Deep Rim for a light guy?
Found a good deal on a FP 80 front wheel to go with my wheel cover in the back.
At 5'7 140lbs anyone think i would have any problems controlling it in the wind?
or should I just keep cheap wheel huinting for a not so deep wheel? I know its probably personal opinion but I dont have any aero wheel experince to base mine off of.
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My 2 cents is to just gain weight and you won't have to worry about it
Should be fine.
I'm 6'0 at about 154 pounds and not all too long ago I started riding with a HED 90mm rear (Stinger 9) and 60mm front (Stinger 6). I'm out in the midwest and the wind has been ripping accross the plains like it always does in spring time and I've had some 'fun' getting used to the wheels this season. I'm heavier than you and am riding a shallower front wheel and I still have been taking a beating this season, granted I also have dealt with up to 50+mph gusts and everyone on that ride, aero wheels or not, was not having a good time.
I think there are others closer to your weight with a lot more experience on aero wheels than I do, but my anecdotes aside I would say that it depends on where you live and the conditions that you ride in. It is entirely possible for you to ride a FP80 front at your weight, but I think that it will require a decent amount of somewhat nervewracking experience until you really feel comfortable doing so under all conditions.
Mancona is running 808's and is lighter than you. Maybe he will chime in.
I raced a TTT on an 808 front and disc in 25mph wind with gust easily over 35 a few week ago. It was not easy but it also was not an issue at all and I stayed in the aero bars the whole time. I just had to keep a pretty good lean going during cross winds and pay attention while turning. I will be riding the 808 front all season, except maybe Kona.
All that said, it you are worried about it wait and look for a shallower wheel as the ~5 seconds you will gain on an 808 vs a 404, will all be lost if you a nervous and have to sit up to control the 808.
It's like learning to ride in aero position instead of seated. It's *harder*, but it can be learned, and you'll surely go faster with the same effort level.
BTW, I'm 5'9", 146#, and ride Zipp 404s. Not as deep, I think, but I don't notice any difficulties in 20-30 mph winds.
I have certainly noticed crosswind issues (20-35 mph also), but I have not felt unsafe. In another thread, I wondered if the effort/mental-energy I expended in crosswinds lowered the watts that I put onto the wheel. I have not had the privilege of trying 808-equivalent wheels.
Because I have a disc cover and not a real disc, I sometimes get lazy and don't take it off as quickly as I should and do some training rides with it. As I'm sure others would tell you, the rear disc (cover) is much less of an issue than the front wheel.
I did just get emailed about an older zipp 530 with a new Zipp hub... anyone know much about those? I know they are an older 404 depth wheel with no dimples.
For 200$ sounds like it could be a good deal for me.