Boards wheel experts ?

fat bloke · 20-04-2023 10:48am #1

I'm looking for an aero rim braked wheelset that's NOT got a super wide external rim width. Does anyone here know their wheels from their eggs? I've a set of Hunts that are 27.2mm wide and zipp 404s that are 27.5mm wide. They both rub the chainstays inside under load.

JoeFloyd · 20-04-2023 2:55pm

What frame is it? Is it the tyres rubbing or the rim itself? I’ve seen rims rub on the brakes, where the brake caliper is open to the max.

certain frames have tight clearance on the chain stays - Cannondale caad 10 being one example. But usually it’s the tyre rather than the rim.

worth trying smaller tyres (23mm)?

fat bloke · 20-04-2023 3:14pm

I reckon it's the tyres. Problem is the wheel rim width. Doesn't matter what tyres you put a 27.5 mm rim, it just stretches the tyre out to 27.mm.

From googling the major wheel manufacturers it seems every wheel being manufactured now is 27mm+.

Maybe a custom build is the way.

nicksnikita · 20-04-2023 3:14pm

Are you looking to go brand new or used?

Im not sure any brands market narrow wheels nowadays but the older Mavic Cosmic SL/SLS/Pro Carbon range are narrow.

JoeFloyd · 20-04-2023 3:25pm

Yes. Older zipps, corima, FFwd would be ok as well I think, in terms of overall width.

I’m a wheel builder - so I’ll see if there are any current options for narrower rims. For the last few years I’ve not gotten stock of anything under 25mm, especially in carbon. Just the way the industry has gone. Wider rims and U-shaped are supposedly more aero.

your other problem might be flex in the wheels. If you are a bigger/more powerful rider, the lower spoke count and very light hub make for quite a bit of flex in either the hunts or the zipps.

CantGetNoSleep · 20-04-2023 3:37pm

Maybe Giant SLR1 are worth a look, think they are 17mm internal, 23mm external. They pop up on sale second hand quite a bit too

fat bloke · 20-04-2023 7:19pm

Yeah, I could go second hand for sure. I actually have a pair of cosmic exaliths already but this is my "goodest" bike :) so I'd like a proper flash wheelset.

The frameset is a Colnago concept, which is supposed to take up to 28s but I'm more then happy to ride 25s and have a drawer full of em!

I taped up the insides of the chainstays this evening with white electrical tape and tightened up the skewers to see if was as simple as that. Went for a very short test ride. There's still little zzz zzz out of the saddle but that could be brake pad rub. I'll take a proper spin again and see what's what.

Either way though I think I'd feel more comfortable on something designed for 23-25 whether that be a second hand set or new old stock or newly built up.

On the personals I'm neither exceptionally weighty nor powerful. Bang average rider, 5 11.5 and 75 kg

gn3dr · 20-04-2023 11:28pm

How about these https://www.merlincycles.com/fulcrum-wind-40c-c17-carbon-clincher-road-wheelset-148611.html

Says the rim internal width is 17mm

It's a pain in the hole this shift to fat wheels and tyres as well as disc brakes.

TheDocMan · 21-04-2023 1:04am

Roval CLX 40 if you can get a good set 2nd hand. V.Light ,stiff, super hubs and 23mm external width. 700×25c-28c fit my Bianchi Specilissema rim brake 2018.

Mr. Cats · 21-04-2023 8:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120502092#Comment_120502092

I have a set of these with GP5000 28s on. They're not for sale but you’re welcome to try them out for fit if you like.

fat bloke · 21-04-2023 9:09am

I was looking at those rovals alright but the newer ones are 29 rim width!!! That's insane. There's a set of CL (non X) 50's on adverts and I think they're the wider rim.

MojoMaker · 21-04-2023 9:14am

I'll jump in here as well as I have a similar need.

Rims have bloated in the last 5 years deffo - I would also be looking for "skinny" rims for a nice Cervelo S5 with very small clearances!

Large bottle small glass · 21-04-2023 9:18am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120500618#Comment_120500618

On the personals I'm neither exceptionally weighty nor powerful. Bang average rider, 5 11.5 and 75 kg

What's your normalised power in BTUs? 😀

fat bloke · 21-04-2023 9:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120502494#Comment_120502494

12 furlongs per quart of kerosene. :D

@ Mojo if it's for a TT bike you could do worse than an older set of tubs for cheap as chips speed and lightness. If you punctured you could hobble back to the start line / car park on them.

fat bloke · 21-04-2023 9:36am

Fulcrums seem to be a good call. Their modern clincher sets, though dwindling, seem to be a 24.2mm external rim. They've a speed and a wind model in various depths - 35, 40, 50, 55.

fat bloke · 21-04-2023 9:39am

Cervelos are as tight as the proverbial Cavan man. I'm gone back to 23mm GP5000s on my R5. - Work fine too. My 23mm, rim braked, 10 speed (!) sram red, 11 year old dinosaur was good enough for a race win! :D

MojoMaker · 21-04-2023 12:27pm

S5 not P5 but yeah, something skinny is all I'll get under an older Cervelo sadly.

JoeFloyd · 21-04-2023 9:09pm

Had a look, and yeah, narrowest carbon rim from any of my suppliers is 25mm.

one exception being the BLB notorious range - 20mm wide with an internal width of 13 ish. Only 38 and 90mm in stock though - the 50 option seems to be sold out.

https://www.bricklanebikes.co.uk/notorious-38mm-rim-depth

not sure they can ship to ROI though (I’m based in Belfast, so can get them alright, from BLBs trade setup).

probably a better bet to try and source an older generation wheelset of any of those mentioned above.

fat bloke · 21-04-2023 9:46pm

Have you a site or a shop or product range or what's the craic Joefloyd?

What's the 25mm rim like?

koutoubia · 22-04-2023 1:22pm

The older campag range are narrow. I have a set of Bora's on my Ridley noah fast which has really really tight clearance.

The Bora's and a set of older chinese wheels are the only ones that will fit without rub.

Older style Fulcrums and Campags regulary pop up on the dedicated facebook pages.

mr spuckler · 24-05-2023 11:21am

@fat bloke what if anything did you conclude on this? I'm after something very similar.

fat bloke · 24-05-2023 5:28pm

I returned the Zipps and got a set of Carbon Mavics which are 26mm wide. They seem to work OK, though on full honk out of the saddle they still rub. On a new narrow alternative I got nowhere really. Wheel builders I contacted can't seem to get narrow rims to build wheels with.

fat bloke · 24-05-2023 5:29pm

I'm not saying my search was exhaustive by any means, so if you find something yourself, let me know! :)

Boards wheel experts ?

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