fore0121

Decided on the bike, now I need help with the rims. I've already asked a bunch of questions, but I have more.

What's the difference in ride quality with a deeper aero rim vs. a lower profile rim? I have a choice between getting an aero set of rims either campy Zonda or Scirocco, or a lower profile rim, probably the campy Proton or Open Pro's. Are the deeper dish rims a firmer ride? are they supposed to be stiffer? I'll be putting them on a Cervelo r2.5 which absorbs a bunch of the road so stiffer won't be a bad thing. I've read that the lower profile are more comfortable and better climbers? Is that just because they're lighter?

I rode the Velomax Circuits on the r2.5 and they felt light and comfortable. I rode the Sciroccos on a LOOK 461 and they felt stiff and firm. Both aero rims feeling very different. Probably because of the frames, very different? I liked the Circuits, but the shop doesn't have them Campy compatable, thus Sciroccos or Zondas. But I was wondering, would the Protons be a good alternative as an everyday training wheel? Will I notice a difference?

Thanks for any input.
f

531Aussie

I'm a bit heavy (about 190 to 195), and I will not use anything else but a 25 to 30mm deep rim on the back. So much stiffer.....ah, whatever..I love it. I was so impressed with the stiffness
of the first 30mm rim I used, that I rushed down to the 2nd hand shop and bought three
more 30mm rear wheels for my other "good" bikes!! Mind you, they're all 32 spokes, so nothing fancy.

I don't even care if I have an unmatched pair of wheels, just as long as I have a deep rim on the back.

If you can get some old Mavic CXP30s, they are super strong and super stiff.

People will go on and on about 32 spoke 30mm rims being heavier, which they are, but if YOU are on
the heavy side yourself, and you don't want a 15mm rim flopping all over the place when
you get off the saddle to "stomp", definitely consider some 30s.

Those Velomax wheels look great with the Cervelos, because they match.

If you wanna save some money, you might wanna look at the Mavic CXP33s.

Many people love their Open Pros, but I wouldn't have another one on the back.
I actually have one on the front of one of my bikes and I'm considering switching
to the cheaper CXP33 because they are stiffer, in my opinion.

This topic reminds me of something that baffles me: people want nothing but a
super-stiff bike (laterally at least), but they'll put flexy wheels on it like Open Pros
just because they're light.

gcasillo

I'd spring for the Protons. They're a good deal lighter than the Zondas and Sciroccos which translates into lighter weight for climbing and you can spin them up quicker for sprints. As has been said in these forums, you'd need a 38mm or greater depth rim to achieve any appreciable aero advantage.

I've ridden Mavic Open Pros and Campagnolo Ventos (cheaper, heavier then Zondas/Sciroccos). Both are great training wheels. I'd say the Protons would be a nice notch up because of the weight savings. I've read nothing but good things about durability in Campy wheels.

jcthomasjr

I recently bought a new Ti bicycle spec'd with Campy Chorus components and have Campy Protons on it. They are the first "boutique", or manufactured wheelset, that I have purchased. I went with the Protons because they are relatively inexpensive and they are not overly heavy. Though having a more traditional lacing pattern on the drive side in the rear, the rest of the spokes have a radial pattern. I weigh about 170 lb. and the Protons ride fine for me, so far. I have not ridden enough miles to comment on longevity but so far I like them very much. On inspection they also seem very well built and have an assymetrical rear rim with the spokes offset to the non-drive side. It was an extremenly tough decision for me because although the wheels were not all that expensive, the cost of the entire bike was (at least to me) so I do not see myself running out to buy another set of wheels immediately if I am not happy with them. For whatever it is worth, the bikes and bike parts that I own tend to last forever. I have been told I am anal about taking care of my bikes so hopefully the Protons will server me well for a long time. Sorry, I ramble on ...

At your weight, I second what the previous poster said in regards to the Mavic CXP-33s. They were high on my list and a rider/racer I crossed paths with once told me they are a great training wheel, stiff enough for all types of usage, and they make tire changes easy in the event of a flat. I think the CXP-33 also make for a very good looking wheel. Depending on how they are buillt up, the weight can vary a couple hundred grams, so they can be built up either moderately light or bomb-proof heavy.

phat bahsturd

Hmm... This should be good.

I actually own both the scirroccos and protons. I can't really tell which wheel is faster than the other, I have them on two separate bikes. However I can say that with the protons, I hit a huge pothole riding around berkeley and now the front wheel (radial laced) is slightly out of true. I've only had them for 3 months. WIth the sciroccos, it took me like a year to knock them slightly out of true.