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Wheel Selection for Hawaii

Dave TalloDave Tallo
in General Training Discussions

Does anyone have input on F and R rental wheel choices for Kona?  Race weight will be in in the neighborhood of 150 lbs.  Quick review of ST advice is 404 / 808.  I'm looking at renting the firecrests with Powertap for the day.   Any thoughts?  

I normally run a disk/H3 comfortably, but that isn't going to fly (or, they would, and that's the problem!)

Comments

  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
    Dave - Last year I used my own 808(PT) and 404 thought they worked out great. I raced at 163ish and had no problem with the crosswinds blowing me around. My only thought would be using a PT that I hadn't trained with...... But since they are supposed to be accurate +/- 3%, it shouldn't be too big a deal, especially if you start out very conservative.
  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    Thanks Joe. I had the same concerns about the PT, and have to research a bit more about how to perform a 'stomp test' to check the differences and just accordingly. I'll have my regular PT with me as a traveller wheel, so I hope I can get some accurate side-by-side comparisons.

    (I'm planning an uber-cautious execution, and a 3% difference in the bike could make for a very long run ... )
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030

    Drive-by brag alert!!! 

  • Joe MatchetteJoe Matchette
    Hey!!!! I resemble that remark.
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Why wouldn't you use an 808 up front? A crosswind has to be pretty brutal for someone who's 150 to have trouble with that wheel.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    My biggest concern would be the PT difference, as you and others have noted.

  • manconamancona
    Two years ago, 404/808 was the best setup for most of the people there, but with the firecrest that has changed a bit and most people would be fine either way now.

    If you are the type of guy who has always been fine with a Hed3 / Disc and have never had an issue with cross winds, go 808. If you have any doubt or concern or have had cross wind issues before go 404 up front as the piece of mind is worth as much as the ~1 minute in *potential* savings.

    FWIW, at 135 I still get blown around on the 808 FC once the wind gets over 30mph, however the difference is with the FC my entire body/bike gets pushed just a little and I have to lean into it a bit. With previous generation 808 clinchers, I got pushed much worse, and my front wheel would occasionally turn from the wind, so I had to both lean and counter steer. In otherwords, the firecrest is a noticeable difference....and yes, I'm biased towards zipp ;-)
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    I am in another zip code at 185, but I run 808s no problem.
  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    Thanks, all. I'll be running 808/808. On the PT hub front, I hear you, and R's article from last year has been bouncing around my head for the last few months. I think I would be more anxious about the 'personal PT -> rental PT' delta it if I were going to a cool, windless race after training on cool, windless watts ... but I aint, and I figure that the race watts I'll be running will be a very conservative approximation based a generous adjustment for the conditions. While I risk leaving something on the table, my experiences with riding in the heat over the last few months has shown me just how disasterous anything except a cautious strategy can be.

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