Wheels for the wind

pthompson73
pthompson73 Posts: 58
edited October 2010 in Road buying advice
Currently have a pair of Zipp 404 Clinchers but with the onset of Autumn upon us riding with them in increased wind conditions is causing a few wobbles I want to try and avoid as the weather worsens.

Thinking about a set of Zipp 303's (but the full carbon tubular version for a change)

Any opinions or thoughts on this?

Comments

  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    what about some regular rims? :lol:
  • pthompson73
    pthompson73 Posts: 58
    Such as???
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    The usual suspects, DuraAce 7850cl if ur not running Campag?? If youve got the money they're great and you'll have a great set of light/hilly/race wheels... but do you really want something a bit cheaper to run in filthy conditions without having to care much about them?

    Not tubs tho, do you really want tubs for winter filthy riding?
  • glasgowbhoy
    glasgowbhoy Posts: 1,341
    pthompson73 wrote:
    Such as???

    I'd be calling wheelsmith or wheelscraft and getting some bomb proof ambrosi/ mavic etc rims on DT / wheelsmith double butted spokes and hubs of your choice. Will provide you with great training, commuting and later/early season race wheels and keep your fancy zipps for next summer.
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    I wouldn't use tubs in the winter!
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

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  • pthompson73
    pthompson73 Posts: 58
    Cheers for the advice guys. Need to do a bit more market research before I spunk a load of cash up the wall. Only been riding for 18 months now and its an expensive, and obsessive habit that I have to hide from the missus.....Jeez I sound like a crack head!
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    pthompson73 wrote:
    Thinking about a set of Zipp 303's (but the full carbon tubular version for a change)

    Any opinions or thoughts on this?

    You are training not racing

    So if you use heavier wheels and tyres it could be seen as a plus point

    Handmade wheels like Rigida Chrina 700c 32h ( http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s178p1954 ) with Schwalbe Durano Plus on them will seem heavy but so what? They will be tough as old boots and in the event of any damage easy and cheap to fix
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  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    I recently bought a pair of Mavic r-sys wheels. Out on the Blenheim sportive last Sunday it was interesting to see one of my pals struggling with cross winds - didn't affect the mavics at all. Not necessarily the most sensible winter wheels, but they are a bit different!

    Peter
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    pthomson -think about going tub before you spunk cash around.

    you've only be at this 18 months but you'l get there to carbon tubs in the end I can assure you. Why wait?
  • must-tri-harder
    must-tri-harder Posts: 219
    hed ardennes ?

    great reviews, light and apparently 'feel' like tubulars.
    http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    Fulcrum 3's are probably all the wheel you ever actually need. Anything more is personal preference (and yes my best wheels are worth more...).

    If you're looking for some winter wheels then I'd avoid carbon, in the rain the braking will be poorer than an alu rim and the brake track will wear down very quickly.

    If you have the cash to spend then a wheel like the Fulcrum 1, Zero or perhaps the Hed Ardenne would also be great options. Handbuilts are worth thinking about if you know what you're after.

    If you're worried about weight then send me the contents of your wallet. I'd love some Zipp 303 Tubs... :wink:
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Have to disagree with the statement that Fulcrum 3s are all you ever need.

    We're all doing for this for enjoyment of course, rather than needing to do it ...

    With that in mind a nice pair of carbon tubulars really does give a better ride quality than Fulcrum 3s.
  • must-tri-harder
    must-tri-harder Posts: 219
    surely if you're a zipp fan with too much money 101's must be worth consideration ? then if you're bored you can roll with a 101 on the front and 404 on the back or something similar.
    http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    101 is interesting.

    One thing on the Zipp range (and the Shimano range) is that the tubs are much stiffer than the clinchers. Really, with Zipps the tubs and clinchers are chalk and cheese.

    That said, I'm curious about the new 404 carbon clinchers. If they've solved the heat isue then it's a genuine tech. advance.
  • must-tri-harder
    must-tri-harder Posts: 219
    unless you're racing with support i just cant see tubulars being practical.

    with it being friday i'm killing time here at work i just checked the hed website and they have free delivery and 15% off all orders in october, that would be a deal closer for me hed ardennes for £552.50 delivered ?!?!!!!
    http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Tubulars are not as impractical as some people suppose but there are disadvantages vs. clinchers it's true.

    Liquid latex such as pittstop is IME very effective when combined with a Co2 cartridge.

    A folded lightweight tub fits easily in a jersey pocket or under the saddle.

    And if you ride with other people with tubs it becomes even easier as they have the pitttop/co2 etc.

    And, other things being equal :wink: , tubs do puncture less.

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