Why carbon wheels and tubulars in CX?

[ryanspeer]

I've been eyeing CX videos and photos and see a lot of racers on expensive carbon wheels and tubular tires. Considering the huge expense of the wheels and the beating that it would seem that they receive during races, why not go with something a bit more expendible?

And why tubulars? Is it all just about the collective weight savings?

[TimJ]

Tubulars are used because you don't get pinch flats and can run at lower psi's which helps w/ traction.

[jhota]

speed costs money, how fast can you afford to go?

[ronbridal]

If you race on courses with sand it is also easier to ride a deep rim wheel from what I understand. Not sure because I don't have any experience with riding deep rim wheels in sand. I can tell you though that shallow rim wheels, if turned slightly, cause you to have a very difficult time making through the sand upright.

Carbon tubulars are also very lightweight which is also a benefit as others have stated.

[jimblairo]

The deep carbon rims shed mud better than a low profile rim.

[flargle]

speed costs moneyThe more you spend, the more you have to work, the less you ride.

[flargle]

I've been eyeing CX videos and photos and see a lot of racers on expensive carbon wheels and tubular tires. Considering the huge expense of the wheels and the beating that it would seem that they receive during races, why not go with something a bit more expendible?#1 Pros don't pay for their gear.
#2 Pros are often at odds with their sponsors over which equipment to use. Pros are interested in performance, sponsors are interested in selling expensive gear. But when push comes to shove, it's the sponsors who pay the bills.
#3 Many amateurs don't fully understand points 1 and 2 and slavishly imitate pros.
#4 It's a bit pathetic to be all carboned and dura-aced out and not have the legs to back it up.
#5 Many amateurs don't fully understand point 4.

[nitropowered]

#1 Pros don't pay for their gear.
#2 Pros are often at odds with their sponsors over which equipment to use. Pros are interested in performance, sponsors are interested in selling expensive gear. But when push comes to shove, it's the sponsors who pay the bills.
#3 Many amateurs don't fully understand points 1 and 2 and slavishly imitate pros.
#4 It's a bit pathetic to be all carboned and dura-aced out and not have the legs to back it up.
#5 Many amateurs don't fully understand point 4.

well said!

[briscoelab]

#1 Pros don't pay for their gear.
#2 Pros are often at odds with their sponsors over which equipment to use. Pros are interested in performance, sponsors are interested in selling expensive gear. But when push comes to shove, it's the sponsors who pay the bills.
#3 Many amateurs don't fully understand points 1 and 2 and slavishly imitate pros.
#4 It's a bit pathetic to be all carboned and dura-aced out and not have the legs to back it up.
#5 Many amateurs don't fully understand point 4.

You sound like a hater who doesn't have nice stuff ;)









J/K of course

[d2p]

'Cause photographers don't take pictures of ordinary looking stuff.

[flargle]

You sound like a hater who doesn't have nice stuff ;)I freely admit sour grapes when it comes to Dura-Ace. I'd love to have D-A hubs and derailleurs, but Ultegra/105 suffices.

Everything carbon, on the other hand, makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit, but I realize it's a minority viewpoint.

[the mayor]

One ride on a good carbon wheelset will answer your question.
Do you (or I ) need it?
The answer is no.
Yup...I'm that guy who has the carbon bike with Dura-Ace and carbon wheels.
WHY?
Because I want it and can afford it( I busted my butt a good chunk of my life to be able to afford what I want).
And if every hill billy can have a $20K bass boat to sit in and drink cheap beer and smoke cigarettes....why not have a trick bike?

[welcomdmat]

The thread has run with the carbon wheel thing and left the tubulars behind a bit. Not only do they not pinch flat, but if you puncture they are still rideable (especially for cross). With the low pressure that you run in cross, a supple caseing to a tire increases traction quite a bit which tubulars offer over clinchers as well. I would give the tubulars a try first with a set of Mavic Reflex rims built onto a set of quality hubs (insert whatever you want or have). Let someone else glue the tires up for you if you do not already have road tubular experience. Cross is much harder on the bond between rim and tire and needs a few more steps (I am sure there is a forum posting here about it).

[filtersweep]

In the old days, cross was more about using extra parts to build frankenbikes--- there was a cool factor to using what you had. It was not about any sort of bling. What happened?

[sfcrossrider]

In the old days, cross was more about using extra parts to build frankenbikes--- there was a cool factor to using what you had. It was not about any sort of bling. What happened?

Cross became the focus, not the side.

[the mayor]

In the old days, cross was more about using extra parts to build frankenbikes--- there was a cool factor to using what you had. It was not about any sort of bling. What happened?
Old days? I'm old and don't remember that.
Seriously....some people are in to that. Others want the best equipment they can afford. I have been beaten by guys on bikes that I wouldn't want seen next to my trash can on Monday morning....but whether it's all they can afford...or it's what they want to ride to be all retro....it's all in the name of fun

[flargle]

In the old days, cross was more about using extra parts to build frankenbikes--- there was a cool factor to using what you had. It was not about any sort of bling. What happened?Like the mayor wrote, there's a huge variety of gear being ridden at these races. I wouldn't recommend fixed gear for CX racing, but it's been done:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z2gwN_kDLmA
Last season I rode singlespeed, and some series even have singlespeed divisions.

[the mayor]

that looks plain painfull!

This thread has gotten sidetracked.
Bottom line: Carbon wheels are light and stiff, aero on the fast parts of the course, don't hold mud, and have a great braking surface.
Add in the fact that most are tubualrs ...that you can run low pressure....and they are the hot set up.

Cons are they are expensive ( although deals can be had). They can break ( so can't aluminum rims) from a big rock or root or a crash....but I've broken 2 alum rims and zero carbon rims since starting cross in 93. but I do keep a set of Mavic alum tubies with big fat Tufo T34's for the really rocky races

[Deanster04]

#1 Pros don't pay for their gear.
#2 Pros are often at odds with their sponsors over which equipment to use. Pros are interested in performance, sponsors are interested in selling expensive gear. But when push comes to shove, it's the sponsors who pay the bills.
#3 Many amateurs don't fully understand points 1 and 2 and slavishly imitate pros.
#4 It's a bit pathetic to be all carboned and dura-aced out and not have the legs to back it up.
#5 Many amateurs don't fully understand point 4.

Amen brother! Truly the most succinctly (sp?) expressed word on this...Same can be said for most types of riding.