I'm not sure what this will be like in a sidewind, but it looks the part!
(edited to add: you may need to right click and 'view image' to see the whole thing. For some reason I expected it to be shrunken)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Whoosh....
(15 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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hmm, view image doesn't work for me. But I get the picture (Ironic pun intended). I've seen these on offer at various bike shops online. Do they realy make a difference? I guy at work bought some thing like these for his road bike and says they're great, but did admit that it may be a placibo effect.
I'm defo going to have to go visit laidback though for a test ride.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Awesome wheels!
Are they full carbon including the braking surfaces?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Do they realy make a difference?
Depending on what you want them to do then yes. On time trial aero wheels, aero helmet and aero bars can take vital minutes off your time.
They also sound amazing when they go past - less "whoosh" than "whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh"!
Posted 13 years ago # -
No brooks though
Posted 13 years ago # -
What you really need to go with such things (at least on the front) is some sort of oblately spheroidal hub-cover arrangement, not so much for the aerodynamics (and probably also a fatal reduction in cooling airflow over the braking surface) as to make the arrangement look much more like Saturn.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Or ideally an all encompassing teardrop shaped fairing?
Small frontal area is good but "aero" wheels always struck me as tinkering with the detail whilst ignoring the big stuff?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Amir: No brooks though pmsl - new keyboard req'd.
I think disks are on my list if I get a Bent. I also like the bents with same size wheels front and back. In my mind bents have this 1970's beardy middle aged guy (hmm looking in the mirror, reaches for the shaver) but loking at the Challenge bents, they do look good.
Haw are Bents for slower speeds and on surfaces not smooth like tarmac? I am acustomed to a trad bike balancing, but I can't see how the bent is eas to balance on a slower speeds?
Posted 13 years ago # -
absolutely, there's not much point in aero wheels and spokes if you've not got the engine to back them up. They're no magic bullet to better riding and like all things have their limitations - generally heavier than a more traditionally built wheel at the same end of the market. Still, they look and sound awesome.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Still, they look and sound awesome.
Yep, there's nothing like being overtaken in a time-trial by someone with disk wheels for a WTF moment.
Posted 13 years ago # -
uh oh, looks like Dave C is getting caught by the dark side...
They are impossible to steer at low speeds, are worse at absorbing road noise, uncomfortable, slow and heavy. Do not for gawd sake get a bent. (some of the above may be a lie)
Be prepared to have a new leaning curve and grow legs like tree trunks.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I think it's safe to say that nobody buys a recumbent to ride off road or to do low-speed trials! That said, it is not difficult and I'm happy to ride the Fountainbridge underpass, for example, while I've had it out the canal as far as Hopetoun House (obviously with different wheels!).
I want to go sub-24 minutes over 10 miles and eventually under the hour for 25 miles. At that speed I hope they will make a modest contribution over 32 spoke box rims. It's not like they make the bike 5mph faster though (alas).
For that you really do need a fairing!
You can load the full images by clicky-clicking:
http://www.mccraw.co.uk/upload/CoffeeRapto1.jpg
http://www.mccraw.co.uk/upload/CoffeeRapto2.jpg
http://www.mccraw.co.uk/upload/CoffeeRapto3.jpg
http://www.mccraw.co.uk/upload/CoffeeRapto4.jpgPosted 13 years ago # -
@Dave. Can you use your V-brake on those?
Posted 13 years ago # -
No, but the fork will take a dual caliper, so I'm just going to swap.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was going to say! Looks like they'd crush your lovely bling carbon at the first application!
Posted 13 years ago #
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