Road wheels in side winds
Discussion
Are all wheels (clinchers) equal when dealing with side winds? I can really feel the wind pushing my Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels. The wind wasn't even that strong today, maybe 15 mph. I've read about these wider rims with a more aero cross section, e.g. Zipp 202, that claim to behave significantly better than standard clinchers but I don't fancy spending 2 grand on some wheels.
Is there a lower cost alternative which is at least as light as my current wheels (about 1700g I think)?
Thanks
Is there a lower cost alternative which is at least as light as my current wheels (about 1700g I think)?
Thanks
MTFU then?
I notice it quite a lot since most of my rides head out North and return South, meaning that I have a westerly side wind for a significant portion of my rides.
It's all marketing guff then?
http://www.zipp.com/technologies/aerodynamics/fire...
I notice it quite a lot since most of my rides head out North and return South, meaning that I have a westerly side wind for a significant portion of my rides.
It's all marketing guff then?
http://www.zipp.com/technologies/aerodynamics/fire...
nammynake said:
No, you just don't understand what they're saying.I take it that you understand how a sail works? Given the same shape, the bigger the sail, the more it gets blown by the wind.
The rim of your bike is the same. Given the same shape, the deeper it is, the more it will get blown by the wind. So "shallow" rims, like your fulcrum 5s, are the best in crosswinds.
Zipp are talking about deep rims. They make their rims a different shape to others so, for a given depth, they get affected less by crosswinds than the competition.
I understand that, but they're not the same shape as standard clinchers. This is what caught my attention initially:
"In real-world conditions, Firecrest rims are markedly more stable than other rims of equal or even shallower depth."
I'll have a dig around for research papers. Maybe they have published research on the above claim.
"In real-world conditions, Firecrest rims are markedly more stable than other rims of equal or even shallower depth."
I'll have a dig around for research papers. Maybe they have published research on the above claim.
I don't think you would be able to get a zipp tech guy on record to say that ANY zipp wheel beyond the 303 would be less affected than a fulcum 5, which is about as shallow as you'll get.
Zipp wheels are good in crosswinds considering they are deep section, they perform well against other DEEP SECTION wheels, but wouldn't be in the same ball park as a shallow box rim when it comes to being unaffected by the wind.
Yes, MTFU
Zipp wheels are good in crosswinds considering they are deep section, they perform well against other DEEP SECTION wheels, but wouldn't be in the same ball park as a shallow box rim when it comes to being unaffected by the wind.
Yes, MTFU
OP - serious note, if you find fulcrum 5's tricky then stay well away from ZIPPS or any proper deep dish wheel.
When using deep dish wheels ( in powerful side gusts ) i feel it's about the same as racing a powerful single seater ( f3 etc ) on slicks in the wet, constant corrections with the risk of flying off ever present. I'm talking 40-50 mpg gusts + and an 808. 404 is more stable but still gets twitchy @ 30 mph + winds.
The worst wheels EVER were the PX cheapo 110/90 f
k me they were lethal 
, i've used a disc on the rear in 60 mph winds , never ever EVER do that again...
The trick tho it to stay relaxed and let the bike move around.
When using deep dish wheels ( in powerful side gusts ) i feel it's about the same as racing a powerful single seater ( f3 etc ) on slicks in the wet, constant corrections with the risk of flying off ever present. I'm talking 40-50 mpg gusts + and an 808. 404 is more stable but still gets twitchy @ 30 mph + winds.
The worst wheels EVER were the PX cheapo 110/90 f
k me they were lethal , i've used a disc on the rear in 60 mph winds , never ever EVER do that again...The trick tho it to stay relaxed and let the bike move around.
superkartracer said:
OP - serious note, if you find fulcrum 5's tricky then stay well away from ZIPPS or any proper deep dish wheel.
When using deep dish wheels ( in powerful side gusts ) i feel it's about the same as racing a powerful single seater ( f3 etc ) on slicks in the wet, constant corrections with the risk of flying off ever present. I'm talking 40-50 mpg gusts + and an 808. 404 is more stable but still gets twitchy @ 30 mph + winds.
The worst wheels EVER were the PX cheapo 110/90 fk me they were lethal , i've used a disc on the rear in 60 mph winds , never ever EVER do that again...
The trick tho it to stay relaxed and let the bike move around.
Clearly you need to eat more pies...When using deep dish wheels ( in powerful side gusts ) i feel it's about the same as racing a powerful single seater ( f3 etc ) on slicks in the wet, constant corrections with the risk of flying off ever present. I'm talking 40-50 mpg gusts + and an 808. 404 is more stable but still gets twitchy @ 30 mph + winds.
The worst wheels EVER were the PX cheapo 110/90 f
k me they were lethal , i've used a disc on the rear in 60 mph winds , never ever EVER do that again...The trick tho it to stay relaxed and let the bike move around.
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