Anyone here road race / do crits with properly deep wheels?
I’m talking 70mm plus.
I’ve got a hankering for some 75-85mm wheels. They look sexy. I’m a big rider and a breakaway specialist. I’ve got mid-sections already (48mm) but my old race bike used to have 65s which I loved and never had issue with.
Who’s tried it and what did they think? Any difference in handling on technical courses?
Take it as an opportunity to post your photos of your road bike with deeep wheels for me to admire
I know it’s not exactly what you are asking, but I used to have 80mm and 100mm wheels on my TRI bike.
That was over a decade ago and they weren’t top end wheels at the time. I would happily run a deep deep wheel for road racing in the rear, I’d probably limit to 65mm on the front but only so that on windy days I wasn’t limited to the training wheels.
Assuming the wheels you would get are lighter than what I had, I’d say on non-windy days you could run a 70-80mm front. It did slow my steering down, so you’d have to ride super deliberately with it in a crit.
I have 80s on my tri bike.
Steering with your elbows in 60kph gusts on steep descents is “exhilarating”.
I wouldn’t say it affects technical handling - as in cornering, weaving - much though it probably says a lot that your first two responses are triathletes.
Yeah, that’s why I tried to clarify that I think it was due weight rather than the actual aerodynamics of it.
I have often thought recently about trying to build up a road bike for one or two road races a year. I’d try pick up some 80mm wheels on the cheap if I did.
I run DT Swiss 80/62 wheels on my crit bike. I don’t feel like they handle any differently than the 50s that I had on there before. Definitely look badass and should be more aero.
Aero is what my head wants. My heart wants badass
Definitely deep on the rear, unless it’s super-mega-windy. Ideally have a choice of fronts depending on conditions. Also there’s a lot to be said for the psychosomatics of feeling faster because you have this or that bit of kit. Basically unless it make the bike unrideable, go for it.
I run 80mm rims whatever the weather. The newer U shape profiles are really no worse in crosswinds than my 50mm wheels. If you are a heavier rider that will also help with stability. The weight between my 50mm and 80mm is about 100-200g for the wheelset, I don’t race hilly courses so equipment weight doesn’t matter so much, also I’m 80Kg 
I say go as deep as you can!
Oh for gawd’s sake…get a wheel cover and a TT lid!!
This is what I want to hear! I’m 85kg and 196cm (6’5), plus I can easily switch out to a 48mm front for any properly windy days. Time to take the plunge for some properly deeep wheels
I run 65mm wheels in crits/road races and I’m a smaller guy at 5’7 150lbs. Would not hestitate to go deeper in a TT so I say with what the heart wants.
