gmharle

If you up for lacing them up yourself, you can get them pretty cheap here.

https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/product.php?prod_id=822

lung

ZIPP 303. Perfect balance of weight, climbing ability, and aero.

patentcad

They look like trash can lids Dr. Pete.

rizz

Except for the fact that he's going to put them on his Cervelo which is being built-up for the riding portion of triathlons. Climbs are going to be relatively moot but out here in MABRA Land, we do tend to get some wind.

patentcad

Sorry. The Zipp 404s are a far more balanced wheel. The 303s are somewhat lighter, but not aero enough. And get the tubulars.

You're all too fat for this sport. Never forget this.

waterrockets 

One of my neighbors used to build all of Blackwell's wheels, and he said the new builders are great. One thing he mentioned was that the rims are much stronger than Zipps and can take much higher spoke tension. So they're a bit heavier, but they are also a bit more durable. He said wouldn't let the ~50mm Blackwells out of the stand below 140kgf front, and I think he said 150kgf DS rear.

I'd ride 'em.

roy5000x2

I know a guy who rides on Blackwell's on his TT bike. He started with a deep section front and a disc rear (which is really a re-decaled Zipp), but now is selling the rear for another deep section.

Naterider

You should have just held on to your zipps. Those things are way to ugly for the cervelo.

ericcox

I demo'd Blackwell's 50mm and came away impressed. My shop has a set of these available for demo as well -- I know several people have abused them, and they've come through ok. Not sure how many the shop has sold, however.

DrPete 

Good to know... They seem like a top-notch product, and with the deal I was offered for a pair I don't think I can pass it up.

mista_chewey

except he's in houston, and there are no hills here to climb

DrPete 

I live in Maryland.

Hocam

Coming from the Philadelphia area and riding in around the parents' house in Centralish MD, there are many many hills.

Naterider

Get some wheels you can use on your road bike as well.

Dubbayoo

I thought you hung up the racing gig? Are you going the triathlon route? I would really love to do an IM 70.3 someday. I just hate to run so I'd have to be fast enough on the bike so I could walk/jog the run.

Rutnick

Pete, I've ridden those wheels. They are awesome. A friend of mine has them and asked me to glue on his tubular tires. He races tri. He's about 6'2" and is about 205lbs. He loves them. Only uses them for racing which is very often.

I got to ride them after I glued on his tires. I'm 6'1" and 195 currently and didn't notice ANY wheelflex. He rides this bike: https://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?mi...duct&taxid=532

Actually, he rides the frame because it was a crash replacement in a car vs bicycle incident.

oh yeah, Blackwell really does stand behind their product.

waterrockets 

Yeah, this goes with my assertion that Blackwells can and do run really high tension (which is usually reserved for paired spoke wheels because of the serpentine rim effect).

rizz

But in the south and east parts, there aren't.

Rutnick

I love it when you talk all scientific.

Wheel building would rule if I had time. I need to learn/take a class or something. I custom string tennis rackets and if you can do that...you probably can lace up a wheel pretty easy.

DrPete 

My racing interests are exclusively TT/Tri now, so I have no need for carbon tubies for the road bike.

DrPete 

That's some of the most real-world experience I've heard--even in Tri land they're still a bit of a sleeper company.

DrPete 

Yeah, I got into Tri's. I would focus mainly on TT's, but there's just not much in the way of TT's around here. I also started running during the week because it's much easier to fit into my work day. After a while of running and missing the bike, I decided that if I could run and swim I could do all the TT's I wanted.

rizz

Isn't there a monthly TT series down in Chesapeake Beach? That's not TOO far away if you really want to be a TT Master(tm).

Rutnick

He uses Blackwell research wheels, carbon bar tri bars and stem.

He broke the carbon bar and Blackwell replaced it no questions asked.

The kid is about 22 and still learning tri but he's dang fast on a bike. I'm going up against him on the club's TT this afternoon. He's usually one of the fastest riders in the Tri's he does. Still learning the running part. He had a disappointing race last time but it was his first race back after the car vs bicycle wreck and about his third ride on his new frame (which is different than his last frame).


Honestly...those blackwell wheels are the sex. Maybe not dimpled like Zipps but definately have "the sex".

While I was gluing on his tubulars...I got to stare at the wheels for a few days. Hubs seem nice, you need valve extenders for the tires. The real downside to the wheels which may be for all deep carbon tubulars is that you have to take the tire off and use a special tool to true the wheel but I he's had the wheels for 1.5 years and hasn't had any issues.

He got them with tires off craiglist for $1k.

tekhna

What's the deal with Flashpoint rims? They're much cheaper, seem to only be heavier? I wonder how durable they are? But the Flashpoint 60 rim is only 350 bucks.