80mm Deep Rear Wheel

prawny

Quite like the look of the planet x 50/88 set but what would an 80mm deep wheel be like for normal riding. Hoping to have a crack at some TTs in the future too but for now these would be used for sportives and nice rides in the country.

racingcondor

Really deep rims tend to be very stiff and rather unforgiving (short spokes don't absorb the road buzz and apparently carbon rims don't either).

The Planet X 80mm rim is also pretty heavy (over a kilo for the back wheel isn't light) and will probably be pretty hard work in the wind (even on the rear). Aero-wise 50mm front and rear will give you almost the same advantage and save a couple of hundred grammes.

I'm not convinced that anything much deeper than 50mm has a real use outside TT's. I'd certainly be avoiding anyone riding that set up in a race if there was any wind.

Personally I'd recommend spending the of money on some good alu wheels if you don't already have some expensive ones.

asprilla

Are you aware that the PX carbon wheels now only take tubular tyres and they don't make a clincher version anymore?

Also, given they are carbon rims then your braking will be adversely affected even with carbon specific pads (which are a must). You can get carbon wheels with an alloy brake track, but those PXs don't have one.

MatthewBulmer

racingcondor wrote:

I'm not convinced that anything much deeper than 50mm has a real use outside TT's. I'd certainly be avoiding anyone riding that set up in a race if there was any wind.

+1

noodleman

You would sh*t yourself on windy days. I have 50s on mine and had to ride a different way home just to get out of the wind. It really was quite bad, so I imagine anything deeper could be a bit extreme for everyday riding

cougie

Depends on your weight too. A larger bloke on an 80mm rear would be fine in the wind. If it was on the front of the bike though.....

I'd not bother for sportives and nice rides in the country - get lighter wheels for the climbs and tyres for the value over tubs.

markos1963

You wouldn't notice any advantage with a 80 over a 50mm but in ordinary riding the 80 is going to be a hindrance due to it's weight. If it was me I'd go for 50mm clinchers and if you do go TTing later then buy a secondhand disc as you will notice an advantage with that.

prawny

Cool cheers chaps.

Thought as much, quite fancy giving tubs a whirl though TBH, might go for some 50s when funds allow and save for a disc and TT bike if I take to it.

I think at the budget end of the carbon wheel market (PX/Carbonzone) I'd be more confident in tubs over clinchers anyway.

MatthewBulmer

I've got some 60mm carbon tubs from carbonzone and they're great.

Pokerface

I've ridden 808s on the front AND rear in windy road races - (only when flat.) Wheels are heavier but no handling problems whatsoever.

And they are faster than a set of 404s. You'll see a lot of pros riding this set up also in flat races or sprint stages.

However- for every day riding - complete waste of time/money/energy, etc.