3- or 4-spoke wheels?
Hi,
I've seen that Corima do a 3-spoke TT wheel and 4-spoke TT wheel.
I would have thought that 3 would be better than 4 because I expect that the 3-spoke wheel is more aerodynamic. If this is true then why would Corima even make a 4-spoke wheel? Stronger? Stiffer?
Cheers,
Andy
I've seen that Corima do a 3-spoke TT wheel and 4-spoke TT wheel.
I would have thought that 3 would be better than 4 because I expect that the 3-spoke wheel is more aerodynamic. If this is true then why would Corima even make a 4-spoke wheel? Stronger? Stiffer?
Cheers,
Andy
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You're grasping at straws here. Whether 3 is better than 4 is a non issue. Neither or both of them will help you if you don't have the ass to push them. These are not motors, they
are only wheels which will not move an inch until someone puts the power to them.
Dennis noward0 -
Granted, but you have to admit that it's a reasonable question: why do Corima make 3- and 4-spoke wheels?0
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3 is better - but 4 is cheaper.0
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cougie wrote:3 is better - but 4 is cheaper.
I'm going to play devils advocate. 3 is better because it cost more? Define "better".
Is lighter "better"? Who said it's "better" and can they and / or you prove it?
Where's the science? As I see it, my 4 spoke doesn't stand a chance against
any 3 spoke under any circumstances. Right?
Dennis Noward0 -
vermooten wrote:Granted, but you have to admit that it's a reasonable question: why do Corima make 3- and 4-spoke wheels?
Why do they make 3 and 4 spoke wheels? To sell to people, why else? Why does Mavic
make all kinds of different wheels? To sell to people. The less expensive wheels are for people who don't have a bunch of disposible income and the higher end are for people
who do. It's all about selling you whatever you can afford and sometimes what you can't.
Do you want a Mini Cooper or a Rolls? Same thing with bikes and bike components.
Dennis Noward0 -
I've seen it written that the Hed 3 spoke wheels are about as good as they get.
I'm sure there must be tests to back it up somewhere, and I'm sure someone could get other tests with different yaw angles to prove that they arent better.
(personally I think the three spokes look better - and thats the most important criteria to most cyclists isnt it ?)0 -
cougie wrote:I've seen it written that the Hed 3 spoke wheels are about as good as they get.
I'm sure there must be tests to back it up somewhere, and I'm sure someone could get other tests with different yaw angles to prove that they arent better.
(personally I think the three spokes look better - and thats the most important criteria to most cyclists isnt it ?)
No doubt about it,what looks best sells best. I've been known to be guite a bike color
coordinator in my time. You know, blue bike, yellow bar tape, bling wheels. I even
have a Hed 3 rear wheel. Strangely enough I didn't buy it for bling value or time trialing.
As I get older and my ass gets fatter(bad diet) I needed a rear wheel that I wouldn't have to keep truing. Works great.
Dennis Noward0 -
I must be weird, I prefer the aesthetics of the four spoker. :oops:0
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[quote="vermooten"]Hi,
I've seen that Corima do a 3-spoke TT wheel and 4-spoke TT wheel.
I would have thought that 3 would be better than 4 because I expect that the 3-spoke wheel is more aerodynamic. If this is true then why would Corima even make a 4-spoke wheel? Stronger? Stiffer?
Cheers,
Andy[/quote]
Nobody has actually answered this question of vermootens because no one on this thread knows the answer, including me, so what's the point of quoting obvious statements?0 -
giant mancp wrote:[quote="vermooten"]Hi,
I've seen that Corima do a 3-spoke TT wheel and 4-spoke TT wheel.
I would have thought that 3 would be better than 4 because I expect that the 3-spoke wheel is more aerodynamic. If this is true then why would Corima even make a 4-spoke wheel? Stronger? Stiffer?
Cheers,
Andy
Nobody has actually answered this question of vermootens because no one on this thread knows the answer, including me, so what's the point of quoting obvious statements?[/quote][/quote]
I thought I had answered it. Why do they make both? Because they can, and they want to
sell bike wheels, so they make both to attract a larger audience. What else could it be?
They want what every wheel builder wants. Bigger market share.
Dennis Noward0 -
dennisn you gave an answer but it wasn't a terribly useful one. (Why don't Corima make a 5-spoke wheel?)
I'll try Weightweenies, will report back.0 -
You'll find the answer on www.biketechreview.com if you search long and hard enough. Those people there have performed tests at multiple yaw angles and if you do some reading around www.slowtwitch.com where various representatives will post about selected wind tunnel findings, you may find the answer.
Also have a look on heds website and zipps website as to why a tri spoke may not always be the fastest. There's also handling issues with tri spokes or deep wheels which need to be considered.
By the way a 5 spoke like the mavic one is illegal for UK timetrials)on the front) as it has too large a surface area.0 -
vermooten wrote:dennisn you gave an answer but it wasn't a terribly useful one. (Why don't Corima make a 5-spoke wheel?)
I'll try Weightweenies, will report back.
Well, let me ask you this. Why does Ford, General Motors, BMW, and all the rest make
different models of cars? Why do Campag and Shimano make different models of drivetrain components? Why do tire manufacturers make different types of tires?
Last but not least why don't all of these companys make just one car, or one crankset,
or one tire? In a word "variety". They try to make a little something for everyones taste and money situation. Why would bike wheel manufacturers be any different?
Dennis Noward0 -
Hi there.
According to Corima they made the 3 spoke version to be more aero than the existing 4 spoke one. Presumably they kept the 4 spoke in their range cos some riders (track?) like an even stiffer wheel, and the demand must have still been there.
The legendary mavic io 5 spoke wheel is the wheel of choice on the track, not for it's aero properties, but it's stiffness.
Which means that you pretty much answered your own question as you asked it...
Corima wheels aren't really marketed strongly in the uk. They seem to have a strong following on the track and a good product at a competitve price - but you just don't see as many of them on the TT circuit as Zipps, Heds or Planet X wheels.
Personally I prefer a spoked front wheel, as it will flex more under pressure. Stiffness is important, but more so in a rear wheel - especially if you've got corners to deal with.
Under hard and tight cornering my rear disc will skip sideways, rather than flexing. This is can be a bit disconcerting... But you can handle it if you're expecting it. Now if the front wheel was to start losing traction - that's a whole different ball game.
Cheers, Andy
ps Hope that was useful - I could waffle on about commercial pressures if that's what you were really wanting to hear...
www.andyturnbull.co.uk0 -
superb! Thanks very much!!0
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cougie wrote:I've seen it written that the Hed 3 spoke wheels are about as good as they get.
I've seen that written too, but usually from a HED rep.
www.andyturnbull.co.uk0
