[Mr Jono]

Riding the RideLondon sportive on sunday, just as Hurricane Burtha is due to strike. I’ve booked a hire set of FFWD 60mm carbon wheels, only put down a deposit of £10 so far, £30 balance due on collection tomorrow morning.

I’ve never ridden either carbon wheels or deep section wheels. Given the horrendous forecast for sunday’s ride, would like to hear some opinions on whether it’s wise riding them in strong winds and heavy rain?

Is it even worth it? Assuming given strong southerly winds forecast I’ll be riding half of the ride into a strong headwind so not likely to be consistently hitting the 20mph ‘pick up’ point that deep section wheels apparently have.

If the general consensus is no, I’ll cancel the booking and lose the tenner. If everyone thinks I’m being a big southern softie then I’ll man up and hire them. The guy in the shop insists they’ll be fine, he said he used the same wheels all year round on his only bike. But he would say that.

I’ll have the chance to give them a spin on saturday if I do hire them. So if it’s just a case of getting used to how an unfamiliar wheelset behaves then I’ll have a chance to do that. If it’s just going to be dangerous then obviously I won’t bother as I don’t want to the uncertainty looming over me on a day that is already going to be challenging.

Thoughts please?

Topic

[pablo]

Just got in from a ride bbc
Just got in from a ride bbc said 11mph wind but it was gusting well over 20mph had a slightly hairey moment round a bend with the wind coming at me at about 45 degs. Good luck tomorrow!

[bashthebox]

It’s looking hideous, keeps
It’s looking hideous, keeps getting worse and worse.

[CXR94Di2]

We are all going to get wet
We are all going to get wet 🙂

[IngloriousLou]

Wind forecast now for still
Wind forecast now for still conditions.

But I’d be more worried about wet stopping power on fast, crowded, roads.

Tomorrow doesn’t seem like the day for experimental kit.

[Leviathan]

CXR94Di2 wrote:It will be

CXR94Di2 wrote:

It will be interesting to see how many cancel this year’s ride and transfer their slot for next. Personally I am riding whatever the weather.

Can’t you only do that if you are sick? Are you expecting a flu epidemic?

[CXR94Di2]

It will be interesting to see
It will be interesting to see how many cancel this year’s ride and transfer their slot for next. Personally I am riding whatever the weather.

[Mr Jono]

I am travelling, and my bike
I am travelling, and my bike would be covered, but not hired wheels or equipment. Spoken to a couple travel insurers and all have said the company that hired me the equipment should have insurance included in the price.

Pretty poor that they don’t and really annoyed with myself for not asking that question first now. 100% would have not paid the money knowing that any damage would be down to me. Definitely can’t afford to replace a £1200 set of wheels if something goes wrong.

[step-hent]

Mr Jono wrote:I’ve had a dig

Mr Jono wrote:

I’ve had a dig around, the event definitely won’t cover damage if I crash, as expected. And from what I can read about British Cycling membership, they don’t either.

Does anyone know of any companies that do weekend/event insurance as a one-off/pay-as-you-go thing?

Sorry, gone way off topic now…

If you’re travelling to do the ride, you might be covered on a travel insurance policy with sports equipment cover. Or check out your home insurance – that might cover accidental damage. Not heard of event specific insurance especially for sports equipment before, but it might exist!

[Mr Jono]

I’ve had a dig around, the
I’ve had a dig around, the event definitely won’t cover damage if I crash, as expected. And from what I can read about British Cycling membership, they don’t either.

Does anyone know of any companies that do weekend/event insurance as a one-off/pay-as-you-go thing?

Sorry, gone way off topic now…

[Mr Jono]

No, they’re not insured. He
No, they’re not insured. He said the event should have insurance to cover damage in the event of an accident. That can’t be true? Also said british cycling membership would have similar cover. I’m also highly sceptical about that.

Need to get it cleared up before sunday!

[Mr Jono]

notfastenough wrote:What’s

notfastenough wrote:

What’s the score if you trash them -does your £40 insure them too?

Thanks for reminding me, I meant to ask that this morning but forgot. Will do that now!

[Anonymous]

Mr Jono wrote:I did pick them

Mr Jono wrote:

I did pick them up this morning. Alu brake track (which I didn’t realise). Plans is to ride them unless high winds are forecast. Further plan is to never do another sportive. Organised fun at 5am in a storm is something I can easily give up…

I’m having similar concerns. My best hope is that starting at 0647 I will do most of the southbound run before the winds get up, and then they’ll blow me home.

[notfastenough]

What’s the score if you trash
What’s the score if you trash them -does your £40 insure them too?

[allezrider]

I have a similar dilemma –
I have a similar dilemma – swapped over to my 303s (tub) in anticipation of a reasonbly dry ride a few days ago – now wondering if I should go back to the alloy clinchers… 😕

[andyp]

Save the deep sections for
Save the deep sections for racing.

[Author]

Replies