Originally Posted by
dvdslw
Sorry to start another which wheel thread but I just can't wrap my head around which wheels to buy. I have been riding on Shimano Ultegra 6700's tubeless which have been great wheels but I just want to try something different. Just a little history, I'm not the youngest rider (43) but enjoy getting out to do 30-60 miles a couple times a week with an occasional 75-100mi ride a few times a year. I have been riding on 700x23 Fusion 3's tubeless for the last year or so and really enjoyed the ride but recently switched to Schwalbe One's (same size) and have noticed some great results just switching tires so now I've got the upgrade bug. I thought I was set on getting a set of HED Ardennes plus or having a set of Belgium plus built up with my choice of goodies but I'm thinking that even though I'll lighten up by around 1000 grams and get a bit wider that they're not that much different than what I have to justify spending $1,000+. On the other hand, if I were to get the Jet 6 plus or the new Reynolds Strike's which are now tubeless I'd be about the same weight I am now, have the wider rim, and a 60mm deep profile to help me pick up some speed which is where I'd like to improve. We don't really have hills to speak of here in Central Florida so climbing isn't an issue. One of the bike stores I frequent has been trying hard to get me on a set of Assaults but from what I've researched they're not deep enough to get me the aero advantage I'm looking for but they're lighter than my Ultegra's. I think I've talked myself into getting the Jet 6 plus's but would like to hear from those of you that have gone from a shallow aluminum clincher to a deep 58+mm wheel either all carbon or hybrid like the Jet's and what you liked/disliked about the switch, Thanks!
I went to 50mm deep (Bontrager Aura 5 TLR) rims from basically nothing in depth before than.
Advantage:
- They are lighter, they spin up faster and with less effort as a result they climb easier, they sound nice when coasting (if you're into that) and they're aesthetically pleasing.
- There's really not a whole lot to aero wheels. Besides the TT disc wheels which are the truth in aero, most of the rest are more form than function. They look great, they look fast, they make you look like a pro.
The speed you're looking to pick up will come from increasing your power output or dropping weight. Nonetheless it's not that aero wheels give zero return. They "help" when the conditions are just right ... keep reading, I talk about that later.
- My rides are in the 20-26 mph range on flats so I'm guessing there is some aero benefit but the most gain would be more from the weight reduction of the wheels than the how well it slices through the wind up front and less low pressure at the back etc etc...
- What I've noticed with deeper wheels is that it feels "easier" and this is more of what I think translates into the increased speed more than the aero benefit. The aero benefit is found in a very narrow window depending on what direction the wind is blowing from and this is always in flux. Hint: crosswinds are not your friend.
Disadvantages:
- You really need to know what you're getting into when it comes to cross winds. I can't stress this enough. I've lost count of how many times I've felt the front of the bike twitch and jerk under a gust of wind from the side - or feel myself being slowing pushed from one side to another under a steady cross wind and have to keep correcting.
If you're not firmly holding the bike at all times basically this will cause an accident at some point. Kinda need to be awake now with these. May not be applicable to you in Flatrida but I've also had to slow down on descents as the wind started making the bike more unstable. Never happened with the original rims.
Mine are 50mm Front and Rear and you're looking at wheels that seem to be 60mm Front and Rear so it will be more pronounced.
I used to be able to sit up, hands off the bike and coast even on descents sometimes when I had the original heavy wheels. I had to give that up with the quickness.
- Second may not be a true disadvantage but it's a speed penalty due to a reduction in weight. I actually lost speed (about 5mph) on descents because of how much lighter my aero wheels were. The reduced weight gave me less momentum going downhill and my max speed was about 5 mph less on lighter aero wheels.
Ultimately what people don't tell you with "aero" wheels is they are only really useful in a head wind or tail wind situation i.e. your 12 and 6 o'clock position. Once that wind starts to come from 1 o'clock if start to suffer and at 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock, forget about it.
Ditched the aero Bontrager Aura 5 in favor of the climbing Zipp 202's. How these work I'm not 100% sure yet as we're not blessed with equatorial weather up north this time of the year. I've been on the trainer.
You may have your mind stuck on aero wheels and you probably won't overcome this bug or get it out of your system until you get it but I'd recommend looking into all-around or climbing wheels.
Also consider renting some aero wheels for a while. One of my LBS rents aero wheels for about $180/week - and this is in expensive NYC too so Florida should be significantly cheaper. Keep in mind these are full carbon sets that retail for over $2,000 so for $180/week it's actually not bad. If you can do something like that and really put some miles in I'd recommend that before purchasing anything.