Wind, rider weight, & spokes

[Miranda]

This is somewhat of a gear question, but also a couple other factors, so I'm going to try posting here...

In researching different wheelsets, I started to notice some re-occurring comments about bladed spokes. One was that in a crosswind, the spokes can be a negative in terms of additional resistance. Particularly if the rider is light weight.

I try to keep my weight averaged between 115-120#s (5' 4 1/2" tall btw). My current bike has round two paired spokes. There have been times in a crosswind, I really thought I was going over. Obviously, there is the situation where if the wind is really strong, no gear or amount of rider weight matters (Mother Nature wins out).

The whole bike will be lighter than my ride now. I was leaning towards a wheelset with bladed spokes, but NOW this has me wondering... and asking my TE friend's advice.

How much do the spokes really matter for those of that are light weight, and have low weight bikes?

TYIA

[indysteel]

I'm about your size and decided against bladed spokes when I had my custom wheels made for that very reason.

[Eden]

I think deep rims make more of a difference than bladed spokes. My race bike has bladed spokes and I don't notice it being harder handle in a cross wind than my other bikes. At 5' nothing and about 105 I'm pretty easy to push around.

[SheFly]

I agree with Eden. The deeper rims are more of an issue in a cross wind than the bladed spokes. I ride several different wheel sets with bladed spokes and don't have an issue (full disclosure, I'm also 5'10" and 150 lbs).

SheFly

[Veronica]

At 150 pounds, riding along the spine of a ridge, I definitely felt the wind pushing me around a bit when my wheels had bladed spokes. I guess a lot depends on how much wind and where you are because that was the only time I really felt the effects of a crosswind.

Veronica

[Bluetree]

I fit that criteria. I'm about 110 lbs and my bike weighs 14.3-14.8 depending on the choice of wheelset.

Personally, I love the bladed spokes. My favorite all-around wheelsets are the Fulcrum Racing Zeros/Ones and I've never had problems with wind that I wouldn't have with non-bladed spokes. They are also some of my favorite climbing wheels because they handle descents so well. As others have said, wind becomes more of an issue with deeper rims or, in my case, ultra light wheelsets that run 1000-1200g (like the Reynolds KOM). For some reason, my tires never felt stuck to the road when they got to a certain lightness and made me feel squirrely in the wind.

That said, I'd have to caution you if aero-bladed wheels will be your only set. The surfaces scratch easily and can get grungy looking if on bad roads, and require more clean-up care to prevent corrosion, especially near coastal areas. On top of that, if one of my Fulcrum spokes gets damaged, it costs $40 per spoke to get it replaced. Something to think about.

[Miranda]

That said, I'd have to caution you if aero-bladed wheels will be your only set. The surfaces scratch easily and can get grungy looking if on bad roads, and require more clean-up care to prevent corrosion, especially near coastal areas. On top of that, if one of my Fulcrum spokes gets damaged, it costs $40 per spoke to get it replaced. Something to think about.

Thx, that's a good consideration. Yes, they will be my only set to start ($ going into overall bike). My rual roads are a lot of chip and seal. Sometimes they put that nasty gravel over-lay. Those I try to avoid when I know about it. So, no... my pavement is not a smooth road dedicated bike lane (*dreams of in bike heaven*).

[Bluetree]

I wish my camera was working so I can show what gravel can do. I have an old pair of Fulcrum 3s, which I use in the rain or just after a rain when there is a lot of debris in the road. (They have the same aero blades as my nicer wheels, but they are much cheaper version and weigh a ton.) The surfaces of the blades are chipped and scuffed, and they look a bit worse for wear. That is all cosmetic, however, as the wheels themselves are bomb-proof. I would never put on my nice wheels if I thought the roads were yucky, I'm too much of a prima donna about my gear.

And no, the noise is negligible. Deep dish rims and disk wheels are much noisier (although personally, I love the sound... Whoosh! Whoosh!)

[indysteel]

I would add that I live in central Indiana. Minus the short period where the corn is high, wind is an issue on a lot of our rides, so for me, cutting down on the effect of crosswinds makes an issue. Unfortunately, I have not been able to compare apples to apples when it comes to my different wheels sets. The set of wheels I have with bladed spokes are a lot heavier and not nearly as nice as my handbuilts. It could be that if I had a lightweight set of wheels built with bladed spokes, I'd like them just as well in the wind.

[Miranda]

OK... thx for that feedback thus far. I have not really geeked out all the aspects of the wheels in making the decision. Thus, I'm still in the gathering info/education mode. But, talk to a bit more about the rim depth issue if anyone pops back on that mentioned it, or knows. (Later today, I will ask Mr. Google and Sheldon too... and my lbs of course that's pending the sale)

Off the top of my head, I'm guessing: deeper rims = more stability?

That is also a good point about where you are riding. My routes are in the rual county areas. Think MidWest open farm fields... corn, beans, and wheat (tall corn near harvest time does break some wind). I try to pick routes that are less car traveled. Sometimes I have to travel the busy ones to get to a dead quite road though. On the rual roads, the average speed limit for cars is 45-55mph (not counting road rage bike hating speed demons). The shoulder is not rideable to get off on the road bike tires (loose gravel/field dirt run off etc.). Basically, I just try to hold my line as straight at possible and pray as the cars pass. Thus, why I'm geeking out my wheels a bit more.

I know lots of peeps ride the bladed spokes. Just like some of you smaller ladies have posted do it. Sounds like the rim is the bigger factor.

EDIT ADD: Also, I have heard that the blades are noisey? Any ops?