dietzpa

why do people race cross with deep rims?

I havent raced cross before but it seems that you dont need much of an aero advantage, you want a dependable/durable wheel, and the racing is more hilly than flat or descending.

whats the advantage over a standard/box rim?

Snuffleupagus

Because they're sponsored by companies that make deep section carbon rims.

Because they see the guys sponsored by companies that make deep section carbon rims, and want to be like them.

Lastly, because they believe it helps to get through deep mud and sand...or so I'm told

fly:yes/land:no

i thought that it was to cut through mud so as not to get bogged down in pits. plus, since a lot of the riding is done without a pack, any aero advantage helps. that being said, i despise cyclocross and would never subject myself to it voluntarily. looks painful. and uncivilizied.

dietzpa

I had a feeling it had something to do with the sponsored look.

It always amazes me how nice the bikes are just to crash them and throw them into frozen mud.

Duke of Kent

Sheds mud much better than a box section rim.

Marianne Vos was seen riding some CRAZY deep rims, like 85mm rims, in a cross race last winter.

Sponsors want to get their name out there, but there IS some functionality to them as well.

bitterken

I used to think the same thing until I tried it. Now I like it better then road racing and it will get me to race cross country next year. Expand your horizons, dude. Cold and mud is fun.

cslone

Weight, and the wheel tends to track better through mud and sand because the rim is never really covered by the obstacle. It just slices through it.

botto 

yep. too much running.

dietzpa

The slicing through the mud makes sense when you put it that way.

Then again, I always think of the video of Burghardt's wheel folding under him. Ruts and obstacles can be about as tough as a golden retriever.

Duke of Kent

You hit a dog like that with a light aluminum box section tubular rim and that will happen as well. Might not break, but it will be bent to the point of being useless.

And besides, ruts, roots, etc. are why they use big tires,

bitterken

^^^^

Yup. In 'cross, if you can't roll over it or jump over it, you're off and running over it... This would include dogs.

JBS103

True considering most ruts stand about 18" tall and weigh anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds.

cslone

C'mon, you've got to come out to one of the races. It's a blast. I actually had planned on doing no road racing next year, just crits and cross. But they've suckered me into the Tour of Ohio.

obra3

Yup... uncivilized. Lot's of beer- there was actually free beer at this past Sunday's Cross Crusade.

fly:yes/land:no

the second most uncivilized form of bike racing: crits.

i think i am going to stick with road racing and am going to start heading over to major taylor for some track racing next season. i don't think i will do too well on the track based on my scrawniness, but it will be fun. ryan v. (that 6'8" ivan drago character) is trying to get me to go out and watch a cx race hoping that i will someday take part. baahumbug.

my cyclocross comaptibility: i don't like getting dirty. i don't like being cold. i don't like jamming my manhood on top of a carbon fiber saddle 30 times. i do like running, and i do like biking, but i like to do one or the other, not both at once. i don't like knobby tires. i don't like cantilever brakes.

but, if i ever do watch one of your races cslone, i will say hey and yell loudly when you roll through the sandtrap portions.

deadly downtube

deep rims are usually pretty sturdy, no?

cslone

Dude, it's SCREAMING and ringing a cowbell when racers go through the sand. Not yelling loudly.

I've been thinking about track too, since it fits my type a little better. But I just really don't want to drive 2 hours one way every week to race. Which is why I went with cross. I love suffering, I love getting dirty and don't mind running with the bike on my shoulder. But I do hate knobbies and cantis.