman). So, I’m not the fastest out there, but I do try my hardest.
So, here is my question: I have a set of Tri-spokes, and I also have an 58mm front/85mm rear seat. So, I’m wondering which wheelset to plan on running in Kona?? Do I run the 58/85 (10spoke/12spoke Rolf Prima), or do I run the tri-spoke (Nimble Crosswinds)?
That may be perfect is you are a coordinated and capable bike handler.
If you are worried about the handling, use/borrow a shallower front wheel, but keep that rear one on there, it is perfect. Big crosswinds == big yaw angles so having a deeper rear will be a nice advantage and are usually no problem handling wise.
What Jack said. I am the exact same size at the OP (5’6", 138 lbs) and used 60 mm in the front and 80 mm in the back in Kona 2x. There are actually no wind “gusts” in Kona. People call them wind gusts because they are not understanding the topology. The winds are very steady but on the way to Hawi you go in and out of them as the road cuts through the lava fields. When the lava fields are lower than the road, you will be blasted, when the lava fields are higher than the road you’ll be “more sheltered”. You can tell from fairly far away where you will be hit by a “gust” (which is not a gust, it is just wind funneling down the lava tubes and the road rising above). If you ride smart and are aware of the topography around you, you can lean into the wind and stabilize yourself for the “gust” and the large depth rear wheel should actually be a stabilizer in this case.
Wow, this OP is nearly the same as what I was about to post(ask). I too, am wondering what wheelset I should run In Kona. In all fairness, I earned my spot to Kona by way of the Legacy Lottery (Kona will be my 20th Ironman). So, I’m not the fastest out there, but I do try my hardest.
So, here is my question: I have a set of Tri-spokes, and I also have an 58mm front/85mm rear seat. So, I’m wondering which wheelset to plan on running in Kona?? Do I run the 58/85 (10spoke/12spoke Rolf Prima), or do I run the tri-spoke (Nimble Crosswinds)?
Congrats on going to Kona! That is awesome that you will do number 20 there (I also was fortunate to do number 20 there). What about 58 Rolf Prima in the front and the Nimble tri spoke in the rear? That could be another option.
What Dev said - no real wind gusts - just steady winds in certain locations due to topography.
With that said, there are a few open areas north of Mauna Lani resort before you hit the end of the QK, where you need to watch it.
Once you make the right turn up to Hawi at Kawaihae, there’s not much to speak of until you hit mile marker 9.
From MM9 up to the turn around in Hawi and back to mile MM9, that’s where you need to pay attention to the topography (and watching riders ahead of you). This is where stuff happens.
The only time I did Kona I weighed 135lbs (a long time ago) and rode a Zipp 303 in the front and Corima 4 spoke in the rear. I had no problems at all with the winds and wished I rode a 404 on the front. As others have said go with a 50 mm to 60 mm depth rim in the front and as deep as you have in the rear.
IMO, riding in the crosswinds is more about handling experience than wheel depth. People with poor handling skills in crosswinds that don’t know how to (or aren’t confident enough to) lean into the wind will get blown around even on training rims. Most of the people I have seen struggle up at Hawi are the ones who are sitting up (thinking they’ll have more control when instead they are just catching more wind) and instead of leaning, they try to compensate by adjusting their steering.
I’ve done Honu the past 3 years with 404’s front/rear @ 150-160 pounds and never felt like shallower would be better. I’d go deeper, especially in the rear if given the choice. Bike splits were 2:50 (first HIM), 2:39, 2:40. But I feel my opinions are mainly based on my confidence and ability to ride in the wind rather than evaluating my weight, rim depth, and bike speed. You should do the same rather than base your decision on n = 1 testimony.
I’ll be there in October, also a lottery winner, so feel free to bring your ENVE 6.7 setup as well as a full training set. We can go on a test ride and I’ll talk you out of using the ENVEs so you can let me borrow them. I’m on older 404 aluminum clinchers.
“but folks who make it to Kona should have more than enough experience to handle the conditions.”
First off, the poster mentioned he is going on the lottery. Second, many Kona qualifiers are going there for the first time and have not experienced the Kona wind. Third, the wind conditions can vary considerably from year to year.
My wife went and the wind that year was one of the worst in the history of the event. She saw people on big dish wheels who had actually crashed due to wind gusts.
“but folks who make it to Kona should have more than enough experience to handle the conditions.”
First off, the poster mentioned he is going on the lottery. Second, many Kona qualifiers are going there for the first time and have not experienced the Kona wind. Third, the wind conditions can vary considerably from year to year.
My wife went and the wind that year was one of the worst in the history of the event. She saw people on big dish wheels who had actually crashed due to wind gusts.
Play it safe with a lower dish front.
Maybe I’m assuming too much, but the OP has 18 years (at least) of riding experience. Maybe I ride in more difficult conditions that most, but I don’t know how you can spend that long in the sport and not have decent handling skills and confidence in tough conditions.
Are they the SES 6.7’s or the other ENVE carbon clinchers? The SES wheels perform very well in crosswinds.
Hi All:
I know this has been a frequent topic, but I could really use some some guidance and advice.
I am a lucky lottery winner (after 18 years …) and am headed to Kona this year. I have a pair of Enve carbon clinchers (70 rear, 60 front) that I have been training on
since March and will race on at IM Mont Tremblant later this month. (IMMT will be my 2nd IM.)
I am a decent rider but am on the smaller and lighter side (5’7" and 138 pounds). (I am expecting to ride between 5:45-6:00 at IMMT.) I am wondering if these wheels will make sense given the cross-winds in Hawaii? Or are they too deep given my weight?
OMG that is the same set up I’ve used but only 150 lbs. I’ve used 404 front /Corima rear, as well as a dual 404 too…I’ve not noticed any handling difference at all. But when winds are different each year it is hard to tell if it is the wind or wheels that keep things seemingly about the same. Best thing is to just pick a set & if needed hold on for dear life if you choose wrong. Even the pros differ on opinion of what would be best in Kona race day.
