At what speed do aero wheels make a difference?
12-12-07 | 02:08 PM
#51
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,410
Likes: 188
From: Tariffville, CT
Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track
Deep aero wheels catch cross winds very effeciently, making for squirrely handling which is not good if you are in a group.https://www.damonrinard.com/aero/aerodynamics.htm
Deep section wheels do catch more cross wind. I don't put on or take off wind vests, jackets, etc when I'm riding deep section wheels for that very reason.
However, that does not necessarily mean they make for squirrelly handling. On the contrary, if a rider is used to deep section wheels (which require steering more than leaning), a rider can be just as stable/straight/predictable as one with deep section wheels. You can watch any of my clips - esp the 2007 Hartford Crit, where I use a TriSpoke front. I'm no more squirrelly than any other rider, and in fact I'd say that there are very few uncontrolled swerves in the whole race. A few absent minded ones, yes, but not uncontrolled. Lack of focus is a lot more dangerous than deep section rims, except when the two are combined.
The same argument used to be used in criticizing the Araya ADX-4 rims, that the "aero" rim would be too squirrelly for close quarters riding. Nowadays people would consider the ADX-4 to be non-aero since it resembles a Zipp 202 in profile, maybe a wide version of a Reflex.
I'll have to find my notes on the wheel data since I wrote a lot of this down (this was before I really knew about the internet and computers in general). Since I'm in the middle of reorganizing all my stored stuff, it'll be a perfect excuse to go digging for the wheel notes.
btw I'm sure there are ways to disprove what I did was statistically correct. However, the speeds and the wheels are about as factual as I can remember. I can't prove it but I feel that aero wheels are worth a lot even in a field. I honestly wanted my box section wheels to be fast but they simply aren't. I use very few box section wheels for this reason. And my relatively poor steady state abilities, which become embarrassingly apparent when I TT or RR or do anything with a hill, still allow me to finish somewhat competitive races and fight it out for the finish.
cdr
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
12-12-07 | 02:19 PM
#52
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 584
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From: Lactate Threshold
Bikes: Orbea
Maybe put the question not in terms of faster but longer. Will aero wheels....such as Zipp 404.....allow one to maintain a speed of 20mph longer with less effort than non aero wheels?
12-12-07 | 02:39 PM
#53
Everyone who TT's at 30 MPH, raise your hand.
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12-12-07 | 02:50 PM
#54
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,812
Likes: 1,234
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
^ I can do that. Unfortunately, there aren't many 500 yard long TTs
