Flashpoint wheels/rims

grahamspringett said:

I am looking to get a set of good training/racing wheels but can't quite run to Zipp 404s, my ideal choice.

I have just discovered Flash Point wheels, owned by Zipp so pretty much the same thing but cheaper due to a more simple construction and no dimples.

I'm looking to get a pair of FP60 rims built onto a PowerTap hub by my LBS. Has anybody got experience of these rims or Flash Point wheels?

I have BOTH Zipp 404 AND FlashPoint wheelsets, ( I had a chance to buy the FP,s for cost as a backup set of race wheels from a guy who changed teams and wheel sponsors.) To be truthful, I can't tell any noticable difference between the two (beyond the cosmetic) having raced the Zipps for 4 years and the FPs for 2. Both have proven very durable for this 150 lb rider and fast based on TT test comparisons. I replaced bearings in both wheelsets with Enduro ceramics and couldn't be happier. The hubs are, IMO, the weak link in Zipps arsenal, and while the FPs are supposedly inferior (and a bit heavier) they have both performed very well. Building in a PowerTap Hub will not help with that issue by adding weight and durability issues. IMO, your biggest concerns will not come from the FP rims.

Do you really want to train on your only set of "race wheels" though? I use my PowerTap on the Mavic Open Pro from Saris/ CycleOps (durable and inexpensive 32 spoke wheel) for training and ditch the PT for racing. On the aero wheelsets I use the PowerTap cycling computer mode. I have seen too many riders really screw up their racing by using the PT and focusing on "Power" during a race, yes, even an ITT! Unless you're a triathlete (and are not reacting to other riders in a race situation), or can afford a couple of race and/or PowerTap wheelsets, ask yourself whether or not you want to risk all that money on a training wheel and ALSO where you'll get the most benefit from the PowerTap? If you can do both, that's ideal, it's nice to have the info from the races to look at, but I've found that no matter how you race, (aggresively attacking or cautiously reacting), you can either "GO" or you can't, regardless of what the PT shows and You'll know when/where you "lost it" without having to look at a graph.

CDAKIAHONDA said:

Do you really want to train on your only set of "race wheels" though? I use my PowerTap on the Mavic Open Pro from Saris/ CycleOps (durable and inexpensive 32 spoke wheel) for training and ditch the PT for racing. On the aero wheelsets I use the PowerTap cycling computer mode. I have seen too many riders really screw up their racing by using the PT and focusing on "Power" during a race, yes, even an ITT! Unless you're a triathlete (and are not reacting to other riders in a race situation), or can afford a couple of race and/or PowerTap wheelsets, ask yourself whether or not you want to risk all that money on a training wheel and ALSO where you'll get the most benefit from the PowerTap? If you can do both, that's ideal, it's nice to have the info from the races to look at, but I've found that no matter how you race, (aggresively attacking or cautiously reacting), you can either "GO" or you can't, regardless of what the PT shows and You'll know when/where you "lost it" without having to look at a graph.

Thanks for the reply, you've been a big help. It seems FP rims offer good value.

I have a PT wheel already so the new wheels won't get too much of a thrashing. I don't really look at the computer during a race but it's helpful to review data afterwards - I'm a numbers weenie!

I've got Ksyriums and an old pair of Heliums so cycle computer mode is still an option when weight is an issue.

I'm primarily after the aero advantage in races, plus I need all the help I can get on the Saturday morning world championships...

grahamspringett said:

Thanks for the reply...

What do you weigh? I'm about 86kg (~190lbs), a bit of a masher, and I find my FP60s very flexy; so much so, that I'm gunna sell them. I made sure the spokes were correctly tensioned, so that's not it -- the rims flex. They're probably fine for lighter riders. Plenty of people ride them and like them

I've got the older ones with 20 and 24 black DT aero spokes (2-cross pattern all 'round). The new ones are slightly different, with less spokes, CX-Rays, and the hubs look different (although they're probably the same). Mine weigh exactly 1838g, without skewers and rim tape. They feel slow to me because they flex, even though they're 300g lighter than my 30mm-deep DT wheels

The hubs are very good.

Other than that, they must be very aero, because of the rim shape and depth, the number of spokes, and coz the spokes are Sapim CX-Rays

531Aussie said:

the spokes are Sapim CX-Rays

ooops, the spokes are bladed Sapim Race

http://www.flash-pointracing.com/fp60