New wheels? - Shimano RS80 C50

[e-rider]

lejogger, you are basing your decision on the advice of two people from a cycle forum that you have never met! This is not sensible IMO!

Deep section rims will give you an aerodynamic advantage at high speed (25 mph+) but weigh more than more standard profile rims, so are not so good for climbing and accelerating etc.

Having one rim does all, is not easy.

Any wheel with a low spoke count will be in trouble if one spoke breaks, becasue fewer spokes remain to hold the wheel together. However, this doesn't mean that we all ride 36h handbuilt wheels!

 

[e-rider]

I think the RS80 C50 look like good value compared to the Dura-Ace C50 which is almost double the price. Apart from a titanium freehub body, and the rim decals, what else is different?

 

[black'n'yellow]

lejogger, you are basing your decision on the advice of two people from a cycle forum that you have never met! This is not sensible IMO!

that's the internet for you....

 

[Andrew_P]

Deep section rims will give you an aerodynamic advantage at high speed (25 mph+) but weigh more than more standard profile rims, so are not so good for climbing and accelerating etc.

Exactly that is why two people suggested the C24, most of the riding the op will doing will be club group rides, he is only thinking about TT'ing.

I reckon if he finds he is any good at TT he will probably end up with some race wheels. But really will they add much to an amatuer?

 

[e-rider]

Exactly that is why two people suggested the C24, most of the riding the op will doing will be club group rides, he is only thinking about TT'ing.

I reckon if he finds he is any good at TT he will probably end up with some race wheels. But really will they add much to an amatuer?

Deep section rims will not add much to any rider who doesn't spend much time riding at 25+mph, even if all they do is TT. Some people think they look cool though. I think rim depth is inversly proportional to penis length (but that's just my opinion). I do quite like the sound they make, but even that might annoy me after a while.

 

[Andrew_P]

I have never used them, and do not like the look either, do they feel cross winds more?

 

[black'n'yellow]

do they feel cross winds more?

potentially yes, but the issue is not nearly as problematic as some make it out to be...

 

[lejogger]

lejogger, you are basing your decision on the advice of two people from a cycle forum that you have never met! This is not sensible IMO!

Well not on the face of it no! However I generally trust the advice of people on here who are probably more experienced than I am. It's not like I'll just follow them blindly... I take on board their advice and make my own decision! But I acknowledge the sentiment

Deep section rims will give you an aerodynamic advantage at high speed (25 mph+) but weigh more than more standard profile rims, so are not so good for climbing and accelerating etc.

My TT goals will include completing a 25 in less than the hour, so travelling at 25mph+ is not unrealistic. In terms of climbing and accelerating, the C50 rims will obviously be a good couple of hundred grams heavier than the C24, but I very much doubt that they'll be heavier than the ritchey wheels I have at the moment?? So will I notice a decline in climbing or accelerating with the C50?
Either way, I'm not going to rush into anything. I was discussing it with a pal in the pub last night, and we came to the conclusion that any performance gains will be so marginal that wheels shouldn't be a priority. It's not like i've ruined a set and am after a replacement. I'm just buying because I like new stuff! I mean what are we talking...? less than a minute gain in a 25mile TT? If you're a good rider you can get good performances from good equipment. You don't have to have very good gear if you already have perfectly fine good gear.

 

[e-rider]

Well not on the face of it no! However I generally trust the advice of people on here who are probably more experienced than I am. It's not like I'll just follow them blindly... I take on board their advice and make my own decision! But I acknowledge the sentiment

My TT goals will include completing a 25 in less than the hour, so travelling at 25mph+ is not unrealistic. In terms of climbing and accelerating, the C50 rims will obviously be a good couple of hundred grams heavier than the C24, but I very much doubt that they'll be heavier than the ritchey wheels I have at the moment?? So will I notice a decline in climbing or accelerating with the C50?
Either way, I'm not going to rush into anything. I was discussing it with a pal in the pub last night, and we came to the conclusion that any performance gains will be so marginal that wheels shouldn't be a priority. It's not like i've ruined a set and am after a replacement. I'm just buying because I like new stuff! I mean what are we talking...? less than a minute gain in a 25mile TT? If you're a good rider you can get good performances from good equipment. You don't have to have very good gear if you already have perfectly fine good gear.

I would say that wheels are a priority upgrade (depending on what you already have). Very few things (if any) improve a bikes performance more than decent wheels.

I agree that the C50s are still generally quite lightweight so it's not like they will be weighing you down as you ascend!

 

[VamP]

My TT goals will include completing a 25 in less than the hour, so...

That's some goal. What's your current 25 time?

 

[bobones]

The C50s weight about the same as Mavic Aksiums so they're not light. Better off with Dura Ace C24s at around 400g lighter and almost as aero as C50s. "Dura Ace" on the rim alone is worth the extra over RS80s

 

[lejogger]

That's some goal. What's your current 25 time?

Well, aim high and all that!
I don't have a current 25 time... I've never TT'd officially, only against my own clock. I know the speeds that I currently cruise at, and with a bit of practice, training, and a more aero set up I believe that I can achieve this (or I'm willing to give it as good a go as I can). I'm young(ish) and fitter than I've ever been, and fitter and stronger than a lot of guys I ride with.

I'm not saying that it's something that I will easily achieve - I'm also certainly not trying to big myself up or anything, but in our cycling club it's just a bit of a yardstick to aim for. I ride in a club with a number of guys and girls who regularly post under the hour (some by a long way!) and it would be nice to join them.

 

[VamP]

Well, aim high and all that!
I don't have a current 25 time... I've never TT'd officially, only against my own clock. I know the speeds that I currently cruise at, and with a bit of practice, training, and a more aero set up I believe that I can achieve this (or I'm willing to give it as good a go as I can). I'm young(ish) and fitter than I've ever been, and fitter and stronger than a lot of guys I ride with.

I'm not saying that it's something that I will easily achieve - I'm also certainly not trying to big myself up or anything, but in our cycling club it's just a bit of a yardstick to aim for. I ride in a club with a number of guys and girls who regularly post under the hour (some by a long way!) and it would be nice to join them.

Good luck.

I was chatting to a coach recently, who had a lady TT athlete come to her and ask her help to get to sub hour 25. She was around the 70 minute time mark, and was told that this was ''a big ask''.

Two years later and the athlete in question was regularly posting sub-hour, so it is by no means impossible. Her name is Rebecca Slack, you might want to google that to help keep in perspective the size of the task!

To return to your OP, I would suggest to go ride a TT. Then try a road race, and a cyclocross. Then decide what you like most, and start investing money in gear for the discipline that you want to focus on. You might find that TT is not what you like the most. Nobody has unlimited resources, and cycling competitively costs. I have learned that much

 

[lejogger]

Good luck.
To return to your OP, I would suggest to go ride a TT. Then try a road race, and a cyclocross. Then decide what you like most, and start investing money in gear for the discipline that you want to focus on. You might find that TT is not what you like the most. Nobody has unlimited resources, and cycling competitively costs. I have learned that much

Thanks VamP that is really good advice... I certainly don't have unlimited resources, and because I also invest a bit of time and money on the golf course I have to be careful about what I choose to spend on what.
I guess as a club we're quite TT focussed because we have a member who's a national record holder at a number of distances so it's only natural to gravitate that way.

 

[iLB]

I say go for it, with the right level of application sub hour is doable for most people I think. If I were you I'd invest in a set of 50mm tubs rather than clnchers and save them specifically for racing, then you will really feel the benefit when you need it- and trust me you can feel the difference.