help me make this life altering decision
#1
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
help me make this life altering decision
I have 3 pairs of wheels, and I'm selling 1 pair.
they are:
38/50 clinchers
60/60 clinchers
50/50 tubulars
I'm keeping the 38/50, because they are nice for training and racing. I'm on the fence about selling the 60/60 or the 50/50. the tubulars are about 150 g lighter than the 38/50, and maybe 300g lighter than the 60/60. however, the 60/60 are clincher, so I can use them for training as well, and I know from first hand experience how much a pain in the ass tubulars are to deal with. Basically, should I choose the slightly better aerodynamics and practicality of the 60/60 clinchers, or the 300g lighter 50/50 tubulars? I have a feeling that the better aero profile of the 60/60s will out perform the tubulars, despite the heavier weight. I'd like to be racing cat 2 most of next year, and work my way up from there.
they are:
38/50 clinchers
60/60 clinchers
50/50 tubulars
I'm keeping the 38/50, because they are nice for training and racing. I'm on the fence about selling the 60/60 or the 50/50. the tubulars are about 150 g lighter than the 38/50, and maybe 300g lighter than the 60/60. however, the 60/60 are clincher, so I can use them for training as well, and I know from first hand experience how much a pain in the ass tubulars are to deal with. Basically, should I choose the slightly better aerodynamics and practicality of the 60/60 clinchers, or the 300g lighter 50/50 tubulars? I have a feeling that the better aero profile of the 60/60s will out perform the tubulars, despite the heavier weight. I'd like to be racing cat 2 most of next year, and work my way up from there.
#4
Senior Member
I have 3 pairs of wheels, and I'm selling 1 pair.
they are:
38/50 clinchers
60/60 clinchers
50/50 tubulars
I'm keeping the 38/50, because they are nice for training and racing. I'm on the fence about selling the 60/60 or the 50/50. the tubulars are about 150 g lighter than the 38/50, and maybe 300g lighter than the 60/60. however, the 60/60 are clincher, so I can use them for training as well, and I know from first hand experience how much a pain in the ass tubulars are to deal with. Basically, should I choose the slightly better aerodynamics and practicality of the 60/60 clinchers, or the 300g lighter 50/50 tubulars? I have a feeling that the better aero profile of the 60/60s will out perform the tubulars, despite the heavier weight. I'd like to be racing cat 2 most of next year, and work my way up from there.
they are:
38/50 clinchers
60/60 clinchers
50/50 tubulars
I'm keeping the 38/50, because they are nice for training and racing. I'm on the fence about selling the 60/60 or the 50/50. the tubulars are about 150 g lighter than the 38/50, and maybe 300g lighter than the 60/60. however, the 60/60 are clincher, so I can use them for training as well, and I know from first hand experience how much a pain in the ass tubulars are to deal with. Basically, should I choose the slightly better aerodynamics and practicality of the 60/60 clinchers, or the 300g lighter 50/50 tubulars? I have a feeling that the better aero profile of the 60/60s will out perform the tubulars, despite the heavier weight. I'd like to be racing cat 2 most of next year, and work my way up from there.
If you're comfortable with the 60/60, why not sell both the 50/50 and the 60/60 and get something like a 75/90 or similar? If you went that route you'd realistically want to go tubulars, to keep weight manageable. My 60/90 clinchers, full weight, are about 1300g heavier than my 75/90 tubulars (same hubs, spokes, basically same cassette, so just rim/tire differences, plus 50g penalty for the trainer skewer on the clincher rear wheel, and tires on both are pretty bombproof). Aero is good but 3 pounds at the rim, give or take, takes a lot of juice to get rolling. For me it's enough to push me over the limit. If I don't have my tubulars I race my non-aero clinchers.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
#5
commu*ist spy
Thread Starter
it doesn't make too much sense to me to get 60/90, because the rear wheel accounts for so little of the overall aerodynamic drag. the front wheel is where the difference is made, I think. someone brought up a cervelo study, basically laying out the various percentages each bike component accounts for in terms of aero drag, and front wheel was up there in the teens, while the rear wheel accounted for something like 2.5% or something like that.
so yea, I guess keep the 60s and sell the 50s
so yea, I guess keep the 60s and sell the 50s
#6
Senior Member
I have no data to back this up but in cross-tailwinds the tall rear seems to act as a sail. There's nothing like flying along in a strong cross-tailwind (20 mph wind?). Maybe it's psychological only, but I swear that having, for example, two Trispokes is faster in a cross-tailwind situation than just a front one. I used to race with a front Trispoke, I'd fit the rear for fast wind days.
In head on wind I don't see much of a difference between various wheels. The biggest differences seem to show up at higher speeds with a cross tailwind.
If I'm totally off base on this I probably don't want to know. But it's why I run 75/90 for virtually all my races, and especially when it's windy out and there's a significant cross-tailwind section of course.
In head on wind I don't see much of a difference between various wheels. The biggest differences seem to show up at higher speeds with a cross tailwind.
If I'm totally off base on this I probably don't want to know. But it's why I run 75/90 for virtually all my races, and especially when it's windy out and there's a significant cross-tailwind section of course.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson