How to Choose Bicycle Wheels for Criterium Racing
Tight corners and high speeds define criteriums. Crashes are frequent in entry level fields, as criteriums demand a high level of expertise. For Category 4 or 5 fields, the best wheels for criterium racing would be anything cheap, as there's a high probability that if the wheels are involved in a crash, they will break. Choosing wheels for professional fields or Categories 1 through 3 requires a bit of research. Kraig Willett of BikeTechReview.com shows through research that for top performance, aerodynamics is the key feature to look for in criterium wheels.
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Instructions
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Look for aerodynamic wheels. Choose a wheel set that has a deeper rim tjhan your standard bike wheel. The deeper the rim, the more aerodynamic. A full disk wheel is the most aerodynamic; however, it is susceptible to wind gusts and crosswinds, thereby making it less than idea for criterium racing where packs are large in number and holding your line is especially important.
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Opt for wheels that have fewer spokes and aerodynamic spokes. Feel the spokes on the wheel set and read the features pamphlet that comes with them. The spokes should be oval in shape to be the most aerodynamic, according to Ed Burke, author of "High Tech Cycling". He also notes that the fewer spokes a wheel has, the more aerodynamic it will be.
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Compare wheel weight. The weight of the wheel set is the second factor to consider for wheel performance. The lighter the better, according to Kraig Willet's research on BikeTechReview.com. Read the specifications of several aerodynamic wheel sets and choose the one that is the lightest in grams.
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References
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