Using 404's in crits?
 

I just got a pair of 404's, and I use them for road races with great results. I have a few crits coming up, and I'm wondering if I should use the 404's, or my Bontrager Race x Lite's. I'm mainly afraid of crashing and wrecking the Zipps. Is the performance difference worth the risk?

There a tool not art... Race them

If you're not afraid of wrecking them in a road race, don't be afraid of crit racing either.

couldn't have said it better, aicabsolut

I've only ever done crits so I can't comment on the rate of crashes vs. RRs, but it always seems like wheels take the brunt of the damage

Well the reason I'm not afraid of wrecking them in a road race is because there are significantly less crashes in road races than in criteriums.

The 404's are usually used for their aerodynamic qualities, which are, IMO, more important in road races. Do they make a big difference in crits?

If you can't afford to replace them, don't race them.

I dont find this to be true (cat 4 &5 for reference). but I am interested in your second point. exactly how much do Aero wheels come into play when you are deep in a draft as opposed to in the wind?

Darn it! I saved up for these and now I can't race them. Then again, that's what they told me about my bike, too. :crash:

Mine too.

to echo earlier statements, but with better rhyming:

It's a tool, not a jewel.


Yes, the 404's will help in crits (better acceleration, nice for pulls/breaks), unless: you're forced to run tires that dont corner confidently compared to the rubber on the race X lites, which can be as wide as you like.
I've had bad experience with thin tubulars through hard, sandy corners. I'm more confident on my 23mm clinchers.

-L

What makes you think this?

I dont follow your logic. How many crashes does it take to butcher your wheels? Do you think a 30 mph crash in a crit will damage your wheels more than a 30 mph crash in a RR?

Why would aerodynamics matter more in a RR than a crit? Racing, regardless of type of race are about making a bicycle go fast. More aero usually = faster. Race your good stuff, that's why you have it.

I am reminded of this....

My theory on tall rims in crits, why they work, some sort of objective numbers, and miscellaneous other thoughts:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...3&postcount=19
There is some interesting arguments after that post too, but they basically support my rough theory.

Some musings on deep rims:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...-all-time.html

cdr

I busted a Ritchey WCS carbon wheel in a crit last year. $250 crash replacement hurts, but not too bad. That is probably cheaper than replacing a Ksyrium wheel or brifters and certainly cheaper than most frames. I'll continue to race my carbon wheels in crits.

heh I saw this after I posted my previous response. I couldn't have said it better lol.

cdr aka sprinterdellacasa

It's an odd myth that there are more crashes in crits then in road races. And the crashes in crits are typically benign side wipe outs in corners while in road races they can be scary fast descents where people get seriously f'ed up.

I recently sent a ksyrium ssc sl back for rim replacement - $180 with shipping.

I stand corrected. And the $250 didn't include shipping so the total was more like $270. Also it is worth pointing out that there may be crashes that the Ksyriums (or other reasonably strong Al rims) survive and the carbon rims do not.

I crashed my ksyriums (elites). Had to true the front (did it myself). I would have cried myself to sleep if I'd wrecked a 404.

If you've raced a crit, you should decide whether or not your comfortable racing with the Zipps. It's all a numbers game. You decide where you stand.

I've seen some crash fests in both RR and Crits. Only crash I was involved in was at a RR. Crashes happen in everything.

I was going to post something but it would just be piling on more of the same.

And if you can't race it, you don't need to buy it.

yeah, that guy writes an awesome blog!:thumb:

I loved the perspective on the ToPa

If you don't race them, why did you buy them? If I'm racing, the Zipps are on. If I'm on a competitive group ride and the roads are dry, the Cdale is Zippified (the only reason I ride when the roads are wet is higher puncture risk with pricey tubulars, but if it's an actual race, I use the Zipps regardless).

THAT is what they are for. Not for nothing.