Northern California - Deep rim wheels?

Crazy request: would anyone be willing to let me borrow/test a set of deep 40, 58, etc... wheels? Specifically, I would ride them one day, on the Davis Double.

I'm 175lbs, happy to provide my own tires/tubes. Would prefer metal braking surface so I don't need new pads, but I'm in no position to be choosey.

And of course I'd be good for any servicing, broken spokes, or other random incurred costs.

So, if you might be willing to enable me, send a PM. If you're offended that I would even ask, just forget about it! ;)

I'm guessing you want clincher deep dish? I can't imagine Tubulars being practical for 200 miles unless you have a SAG car w/mechanic.

I'm guessing you want clincher deep dish? I can't imagine Tubulars being practical for 200 miles unless you have a SAG car w/mechanic.

Pretty early in last years Davis Double I took water from a SAG vehicle that pulled over just to check to see if my bottles were empty. (Yeah, what you have heard about great support at this event is true. 104 degrees that day. They were taking care of riders)

With that kind SAG driver was a guy and his bike that were being sagged in. Done for the day because both his tubulars had flatted.

Campy or Shimano?

I'm guessing you want clincher deep dish? I can't imagine Tubulars being practical for 200 miles unless you have a SAG car w/mechanic.

Of course, yeah. So obvious to me I didn't include it, but I should have.

Shimano.

What else did I forget to specify? :P

Not surprised, we'll get it dialed down and no one will offer. But at least I can create a checklist of things to consider when buying wheelsets.

If you get some I'll be interested in hearing what you think. I got a Cervelo S3 about a month ago for racing and at some point I want to get some lighter wheels. But I feel the crosswinds a bit more on this bike already than I do on my steel bike.

For some reason I have it in my head that Competitive Cyclist or maybe it's one of the online tri companies... will rent you wheels. I've been thinking about that for my second Half Ironman this year.

Veronica

http://www.racewheelrental.com/road.php

Alternatively, pull a gpelpel, and ebay a pair of Cosmic Carbones on the cheap, ride 'em for a while and then sell them for more than you bought them.

What else did I forget to specify? :PAluminum or carbon?

White, black, or silver?

700c or 650c?

Presta or schrader?

Probably way out of your way but Folsom Bike rents 404's for $30/day.

http://folsombike.com/articles/rentals-pg80.htm

Not that bad of a drive from Davis however.

Probably way out of your way but Folsom Bike rents 404's for $30/day.

http://folsombike.com/articles/rentals-pg80.htm

Not that bad of a drive from Davis however.

This is good info. Does anyone know of any rental options I might make it to on a Friday afternoon from San Mateo to San Jose?

Aluminum or carbon? - not picky

White, black, or silver? - not picky

700c or 650c? - 700. is 650 a real common variant?

Presta or schrader? schrader - again, is this a common thing for deep wheels?

Probably way out of your way but Folsom Bike rents 404's for $30/day.

http://folsombike.com/articles/rentals-pg80.htm

Not that bad of a drive from Davis however.

Wow, great find.
Ygduf, good luck on the Davis Double. This may seem like a dumb question, but is the Davis Double a non-stop ride?

It's a supported double century. So, rest stops every so often, but 1 day yeah.

Why race wheels for a long endurance ride? I have heard from fellow riders that they help for race situations where average speeds are 24+ mph. Only at higher speeds will they have an aero benefit and you only get weight savings if you ride tubulars.

Is it average speeds only 24+ mph, or is it 22mph that gets pushed to 24. 21-22 is doable for quite a while.

This is the reason for wanting to test them.

Sorry I have tubulars. I just don't see the point of having deep dish clinchers. Then again I don't do supported centuries.
I did Everest challenge on them. The front flatted on second climb on the first day. I had a spare tire with me, still it was PITA to take off and put a new one on. Thank fully a rolling support stopped to help. Lesson learned.

Is it average speeds only 24+ mph, or is it 22mph that gets pushed to 24. 21-22 is doable for quite a while.

This is the reason for wanting to test them.

I have test ridden a pair of Zipp 404 clinchers for a few miles on city streets, but I have never tested them in fast race/group ride situations. My friends that do use them typically break them out for races, race rides and time trials, where they claim that they useful once you get in the mid twenties and up.

For the Davis Double I could see them being useful for a speedy ~50 miles of flats that precede the climbs. I plan on finding a fast train to hitch on to for those miles.

Good luck with the ride!

For the Davis Double I could see them being useful for a speedy ~50 miles of flats that precede the climbs. I plan on finding a fast train to hitch on to for those miles.

Good luck with the ride!

Thanks. Davis definitely isn't a race, but it's flattish and I want to personally see how the deep wheels feel... So I thought I'd test the waters, unlikely as it may be.

Sorry I have tubulars. I just don't see the point of having deep dish clinchers. Then again I don't do supported centuries.
I did Everest challenge on them. The front flatted on second climb on the first day. I had a spare tire with me, still it was PITA to take off and put a new one on. Thank fully a rolling support stopped to help. Lesson learned.

That's why I have deep carbon clinchers- I can change flats without problem. The tubulars would be superior in every other way though.

The wheels are noticeably faster on descents. They might help some on the flat but it's not enough that I can tell without measuring.

Give Davis Wheelworks a call. I'm pretty sure they have a wheel demo program. And what's better than to pick up then drop off from the same town as your event.

http://daviswiki.org/Wheelworks

That's why I have deep carbon clinchers- I can change flats without problem. The tubulars would be superior in every other way though.


Not to thread jack, but imho I don't think tubulars are much better or better at all over a race clincher w/latex tube...certainly not from a practical stand point. My carbon deep dishes are a mix (tubbie in front, clincher in rear) due to replacing via crashing & timing. Going down the corkscrew at laguna seca at 40+mph and having the slightly irrational thought of what rolling a tubular would do, just doesn't seem worth it to me. I need to worry about other things during a race, like keeping pace with watt monsters, making my tears look like sweat, etc...


The Folsom link is a good one, thanks shiz702. My teammate was looking for a set for his kid and the price seems right.

Going down the corkscrew at laguna seca at 40+mph and having the slightly irrational thought of what rolling a tubular would do

In my short time racing (just made cat 4, woot!) I've seen way more pinch flat crashes than rolling a tubular. It could simply be because cat 5 racers aren't investing the money for tubular "race only" wheels. With that said, I love my Neuvation 50mm carbon tubulars for crits. Climbing, not so much. YMMV.

Do you see a lot of guys rolling their tubulars in higher cats?

I've only ever seen tubulars rolled in crits and at the track. Probability wise it is an irrational fear, just when it happens its at a bad time (turns). On the road I am a 4Ever, but I don't think it's a category thing.

I had a bad run with tubulars last year and just had enough, and I'm probably just a little bitter (on behalf of my wallet).

In my short time racing (just made cat 4, woot!) I've seen way more pinch flat crashes than rolling a tubular. It could simply be because cat 5 racers aren't investing the money for tubular "race only" wheels. With that said, I love my Neuvation 50mm carbon tubulars for crits. Climbing, not so much. YMMV.

Do you see a lot of guys rolling their tubulars in higher cats?

Congrats Craig!

Sorry I have tubulars. I just don't see the point of having deep dish clinchers. Then again I don't do supported centuries.
I did Everest challenge on them. The front flatted on second climb on the first day. I had a spare tire with me, still it was PITA to take off and put a new one on. Thank fully a rolling support stopped to help. Lesson learned.

OT (just curious): What year did you do EC?

Why race wheels for a long endurance ride? I have heard from fellow riders that they help for race situations where average speeds are 24+ mph. Only at higher speeds will they have an aero benefit and you only get weight savings if you ride tubulars.

Guys who do RAAM, Furnace Creek 508, etc use aero equipment.

Every Watt saved adds up to a lot when doing long distance timed events.

OT (just curious): What year did you do EC?

Few years back. I think 2005.