Originally Posted by
ppg677
I'm paralyzed by choice of LB rims. Can someone help so I can hit up the Black Friday sale? First off I realize that the rims won't make a huge difference for my riding (18-19mph average on flats, ~40 mile rides with 3k elevation gains typical).
I weigh 205lbs and ride in the Midwest. Currently riding a Canyon Endurace CF 7 bike with the stock wheels. I acquired 28h Shimano RS770 hubs. My current tires are 30mm front and 32mm rear (as shipped on the Endurace). When they wear out I'll probably just go 28mm GP5000s.
I was going to get AR46 rims (21mm inner, 28mm outer), but seems that aerodynamically these are better for 25mm tires.
AR56 seem to have a better 23mm inner width and 30mm outer width which seems like a better match for 28mm (or 30mm) tires. But 56mm depth is getting up there and I don't want to be miserable during cross-wind rides.
Some believe I should be going WR-series rim in the front like the WR45 which is a 32mm wide outer (25mm wide inner). That seems a bit wide for a 28mm tire?
Maybe I should just get AR56 and hope my 205lbs makes crosswind riding stable enough? Or not worry so much about tire widths and just get the AR46?
For crosswind stability while still getting aero benefits, you can reduce your front rim depth in relation to rear, make sure the tire is not wider than the rim width, and/or go with a wavy design that purports to be better in crosswinds.
I run a
WR50/AR56 front/rear combination with a 28/32mm front/rear GP5K S TRs. As a 145-150lb rider I've only experienced crosswind issues over exposed bridges, but I've gotten used to that feeling and it doesn't bother me. It usually isn't so windy and exposed where I ride in the PNW though, unlike what I imagine Midwest conditions can get, so you may consider an even shallower front rim like a WR45. If you email LB you can specify any rim combinations you like.
I never had any issues with using a 28mm tire on the WR50 25mm inner width rim as mine are hooked, but being paranoid (the latest ETRTO standard calls for at minimum a 29mm width tire on 25mm i.w. rim regardless of whether it's hooked or hookless), I installed Vittoria road air-liners to reduce the chances for a blow-off.