Nothing like a harmless Bee Gees reference on XMAS day. So, my preceding thread has convinced me to upgrade the wheels on my Specialized Tarmac to aero, most probably some Boyds. Question is: To go with 50mm or 58mm?
Yes, I know the 50s will weather crosswinds more gracefully and be a little lighter. But will the 58s add a touch more speed above 20 MPH? I like the look of 58s. I suppose the practical side of me is leaning 50s.
Thoughts?
50 in front, 58 in back.
I've got Byod 50s front and back. Love them. Had them about a year now. Tubulars
If you like them as much as I do you'll be happy with the purchase.
25mm front and rear.
A set of 60's, a set of 38's, a set of MA-40's (20mm or so)
I get blown around on the 60's so they're going on eBay one of these days.
Set of 50's. Bontrager D3 Tubulars for racing...I think 50 has the best all round road feel and good wind up, but i live in a very hilly area. You live in flat Texas right? go for the 58's if you dont mind getting blown around a tiny bit in the cross winds.
For training (99%) of my ridng I ride 32h wheels. Actually building up a set of Chris King hubs to reflex cd tubular rims for cross now but I am thinking of using them for road riding in the summer....can't bring myself to build up this nice set of wheels only to use them for CX.
I keep hearing if you need one set of race wheels go with 50mm, so that is what I am going with if I purchase. I am a skinny guy so I don't want to have to waste energy muscling a bike in crosswinds.
KR, I'm 135lbs and the 60's are great when there's no wind but when it's gusty I lose all the benefits of aero due to being more tentative.
52mm -- I weigh 160 and the effect of strong cross winds is noticeable but not dangerous.
17 and 24 mm. Wimpy. Open Pros, Sports and Velocity Aeros. I care little about either aero or speed. I want wheels that are comfortable, reliable and rebuildable. I've never gone fewer than 32 spokes and won't unless I know I can break a spoke, ride home and not do any damage.
I don't race or ride pacelines. (Too many concussions to have any business putting myself at risk of touching wheels.) TTs have never had any interest for me. I love climbing; the longer and steeper the better. (I will confess that really steep grades; >18% are interesting me less as I get older.)
Now the wheels I would love to have again were my old racing wheels. Fiamme Ergal rims (290 gm) laced with 36 very light spokes. 250 gram tubbies. (But I'll pass on the silk, sweet as that was. The guarantee of dry is a stretch in the northwest.) Those wheels were fun!
Oh, crosswinds. I love riding in crazy weather. Always have. I went out a few weeks ago when the weather was calling for storm winds out of the south. Straight south from my house is a lot of traffic and lights so I took my usual escape rout to the southwest. But once I was out into the rural county roads, the useful ones run primarily east west. I saw crosswinds that were wild. I stopped a half a dozen times and just leaned myself and bike into the wind until the squall died enough to ride again. Until I change, I probably shouldn't ride aero rims.
Ben
Does Boyd do a profile similar to the 404 Firecrest? I have a pr each of Reynolds 46 clinchers, old 404 tubs, and a new pr of 404 Firecrest tubs. That new profile is almost indifferent to side wind gusts and the brake surface is the best of any carbon rim I've ridden. Like 'em.
Edit; Oh yeah, the 404's are 58mm if you didn't already know.
50 mm
23 mm
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