EnsitMike

50 carbons are great but I am getting carbon clinchers with the alloy brake surface, and just like the look of the ZIPP 60s better than the 50mm equivalent. I see mainly TT guys with wheels that deep though. Is it overkill for a road machine?

EnsitMike

too*

StanSeven

60's isn't overkill. If that's what you want and like the looks, get them. I have 404s as my all around wheel and like them. It takes a couple rides to get used to strong winds with them so I wouldn't go out on the first ride in 30 mph gusts.

robbyville

I think the question you need to ask yourself is are you getting them for looks or performance or both? From a performance perspective I believe that many of the newly shaped 50-52's run better than most of the deeper wheels (I know this is a heated topic based upon testing methodology, etc. but still wanted to throw it in). The deeper V-Shaped rims are also bears in the wind vs. some of the newer shapes (my 52's definitely are better handling than my previous 38's v-shape). At any rate I think performance gains from the deeper ones are minimal with the exception of time trialing or Tri's but I may be wrong.

If you're doing it mostly for appearance then definitely go for it, just remember that they'll be heavier and tougher in some conditions if they're to be your everyday wheel. FWIW, since some like to give flak for doing things on pure appearance, I'm all for it so long as it gets you out riding and enjoying life. That's why I originally bought my carbon wheels!

carpediemracing 

+1 on that stuff bold above.

If I get taller wheels I'd want to keep them at about the same weight as the non-aero ones. If you start giving away 400-500g on the wheels you'll start to notice the wheels feel sluggish and less responsive.

I bought taller wheels (Jet 6 front, Jet 90 rear) and ended up using them mainly as spares since they were so much slower overall than the same shallow ones (Ardennes rimmed wheels). Since they're all the same year (2010) they use the same hubs and spokes as Jets, I used the same tires, same tubes, same rim strips, same cassette, so the only difference was the rims. The Jets were faster in certain situations but slower overall. This is for my training rides (15-17 mph on flat terrain) and races (23-27 mph on typically flatter terrain).

They look cool, yes, but the Jets aren't as fast overall for me. In fact, in 2011, I traveled with the Jets and Ardennes and chose the Ardennes for the one race I did.

Tall rims really help in cross tailwinds, where your speeds are high already and any percent increase results in a noticeable speed increase. So 10% at 10 mph means 11 mph and that's not really noticeable - you might think it's just a fluctuation in rhythm or something. 10% increase at 40 mph, like on a descent, is 4 mph, and that becomes noticeable.

With the Jets and the Ardennes I happened to do the same descent on a group ride. On the Ardennes I was sprinting to make it to the front, did a very aggressive descent, did a tuck at higher speeds, and really pushed the limit on a hard right bend at the bottom of the descent (almost went off the road). I maxed out at about 48 mph. On the Jets I was already at the front, did a little sprint at the beginning, then just coasted. I didn't want to be a jerk and "attack" the group so I rolled to the bottom without pushing at all. The right bend was super negotiable because I was going pretty slow at that point. My max speed was 1 mph higher, 49 mph. I was pretty shocked at that because I thought I was going slower by a good amount. The descent is sheltered from wind by heavy tree cover and if anything I got drafting help on the Ardennes because I was descending through the group. On the Jets I was alone, never drafted, and didn't push at all, yet they were faster. Remember, same tires, tubes, cassette, and the wheels are built around the same hubs and spokes.

Nonetheless my main wheel for training is the Ardennes.

Note: for ease of terminology I refer to my wheels are Ardennes because they have Ardennes rims. HED, for a few years, marketed their wheels under different names. Now they call them "Ardennes (something)", like Ardennes LT, which is the equivalent to my HED Bastognes.

For other things:
- I had a 46mm v shape rim (Reynolds DV46). They were pretty sketchy at around 48-50 mph on descents. The wider 60mm Jets were a handful at 50 mph in gusty winds but okay. I haven't gone any faster than that on my 60 and 75 mm race wheels (I don't do road races so don't do fast descents on them).
- My 60 mm wide rim, supposedly better in crosswinds, is totally fine in 20-30 mph gusts, gusts strong enough to knock bikes over leaned against cars, to blow wheel covers around, and strong enough that when I carried the tall wheels in my hand they were tilting at 30 degree angle or so.
- My 75mm wide and round rim, really meant to be a good crosswind wheel, is about the same as the 60mm wide rim, but in super gusty conditions I use the 60 because I haven't tried the 75s yet.

Front wheel affects bike control significantly since you need control your steering in order to balance your bike. If someone or something else steers your bike you'll realistically lose your balance.

However you can always run a tall rear wheel. I'll run the Jet 9 in the rear when I feel like it, regardless of wind. I'll pair it with the Ardennes front if it's windy. This is a helmet cam still from a group ride in SoCal where the wind ripped the group to pieces (and I got shelled). Bike control was fine.


If I were to get one wheel set for all use I'd get some wider 50-60mm carbon clinchers with a U-shaped rim profile.

topflightpro

I've got 404s (58mm), DV46s (46mm) and Cosmic Carbones (52mm). I really can't tell that much of a difference.

I've used the DV46s for daily use the last year, and that is fine. The 404s are mainly used for racing, but it depends on the wind.

The big thing you need to think about is the aluminum brake track. Those wheels are going to be quite heavy.

ReLLiK75

I've got DV66s and am looking to go shallower. For one main reason--not many people ride rims that deep and when you've got proprietary needs you're kinda screwed when you need help . If you're on a training ride around your home it's probably not a big deal if you flat. You've either got a spare tube or can call someone to come get you. Maybe you've got a spare, but you flat again. Now you definitely need to call someone to come get you. I was doing a century ride and flatted about 40 miles in. I had a spare so no problem. Until I flatted AGAIN at mile 105--9 miles from the finish!!! Not a single person who past me sitting on the side of the road could help because no one had 88mm stem tubes. Even if I had valve extenders, most of the people who rode past were on aluminum clinchers so the extenders wouldn't have even helped. As soon as I've got money to go to a good 50ish mm deep wheel, my DV66s are for sale!

I <3 Robots

Its not too deep. The only thing I would be concerned about is the weight of the Zipp 60's. They are on the heavy side. IIRC they are just over 1800 grams.

Seeing that you're from the "LA"...I would not worry too much about winds. We get the occasional Santa Ana winds...but nothing consistent. I live and ride in the valley...the winds we get here is alot worse than LA gets...and I've never felt like they are too much to handle. I'll get pushed on an occasional wind gust...but nothing as bad as the people that have never ridden deep wheels will assume and tell you.

I have a pair of 404's as my only set of wheels...the 58mm is not "too much" for So Cal.

As for the valve extenders...I would carry an extra 88mm extender with my tube.

EnsitMike

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I emailed the retailer tonight and I'll have some 60's on my doorstep in 2 weeks or so.