You've got your position sorted out, you're as fit as you could be, and you're still as slow as ever! Deep section wheels may provide the answer for an advantage over your fellow competitors, unless they've got them as well of course. And they probably have :-{
Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 20:22:20 -0400
From: Ian Penner
> The choice is really between Mavic Cosmic Expert and Campag Zonda/Vento,
> ie, 18- or 16-spoke. Zonda seems about the best value - you pay an extra
> 10% for bladed spokes on the Vento.
> Any recommendations on these two? Have I overlooked other possibilities?
You've overlooked some possibilities, but between those choices I would go for the Vento. If you want to go aero, the Campy's section is deeper and the couple of wind-tunnel tests I've seen suggest deeper is noticeably more aero. Keep in mind that you get more blown around by crosswinds, the deeper the section, but it's unlikely to be a problem.
-Ian
Date: 30 May 1997 20:43:36 GMT
From: Garry Lee
The best deep section wheel is the Lovelace Pharynx, a rim made by a small British Manufacturer in Porno, Lancashire.
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 23:02:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: Doug Milliken
Take a look at HED -- Steve Hed was one of the first in this business and he takes care of his customers. He's also one of very few that actually runs his own wind tunnel tests for product development --
I've been along a few times and it is very educational.
-- Doug
Date: 31 May 1997 01:46:05 GMT
From: Mark Hickey
You might consider the Rigida DP18 wheels - I've been running a set on my TT/Commuter bike (there are some advantages to building bikes) and they've been flawless. The front has 18 bladed spokes and a very deep section rim, all tied together with a Sachs hub and DT bladed 14g spokes. They're quite a bit less money than the others you're looking at too - I've seen them for around US$300 a pair.
Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
Date: Sat, 31 May 1997 02:40:16 -0400
From: Pjwig
I had to back out of a deal with a guy that I was going to buy a new Cane Creek Cronometro wheel from. It's radially laced w/24 spokes to a Velocity Areo Heat (similar to Mavic's CXP12, a lower profile areo rim, 405 grams), but the trick part is that the spoke heads are buried in the hub & the nipples are in the rim for aerodynamics. This wheel sells for 199.99 in Performance's catalog, but I was going to buy it from him for $125. He won it in a race & preferred the cash.
Try getting in touch with him at "GOLD14K357@aol.com".
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 1997 10:55:18 +0100
From: Nick Pashley
The Zondas have bladed spokes now too, they are effectively the same as the 95 Shamals but without the record hubs (greaseport in the centre of the hub). They can be had for around 200 pounds in the UK and have 16 spokes. The Ventos have straight pull spokes and more aerodynamic hubs (which is far less critical). I was going to buy some, but I got some Cossies instead at a better price with wheelbags, tyres and tubes.
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