V-CLUB TRAINING CORNER
We’ve teamed up with Marilyn Trout, certified USA Cycling Elite Coach to answer V-Club members’ training questions. You can view her coach profile at: http://www.trainingpeaks.com/coachdirectory/searchbydiscipline.asp#MarilynTrout
Send your cycling inquiries to Marilyn, and for a limited time, if yours is selected to be answered in our V-Club column, VeloWear will send you a $20 gift certificate that can be used towards any purchase on VeloWear.com. To submit your inquiry, e-mail her at marilyn@mountainpedals.net, and type “V-Club Training Question” in the subject line of the e-mail.
V-Club member Larry Olinick is our 34th winner of a $20 VeloWear gift certificate! His training question follows...
Mechanical Insight About Wheel Design
Marilyn,
I have the extended presta valves on my tubes (deep rims). When I lift my bike the wheels always rotate and settle with the valves at the bottom (obviously due to the extra weight). Is this extra weight enough that the wheels should be counter-balanced (like the way car wheels are done)? I've never noticed a vibration or hop when I ride. But I wonder if there's an effect on speed/smoothness. Or, maybe the wheels don't rotate fast enough to be a problem?
Larry
Larry,
I thought it best to get a mechanic’s perspective about your wheel design question. A good friend, who works at SRAM, connected me with one of their Technical Directors of Neutral Race Support. Here’s his take…
“Yes, road wheels seldom get going faster than 65 mph as seen in descents. So the high-speed wheel balance issue mentioned never comes up. As long as the rider’s tire does not have a bulge or defect, it should roll fast and smooth.”
Quick and to the point. His answer reminds me of the fast and efficient way a mechanic works in the pit during a race to get the rider back on the road as quickly as possible.
Although unlikely due to the strength of the deep rims, you may want to get the “hop” checked out, as there may be some truing needed for a smoother ride.
Marilyn