Wind, rider weight, & spokes

**fidlfreek** · 03-22-2009, 10:16 PM

Aicabsolut is an awesome resource!!! I now want a Zipp 343 wheelset...

Not need, just want...but oh well.

Miranda what bike did you decide on?! I'm so thrilled you have something on order. Yeah!

I am also small/light and would recommend you get a good quality, basic, alloy wheelset - forget this blingy Mavic stuff or anything carbon. Pricier to fix and at our weight the bladed spokes and deep dish rims are just trouble. The more you spend the lighter the wheelset will be generally. I found an Easton EA90 SLX (1398 grams for the set) for about $500. The lighter weight helps with climbing and at our weight we can afford to run a feather weight wheelset without worrying a lot about it failing. They will be a great training/everyday wheelset. Save your $$ and buy really blingy wheels later! If you haven't already go check out the reviews on roadbikereview.com. Good info there. And remember, you and me aren't going to have the same issues of flex and maintenance on a light wheelset as a super aggressive big guy rider - so don't sweat their negative reviews.

**sundial** · 03-23-2009, 09:17 AM

I don't have an aerodynamic wheel set but I do have Mavic Ksyrium SL on my Roubaix and essentially they are bomb proof--no truing the spokes for at least 2 years.

**aicabsolut** · 03-23-2009, 06:07 PM

Definitely take online reviews with a grain of salt. It seems like every wheel has some major problem with breaking spokes and flex and whatnot, going by what people say online. You need to consider that there are a lot of large guys writing those negative reviews who put a lot more stress on wheels than you will.

**Cataboo** · 03-24-2009, 06:55 AM

Miranda,

I gotta say - you're going to be the best researched, best.... bike buyer ever. 'cause I've never even thought about a lot of the stuff that you post threads on.

I have a set of 100 mm "heavy" carbon wheels... In a cross wind or in the wind, I find it pretty freaky. I also don't have much rake on the front fork of the bike that I use those wheels with, so it doesn't take much and it feels like my bike is pushed all over the place. I'm short, but not as light as you.

It's not so pleasant. I have a spare set of wheels that I use when it's windy, except I never seem to realize it's windy till I'm a few miles away.

**Miranda** · 03-27-2009, 05:59 PM

Thx to those of you that posted some more info after the last time I wrote in here. I read some, then took me a bit to get back to the pc/thread.

Yes... I would agree. Lighter gals do not have the same issues as heavy guy hammer heads. I think it would be pretty hard for us to blow up a wheelset in comparison.

Oh, and yes... I'm a gear geek it out to the max shopper

. I'm still tainted and scorned from my original bike buying experience. Thus, I never buy any bike gear without consulting the wise words of my cyber pals here on TE.

And as far as my bike ordering/buying, that's been put on the hold for the moment, unfortunately *sigh*. Just as I was done geeking out my choices, I had a mishap and broke a bone in my foot

!

What awful timing with Spring *finally* here. But, I'll try to behave while I heal and be patient.

**OakLeaf** · 03-27-2009, 06:45 PM

Owie Miranda, heal quick!

**Miranda** · 03-27-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Owie Miranda, heal quick!

Thx Oakleaf

. When the first doc said 6-8wks normally for a bone to heal I kinda wanted to cry

. Not because of physical pain either. But, the ortho surg doc said a couple weeks I could try some stuff taking it easy if I felt ok. Having stiff bike shoes that don't let the foot flex is to my advantage. Versus if I were a runner with this same injury.

**fidlfreek** · 03-30-2009, 10:42 AM

Oh so sad!!!! It will give you plenty of time to get the bike built though! That can take a while and is frustrating...

**Miranda** · 03-31-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by fidlfreek

Oh so sad!!!! It will give you plenty of time to get the bike built though! That can take a while and is frustrating...

Thx that is a really good point. I was just thinking today... do I wait until I am healed, then proceed... or proceed now assuming it could take a while to get it. Seems like last I checked service was 1-2 weeks out.

Then today I saw a sure sign of spring. One of my yard bushes was shedding bloom buds preparing for leaves. I thought, "hmm, little bush are you trying to tell me something about my bike decision, or what?" lol.

**fidlfreek** · 04-03-2009, 09:56 AM

Definitely get it started.

Spring has been here in TX for a few weeks now and I'm loving having the new bike...

**madscot13** · 04-04-2009, 12:12 AM

I have my eye on a pair of William's wheels. My window shopping eye. http://www.williamscycling.com/

**fidlfreek** · 04-04-2009, 10:27 AM

Hey WOW thats a great deal! And good RoadBikeReviews too!

**MartianDestiny** · 04-04-2009, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by aicabsolut

For a lightweight rider, I would not recommend having deep wheels as your only wheelset. I don't see a problem with having bladed spokes by themselves, however, but that might depend on the individual wheel. For example, some shallower wheels might handle poorly in crosswinds because of overall design, and bladed spokes don't help (I'm thinking higher end Ksyriums here). Some of that may be that not all bladed spokes are created equal.

Hey Aicabsolut,

It interests me that you specifically mention Mavics here. I've been noticing that my nice new carbon baby is a royal bear to handle in cross winds (which seem to be a constant issue in CO). I haven't ate it yet, but I've had some scary moments (I'm a wimp) especially descending or when very exposed.

I wrote this off a being to to a MUCH lighter, much more responsive frameset. I imagine that has something to do with it still, but I'm now wondering if the Mavics might be to blame (Krysium Equips).

Are these known to be worse than average in crosswinds? I admit I like the looks of bladed spokes, but the wheels were on my "to upgrade eventually" list anyway. I was planning on just going to a higher end Mavic; is there something better out there for 5' 130lbs (me plus bike) crowd? I love the look of the Zipps, but I'll be a one wheelset sort of girl (I'll keep the Mavics, but sounds like they aren't good crosswind wheels either) and I can't see running deep rims as an only wheelset with the Colorado crosswinds!

**madscot13** · 04-05-2009, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by fidlfreek

Hey WOW thats a great deal! And good RoadBikeReviews too!

I know! and other online reviewers say they are pretty good and that the company ie Keith is incredible dependable for customer service.

I think 19's will fit the bill until I start my imaginary racing career- oh wait what does bike versus car racing count as? I guess I just like the classic look and I don't think they are as likely to get pilfered. Plus I don't really think I am likely to faster on the 30's.

**aicabsolut** · 04-06-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by MartianDestiny

Hey Aicabsolut,

It interests me that you specifically mention Mavics here. I've been noticing that my nice new carbon baby is a royal bear to handle in cross winds (which seem to be a constant issue in CO). I haven't ate it yet, but I've had some scary moments (I'm a wimp) especially descending or when very exposed.

I wrote this off a being to to a MUCH lighter, much more responsive frameset. I imagine that has something to do with it still, but I'm now wondering if the Mavics might be to blame (Krysium Equips).

Are these known to be worse than average in crosswinds? I admit I like the looks of bladed spokes, but the wheels were on my "to upgrade eventually" list anyway. I was planning on just going to a higher end Mavic; is there something better out there for 5' 130lbs (me plus bike) crowd? I love the look of the Zipps, but I'll be a one wheelset sort of girl (I'll keep the Mavics, but sounds like they aren't good crosswind wheels either) and I can't see running deep rims as an only wheelset with the Colorado crosswinds!

I can get a pretty good deal on Mavic wheels from my sponsor shop, so I asked around about them before I bought race wheels this year. The feedback I got (from guys, mostly) was that Ksyriums with bladed spokes suck in crosswinds. I did a test ride on an old set of Ksyrium SSC SL's, and they were great, but the wind was calm. I also tend to see a lot more old (at least 2 yrs old) Ksyriums out on the road than I do newer models. I wonder why.

Anyway, the general consensus was that Ksyriums with bladed spokes were annoyingly jerky in a crosswind, while deep dish wheels would just give a solid lateral push (that you can lean against).

I raced last weekend in gusts up to about 30mph (they were 50mph earlier in the day, but died down to probably 25-30 at the worst when I was on the road), and I decided to go with my Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR's (with bladed carbon spokes). There was more real estate with headwind or tailwind on the course than crosswinds, and I needed the extra gear I had on that cassette over my backup for a significant climb. A couple of times, I had to really work to hold my line, and one sustained crosswind made me lean really hard to the left, but I survived. I don't think I would've been able to keep going full-tilt on my training wheels when a big gust came up, either. I'm very glad I had those rims on when I was fighting the headwind and needed to get up that climb.

My Carbones are approximately as deep as 404s. Sometimes, it would be nice to have a slightly shallower rim (like a 303) on the front. The front gets extra squirrely because it is ridiculously light.

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