Wheels for a road TT bike

Hove

Hi,

Buying a few oddments to make my road machine suitable for local TT's too without preventing it being used for road too (happy to interchange wheels / clip-on bars etc to change the bike's role)

Is there a correct rim depth for aero wheels, or is it all just about the compromise between weight, strength, side winds, and aero (or put it another way, aero wheels that can also be used on normal road races vs aeros rims / disks which can only ever be used for a TT)?

Why do some seem to fit 80mm (Zipp 808 / SRAM S80) on the rear and only the 60mm rims on the front? Cost is pretty much the same - is it a trend or is there something else behind it?

Or should I just buy the deepest and lightest rims that seem suitable?

Andy

Anonymous

Hi mate, the best thing to do is ask this question on a forum and see what they say.

Oh.

Erm.

There are varying reasons for varying rim depth.

In still conditions, the deeper the rim the better. However when crosswinds can become an issue people prefer to have a shallower rim on the front (as the front is most affected by crosswinds due to the steering.)

I'm hardcore so I use a disc rear with 88mm deep front at all times.

As a cheap set first off, have a look at the 'Cheap Chinese Carbon' thread for some tips on where/who to buy from.

You can get some great deep rim wheels for 300 quid.

Chip \'oyler

Some people fit a lower depth rim on the front because they might find something deeper a bit twitchy in cross winds.

TBH in your situation I would go for a pair of 50mm or 60mm at the most to get the best compromise between aerodynamics and handling

Hove

Thanks chaps, it makes complete sense once someone has explained it, the fronts bound to be twitchier in a cross-wind! D'oh.

Sorry for the delay coming back to the thread, I've spent the week flogging gear on e-bay so I can afford the wheels!

Chip \'oyler

Hove wrote:

Thanks chaps, it makes complete sense once someone has explained it, the fronts bound to be twitchier in a cross-wind! D'oh.

Sorry for the delay coming back to the thread, I've spent the week flogging gear on e-bay so I can afford the wheels!

If you go for 50mm depth myself and loads of others will recommend www.wheelsmith.co.uk who can build you a pair, to your budget. He now has either tub or clincher carbon 50mm rims. I have some from him and they've been superb.