Wheel Type for 540km Endurance Event?

[rowskein]

Can anyone offer any advice on a good choice of wheel set for a 540km, 14000ft climbing endurance event?

Is light weight likely to be better or would Aero yield bigger savings? With weather being unpredictable, if I went for aero and there's a nasty crosswind would it be a disaster? I've being thinking about Easton Orion II's or something along those lines but worried about overlooking aero wheels as an option.

Thanks,

Keith

 

[kdelong]

If you are buying only for this event, I would forgo the aero and try to reduce the weight. IMHO, aero does not help much, if at all, in climbing.

 

[rudycyclist]

Have you ridden the course at all? 14k feet of climbing is a lot however spread out over 500 km, you may not notice it as much. If you have ridden the course, did it seem like there was a lot of hard steady climbs or just rolling? Because it is so long, I would say go with an aero wheel (ie, a carbon deep dish wheel). Lets get Alienator's opinion, he knows a lot about wheel aerodynamics and wheels in general.

 

[POGATA]

Is it this event?

 

[rowskein]

Yes that's the event. I'm doing it on my own and hoping to find a group to tuck in with at a similar level to me. I did it last year with my Sister and wanted to try again on my own this year. The hills are long rolling hills. On such a long distance I'm concerned that choosing an aero wheel might leave me stuck with a lemon if the conditions weren't right. What conditions do Aero wheels work best in? I've heard that if the winds much off head on they can make life harder.


I don't think I'll be keeping up with Mr Helge Johansen


Thanks,

Keith