Aero Wheels and wind

[hennbell]

I cracked the Bontrager race lite rims my bicycle came equipped with. I am looking at replacing them with Shimano RS-81 C50. Alloy rims with a carbon aero section. My concern is that the area in which I commute has lots of wind, and with 50 mm aero sections there might be an issue. Has anyone run aero rims and had any issues?

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I run Zipp 404 Firecrest's which have a rim depth of 58mm. It's not a wheel I would want to use for a windy commute even though Zipp's firecrest profile is reknown for crosswind performance.

 

[endoman]

I have Enve 3.4's, been out in some big winds with them in Peak District on the tops, perfectly ok to handle for me at 75kg.

 

[Herzog]

Raced last week in 27kph cross winds on 50mm tubs. No major problems, but then I hid from the wind for most of the race . I've not had an issue, but I'm guessing others will come along saying the opposite...

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Got 55mm "aeros" on a bike I've just sold, the side winds at junctions can catch you out a little but I got used to it pretty quickly. In the horrendous winds we had recently I didn't even get off the end of my drive before the bike became a sail.

So ok for a bike you can choose when to ride but not so good for an everyday every weather commuter.

 

[hennbell]

Looks like I am putting a portion of my annual bonus to some new wheels, thanks

 

[jarlrmai]

Only here could we have a thread about aero wheels in the commuting section

 

[HLaB]

I have semi Aero rims on my bianchi (Fulcrum 4s, 35mm) and that was the only neagative review I could find on them 'they didn't handle well in the wind'. I would say the contrary and I am the build I think to be blown around.

Also recently I was on my Non Aero Fulcrum 7s and my mate was on his aero C50s on a day when it was 50mph gusts and he was blown round less than me.

 

[jdtate101]

You could always go Semi aero with an RS81 - c35 wheelset. Slightly easier to handle in winds but with a lesser aero advantage.

 

[Sbudge]

Only here could we have a thread about aero wheels in the commuting section

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me!

 

[mythste]

Only here could we have a thread about aero wheels in the commuting section

Yeah but why would you want to waste an extra 8 watts before a day of work?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Vision Team 30 on my Ribble, & they occasionally get caught

 

[MichaelW2]

How much advantage do aero rims give you on an urban commute? Do you ever sustain time-trial speeds?
Only of use on TT style commutes.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

How much advantage do aero rims give you on an urban commute? Do you ever sustain time-trial speeds?
Only of use on TT style commutes.

Personally speaking, I just wanted new wheels, as the pair on mine had been dented slightly by potholes & I was beginning not to trust them (& both out of true)
The Visions were on offer at Planet X (Worsborough shop) for £149 - since seen on Evans with a RRP 0f £269!!

They looked good too, with the shiney aero spokes

 

[Sittingduck]

Surely it depends on the route of the commute. Mine vary but one route, although is going into Central London, can be very affected by wind and also can be pretty quick, with sections of 100's of metres at 25mph.

For the record though, I don't think I would select 50mm rims for a commuter. Why introduce extra risk of handling issues... and I am not easily blown about but can deffo notice crosswings and gusts on 35mm rims.