50mm vs 38mm Carbon wheel set

[DBK]

Which one would you choose?

[Cippo]

38mm for all round performance. Probably lighter than 50mm so you get better rolling mass. Only 50 mm I would choose if I could afford it, Lightweight Mielenstein.

[LOOK695]

Would choose 50mm. Don't think that there will be much aero benefit between a 38mm rim and a high end alu wheel as Mavic, Campagnolo, Shimano etc. If riding conditions are really windy, you can always use an alu rim on the front with the 50mm at the rear

[babse]

50mm

Aero is better than lightweight

[Mish100]

38mm

['Dale]

Riding in a bunch minimises the value of 50mm.

30 mm is cool.

 

50 is surely sexy though.

[Cippo]

From the OP's topic I can deduce he is trying to decide between which Darkhorse wheel to choose. We expect feedback please once you pull the trigger and your in-depth review.

[Red Zone]

I would go 50 mm, bigger question to me is whether to go for an off brand wheel or not

[DBK]

I have some 50mm Darkhorse which have been great.

 

A buddy wants my 50mm and I would go 38s. Just seeing what the general public thinks about moving from 50 to 38.

 

Seems that 50s win due to the sexy factor, as well as the added aero benefit. For a 50g weight difference, I think I'll stick with the 50s.

[Jaco-fiets]

I have 38mm tubulars and you can use it in all conditions. Thinking of switching over to 50mm darkhorse clinchers

[Christie]

For a long time my answer would be 80mm for racing, because the climbs we race on are so short and almost never at the end of the race. However, I hear the idiots that call themselves UCI have decided to ban rims over 60mm as of next year (after they have been fine for the past 10 years or so.)

 

My answer now is 60mm, or as close as you can get to it.

 

Independant testing done in 2008 (http:// http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-15505311.html ) showed that a Zipp 808 front wheel took 16.7w to turn at 50kph, a 404 took 19.9w, and the 37mm rim took 24.6w to turn. Over our routes, the weight difference will have no noticable effect at all, because the climbs are small and the accelerations very low. The 58mm saves about 4-5w over the 38mm, the 80mm about 8w. If there is a cross wind, the deeper rim will have more drag savings.

 

Most importantly, the deeper rim looks faster.

[fandacious]

For a long time my answer would be 80mm for racing, because the climbs we race on are so short and almost never at the end of the race. However, I hear the idiots that call themselves UCI have decided to ban rims over 60mm as of next year (after they have been fine for the past 10 years or so.)

 

My answer now is 60mm, or as close as you can get to it.

 

Independant testing done in 2008 ( http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-15505311.html ) showed that a Zipp 808 front wheel took 16.7w to turn at 50kph, a 404 took 19.9w, and the 37mm rim took 24.6w to turn. Over our routes, the weight difference will have no noticable effect at all, because the climbs are small and the accelerations very low. The 58mm saves about 4-5w over the 38mm, the 80mm about 8w. If there is a cross wind, the deeper rim will have more drag savings.

 

Most importantly, the deeper rim looks faster.

 

i read an in depth study a while back and it basically boils down to the fact that aero is better than lightweight overall. There are some specific scenarios where that isnt true, but in general for any race, an aero wheel will give you a slight advantage over a low profile rim

['Dale]

Unless you're 80 kg plus or something, the Cape winds' gusts can really mess you around with 50mm.

[RTG7]

50mm front with a 38mm at the back

[Jaco-fiets]

50mm front with a 38mm at the back

 

mmmm............. Maybe the other way around?

[Gas]

50mm front with a 38mm at the back