Wheel covers

willbevan
willbevan Posts: 1,241
edited October 2008 in Workshop
Evening all,

See discussion about wheel covers and since i now have access to power tap ihave been thinking of getting hold of one to convert it to a make shift cheapp disc.

Realise the performance isnt there, but does anyone know any places in the uk that make them that are resonable?

Found a place in the states that even trims it to your wheel size and hub type for a bit of extra money, 80 dolars for an open pro hub and the powertap hub fitting...

http://www.wheelbuilder.com/closeup.asp ... 5&offset=0

Also found

http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page ... 1&minor=24

Thanks

Will
Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
MTB - Trek Fuel 80
TT - Echelon

http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/

Comments

  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    no one? :(
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • System_1
    System_1 Posts: 513
    I've been looking for these for ages, more for posing than any performance advantage mind. I remember they were really popular in the late 80's, early 90's and could be picked up in your LBS for not much money. I had a smiley face one on my Raleigh Maverick.

    I've never found anywhere in the UK that sells them. I'd have thought they'd be more popular and easy to get than they are.
  • They were popular I recall in the mid 90s and recommended by cycling plus (fabric ones rather than hard covers) but were subsequently banned by the RTTC for UK time trials.

    I dont understand they would be faster though - the spokes haven't gone anywhere and are still moving through air and presumably causing the same resistance?
  • I dont understand they would be faster though - the spokes haven't gone anywhere and are still moving through air and presumably causing the same resistance?

    the idea is that they cover the spokes therefore cutting out that turbulence.
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    banned from UK time trials?

    If you have a good fit, its not like the wind your cutting through at 20-30mph is going through the spokes but being diverted round the wheel...
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/
  • I dont know for sure if they were banned - I just seem to remember it but it was about 15 years ago! There was a brand that was popular but I cant remember the name and cant find it by googling.

    I still dont understand the advantage though - there are still spokes moving in air at the same speed - how can there be less resistance?
  • method
    method Posts: 784
    I'm fairly sure they're not banned. The wheelbuilder ones have been highly recommended by quite a few people. The seal is good, so it doesn't matter that there are spokes in the middle, the air isn't getting to them. The difference in performance between covers and a disc is probably very small. You just don't get a nice rumble.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I think they were banned for tts and thats why they dont sell any more. I think there would be less resistance than a spoked wheel - marginally. If you look at disc wheels though you will see just how thin they are - not like dished spoked wheels. Why do you want them anyway ? You cant race with them and they would be interesting in side winds - even deep rims on the front will suffer in winds.
  • At the time, they were faster than a solid disc because a spoked wheel with a carbon fiber cover was still lighter... They were banned (at least by the UCI) because they thought there was a risk that they could fly off and cause injuries.
  • method
    method Posts: 784
    cougie wrote:
    I think they were banned for tts and thats why they dont sell any more. I think there would be less resistance than a spoked wheel - marginally. If you look at disc wheels though you will see just how thin they are - not like dished spoked wheels. Why do you want them anyway ? You cant race with them and they would be interesting in side winds - even deep rims on the front will suffer in winds.

    Not much truth in a lot of the above.

    Most newer discs aren't thin, they are lenticular. If you look at the Zipp and Hed Jet, they bulge out a huge amount by the rim as well.

    I assume he wants them for TT's in which case they aren't banned, or Triathlon not banned either.

    You only have them on the back so the affects of wind would be the same as a disc, no reason you can't handle one in most conditions.

    Its the only way of using a Power tap with a disc, without spending a lot of money and they are really popular with a lot time trialers and certainly in triathlon.

    If you want more info have a look at the below:

    http://forum.slowtwitch.com/

    http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?

    You'll find a lot more people who have them, mainly from Wheelbuilder.com as far as I've seen.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I stand corrected on the wheel covers - they were originally banned though - clearly I havent been reading the CTT minutes lately !

    You arent going to get a lenticular disk shape from a normal wheel with a cover though are you ?

    I guess its a cheap way to get a slightly better performance from a wheel - but I'd rate proper coaching/training as a higher priority.
  • method
    method Posts: 784
    cougie wrote:
    I stand corrected on the wheel covers - they were originally banned though - clearly I havent been reading the CTT minutes lately !

    You arent going to get a lenticular disk shape from a normal wheel with a cover though are you ?

    I guess its a cheap way to get a slightly better performance from a wheel - but I'd rate proper coaching/training as a higher priority.

    Not lenticular no, but any bulges won't affect the aerodynamics too much.

    I guess the whole point of using it though in this case is so he can use his power meter, which would mean he agrees with your last point! :D
  • willbevan
    willbevan Posts: 1,241
    cougie wrote:
    I guess its a cheap way to get a slightly better performance from a wheel - but I'd rate proper coaching/training as a higher priority.

    Would agree, hence putting cheap wheel covers on a standard PowerTap wheel rather than buying a disc with one in :) money to go elsewhere and get power feedback from races etc etc :)
    Road - BTwin Sport 2 16s
    MTB - Trek Fuel 80
    TT - Echelon

    http://www.rossonwye.cyclists.co.uk/