Traditional handbuilts wheels in the peloton.

robbarker

For all the marketing hype about flash low-spoke count factory built wheels, and the accompanying salivation from several people here, when the going gets a bit cobbly even the pros turn to traditional box section rims and 32 spokes built x3..

andyp

Wasn't Hincapie riding a pair of Lightweights yesterday? Added later: High Road were riding these wheels - are they the new Dura Ace ones?

Most teams use what is tried and tested but as technology advances you see more and more teams using more recent equipment.

gavintc

Standing in the Market Place in Bruges waiting for the start of the race yesterday, I saw a complete cross section of wheels from low profile Zipps to hand built wheels. Kysrium SLs and ES seemed to be the most popular.

robbarker

There must be considerable pressure from the sponsoring wheel maunfacturers on the teams to use wheels that, at the very least, look like the ones that you and I can buy. The fact that some defy this pressure and use traditionally spoked wheels must say something?

scherrit

Some points which are probably generally accepted: a tub rim of the same weight is stronger than a clincher (because you aren't "wasting" material on the bead hooks) so tub rims may be a better bet

a tub is probably more resistant to snake bite type punctures when compared to a clincher of similar profile at similar pressure

in a race situation I favour a wheel with more spokes as cheapish insurance that it will remain ridable after receiving the pedal in the spokes treatment

a box section rim may be slightly more forgiving aver a few hours on rough roads

an ally braking surface enables actual braking as opposed to carbon which doesn't...

These are factors I would take into account when doing a wheel prescription for those conditions. Of course with support usually close at hand, and sponsors telling you what to ride, you're gonna see almost anything being ridden.....