Which rims do you use and for what?

pliptrot
pliptrot Posts: 582
edited March 2008 in Workshop
It seems the current trend in the pro peloton (which is to say what many of us desire - or will desire) is towards deep carbon rims. Even on the mountain stages in the Tour of California these were evident. However, once more normal roads (potholes, cobbles and so-on) are seen the move back to aluminium takes place. Last year's Paris-Roubaix saw almost exclusive use of box-section tubular rims, as used for decades (although our choice, as consumers, in this respect is next-to-nothing these days). Why? Are carbon rims fragile? Is their only advantage weight saving?

Comments

  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    Hi there.

    Yes carbon rims can be fragile, some more than others. e.g Lightweights at the fragile end of the scale, Cosmics at the more bombproof end,

    Their main advantage is aerodynamics!

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • pliptrot
    pliptrot Posts: 582
    Thanks. I guess that -at the risk of stating the blindingly obvious- deep aero rims in aluminium would be too heavy? My contention remains that when the going gets tough - as with most modern roads - then aluminium is required.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    pliptrot wrote:
    My contention remains that when the going gets tough - as with most modern roads - then aluminium is required.
    Not at all - most modern roads I see aren't at all like PR, and carbon rims are fine (I've certainly raced the carbon rims on my TT bike on a wide variety of surfaces without knackering them).
  • pliptrot
    pliptrot Posts: 582
    Gosh, then try a little riding in Hampshire!
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    There was a piece in either Procycling or Cycle Sport last year where they went with CSC on an equipment testing session prior to Paris-Roubaix. Some of the technical team from Zipp were there and they were testing deep section carbon rims through the Arenberg forest section. Cancellara's conclusion was that they weren't robust enough at race speed. Any cobbled classic I've been to (Het Volk, Flanders etc) it's noticeable how the top names are all riding box section tubular rims. I assume it's because they are tried and tested.

    I've a pair of American Classic aero wheels with aluminium rims and they are fairly light (circa 1500g for the pair and clinchers too) so it is possible to build a fairly light wheel using them.
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    pliptrot wrote:
    Thanks. I guess that -at the risk of stating the blindingly obvious- deep aero rims in aluminium would be too heavy?

    Hi there.

    I've got a pair of the original aero aluminium rims - Campag shamals. As ridden by Jan Ulrich circa 1997. These were great wheels, very aero and pretty light. Not robust though. Mine have so many dents in them that they look like a pair of dustbin lids. I might rebuild them as track wheels though...

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    pliptrot wrote:
    Gosh, then try a little riding in Hampshire!
    Have you actually tried riding the cobbles of PR? I'd suggest there is a marked difference between the two. Oh, and if Winchester's in Hampshire, then I've ridden carbon rims in Hampshire - notably better roads than many other places I've ridden them.
  • pliptrot
    pliptrot Posts: 582
    aracer,

    I'm in Four Marks, about 12 miles from Winchester (well, for part of the year). The roads here present many of the similar challenges that cobbles do, at different frequencies and by different means. They are in no way comparable with some of the lovely roads used for most other professional races. I don't use the A32 much, for the reason that I aspire to qualifying for a pension one day.

    I have a little experience of riding on true cobbles, but the expectation that I ever will again does not inform my decision on the new rims I am about to purchase. They'll be box section tubulars, which -tragically- you have to go foraging on ebay for.
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Carbon rims can also be pretty strong and will stand up to quite a lot of punishment, but i wouldn't ride them in PR ... though i wouldn't bother riding PR unless one of you will lend me a bike.

    the "only" advantage being lighter weight is quite a big advantage. It allows you to build an aero wheel that can still accelerate very quickly. I would add that carbon wheels feel more comfortable (might be perception) but they seem to soak up some road buzz.

    A big downside is the braking performance ... both in terms of stopping power and modulation in the wet, and heat build-up in the dry.

    Overall, IMO carbon rims are worth it for road races, criteriums, and TTs/duathlons/triathlons where the low weight and aero combination works well, but are less satisfactory for training or sportifs.

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