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Best racing wheelset for junior club racers?

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  • April 30, 2018 at 3:27 pm #28455
    Berlinbiker

    My 10-year-old son races for his local club (SC Berlin) as an under 11 licensed racer. He’s been very succesful in the city and the region, winning or getting a podium place on every race he’s done. This weekend he took part for the first time in a three-day national race. He got a thrid place in the first race and contested the wins for the next two but was ultimately beaten. He finished just outside the top 10 overall for the three days.

    We’re talking small margins. What I noticed is that the leading kids were riding very high-end bikes–of note was a Specliazed S-Works and a custom-built, full carbon bike complete with carbon aero wheels, and there were other similarly impressive bikes ridden by 10/11 year olds! My son rides a Fuji Roubaix 1.3 that comes with the original wheelset (Oval, Fuji’s own brand). It’s a very decent bike but I suspect the wheels aren’t up to spec.

    I mentioned the small margins and I think if I were to get him better wheels I’d level the playing field a bit. The question is, which wheelset? Here are my parameters.

    I just sold his previous bike (a Trek Emonda Junior, 26 inch wheels) and got a good deal so I’ve 750 euros to play with. I’m prepared to top that up to about 1,000 if necessary on the understanding that while he keeps growing and will need to change frameset next year, he won’t outgrow the wheels.

    His races are mostly flat crits (up to about 10km) and shorter, faster races either on a street circuit or on an outdoor track (short sprints, timed laps, elimination races).

    All suggestions / advice welcome!

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  • May 3, 2018 at 10:36 am #918393
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    Berlinbiker

    Actually I’ve just found a

    Actually I’ve just found a really good deal in my LBS for a pair of Mavic Kysrium Pro UST, complete with tyres. They’re taking 200 euros of the price (club discount included). I was going to go for the Cero AR30 Aero Evo wheels, but once I’ve paid for shipping to Germany and added tubeless tyres the price is almost the same. I think this is too good an offer to refuse!

    May 3, 2018 at 10:29 am #918391
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    Richbeck

    I would suggest talking to a

    I would suggest talking to a custom wheelbuilder – DCR Wheels in the UK are amazing.

     

    If you get a decent hubset then these can be built up again each time they are trashed/worn out or ready for a rim/spoke upgrade.

    May 3, 2018 at 8:32 am #918389
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    Berlinbiker
    Simon E wrote:
    Berlinbiker wrote:
    I need to check if 50mm rims are race legal in Germany for my son’s age group because they’re apparently not in the UK.

    Bear in mind that 50mm can be a real handful even for an adult on windy days; instability is likely to be worse for a lightweight young ‘un riding in a crit, where sudden exposure to crosswinds may cause real problems.

    Shimano Ultegra-level and their RS81 alloy rims have 16 spokes and won’t cost a fortune. Possible alternatives include Fulcrum Racing 5 LG (Tweeks’ current price is a steal at €224 / £200) and the Hunt Race Aero 360? Under 1500g and currently €374.

    Thanks for all the comments. This thread has been genuinely helpful. 

    I’ve decided against 50mm rims. Apart from the uncertainty of their race legality, handling is a real considertation. I was out at the weekend on my Pro Lite Bracciano 42s and it was a constatn battle to hold a straight line at times. Admittedly it was VERY windy, but I was alone on quiet open roads and didn’t have to worry about side-swiping a rider next to me. If the little fella wants to try deeper section wheels he can borrow mine and take them for a spin.

    I’ve now narrowed down the choices to the Hunt Race Aero Wide, Hunt Sprint Aero Wide, or the Cero AR30 Evo wheels. It’s hard to choose between these, though!

    May 3, 2018 at 1:42 am #918387
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    froze

    I guess what I would be

    I guess what I would be concerned if my child was racing is the cost of stuff since the child is unable to work and pay for it themselves; in addition to that beginner racers, even CAT 3 not alone junior, have a lot of crashes which means a lot of damaged stuff and wheels tend to be the most damaged.

    In light of that I would find cheap wheels, I would be insane to buy wheels costing $500 for junior racing, I don’t care if some other junior is sprouting $2,000 wheels, if those parents want to throw away money then go at it but I don’t play that game.  This is a child, we get no sponsors to shower us with money or wheels or bikes or whatever, I as a dad have to pay the whole tab so I’m going to go in as cheap as possible.

    So what would I buy?  !st on the list would be Rodi Airline Evo, these cost $124 for the pair!  Fulcrum Racing 7 LG wheelset cost $184 for the set; of the Fulcrum Racing 5 LG disk wheel for $286.  Anyway here’s a list of wheels you can get for under $400:  https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/components/wheels-tyres/wheels/?dir=asc&order=price_asc

    I use to race, I can’t even count the number of times I saw people destroy rims, and I was racing with adults,  juniors? oh dear lord be prepared to pay, in fact buy two pairs of wheels because you’re going to need a set in reserve.

    May 2, 2018 at 10:25 pm #918385
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    Simon E

    Berlinbiker wrote:

    Berlinbiker wrote:
    I need to check if 50mm rims are race legal in Germany for my son’s age group because they’re apparently not in the UK.

    Bear in mind that 50mm can be a real handful even for an adult on windy days; instability is likely to be worse for a lightweight young ‘un riding in a crit, where sudden exposure to crosswinds may cause real problems.

    Shimano Ultegra-level and their RS81 alloy rims have 16 spokes and won’t cost a fortune. Possible alternatives include Fulcrum Racing 5 LG (Tweeks’ current price is a steal at €224 / £200) and the Hunt Race Aero 360? Under 1500g and currently €374.

    May 2, 2018 at 10:11 am #918383
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    madcarew

    Double like on What Simon E

    Double like on What Simon E said. It’s right on the money.  Participating not too seriously in a number of sports builds the best athletes.

    By all means get him a lighter wheel set (the cool thing about young kids is they can ride silly light wheels) but I would strongly suggest sticking to alloy brake tracks, from my LBS who have taken a large number of youngsters through all the way from 11 yr olds to the pro ranks,  they say when kids stack the wheels seem to take the biggest hits, and alloy wheels are cheaper to repair and replace. A pair of Dura-ace C24s would be really really good . I can get them brand new in NZ for about 700 GBP, a pair of not knackered second hand should be about 400 – 500 GBP. Avoid the arms race, and buy sensible stuff that will go a few years. In a 10k crit his frame weight is going to be fairly immaterial.

    And well done to the lad. 

    May 2, 2018 at 8:13 am #918381
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    Berlinbiker
    Htc wrote:
    I would disagree a decent pair of reasonably aero wheels won’t cost the earth, I wouldn’t go for high-end kit at this stage as in a few years your son will be able to tell you the exact feel and properties he want’s from a wheel set – that’s when things get expensive!

    Perhaps these would be a good starting point? http://www.wiggle.co.uk/prime-rr-50-carbon-clincher-road-wheelset-1/

     

    The wheels you suggest are the ones that I’d also put at the top of the list. They get very good reviews and appear to be excellent wheels for the price. However, as was pointed out in an earlier comment, I need to check if 50mm rims are race legal in Germany for my son’s age group because they’re apparently not in the UK. 

    May 2, 2018 at 8:09 am #918379
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    Htc

    I would disagree a decent

    I would disagree a decent pair of reasonably aero wheels won’t cost the earth, I wouldn’t go for high-end kit at this stage as in a few years your son will be able to tell you the exact feel and properties he want’s from a wheel set – that’s when things get expensive!

    Perhaps these would be a good starting point? 

    50mm: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/prime-rr-50-carbon-clincher-road-wheelset-1/

    28mm: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/prime-rp-28-carbon-clincher-road-wheelset/

     

     

    May 2, 2018 at 7:25 am #918377
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    Berlinbiker

    Thanks for the comments. I

    Thanks for the comments. I realise I may have been a little hasty. I’m becoming quickly aware that there is the equivalent of an ‘arms race’ when it comes to youth cycling, with the more well-off parents going crazy and always buying top-notch stuff, leaving the rest of us to play catch up. I don’t want to get sucked into that.

    As Simon E rightly says, at this stage it should be about having fun and learning and we certainly learned a lot at the weekend. Mostly we learned that he can compete the way he is and that it’s important to get a good place on the start line–and clip in first time!

     

    May 1, 2018 at 10:58 pm #918375
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    Simon E

    In the UK British Cycling’s

    In the UK British Cycling’s rules stipulate a maximum rim depth of 35mm. Check the rules set by your governing body before you spend any money. Slightly better wheels won’t win races, though the promise of something lighter than the original wheelset might help his motivation and make the bike feel more rewarding to ride. But I would caution against spending too much at once, they could get trashed at the next crit.

    Most importantly, at the age of 10 it must be fun – too many kids burn out by 15 or so and give up because the parents take it all too seriously. Over specialisation at an early age is similarly harmful. They need variety, developing a wide range of skills and disciplines, nothing even remotely serious until at least 14. The quote below explains one of former BC coach Tim Buckle’s key concepts relating to youth coaching and development.

    Tim Buckle, a coach on the Olympic Talent Programme, describes how riders are developed using an analogy of a Snickers Bar. Skill (nuts), speed/neuro-muscular activation (nougat), technical and tactical knowledge (chocolate), bravery (caramel) and work ethic (the wrapper) are recognised as the constituent components that a rider needs to develop prior to them reaching the junior category at age 16.

    Whilst competition is not neglected, learning is the main focus of the programmes. Coaches, riders and parents are encouraged to focus on the learning process rather than the outcome of competition. Physical development and winning come later.

    I have digressed somewhat from the original question, I hope it is constructive.

    April 30, 2018 at 11:21 pm #918373
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    Anonymous

    Wheels could help but going

    Wheels could help but going up a level means looking more at tactics and sometimes accepting that early on it can take a little while to adapt. 

    IMO deep aero wheels over a 6 mile crit race is not going to have the impact you think but even if placebo still worth getting. I would go 38mm max depth rear and max 32mm front. Easton make a lower profile carbon tubular wheelset, I have some, very light, sub 1800g incl tyres, also upgrade tyres.

    Example of pricing, second user wheels sub £500 for mint condition on ebay k, £500 for new rear http://www.wiggle.co.uk/easton-ec90-sl-rear-road-wheel-tubular/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=473371&utm_source=bing&utm_term&utm_campaign=UK_BING_PLA_COMPONENTS&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mckw%7c0k8wS98G_dc%7cmcrid%7c13095907806%7cmkw%7c%7cmmt%7c%7cmrd%7c473371uk%7cmslid%7c%7c&mkwid=0k8wS98G_dc&pcrid=13095907806&prd=473371uk&pgrid=4473211460&ptaid=pla-1100702212332

    April 30, 2018 at 9:40 pm #918371
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    Mr Pennington

    I would recommend talking

    I would recommend talking with custom wheelbuilders for their suggestions on matching rims/hubs/spokes with each other that are in your budget range – be it clincher, clincher tubeless ready, or tubeless rims. Be sure to leave room for a good set of rubbers.

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