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Boonens Bike

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Bordercollie1

Jul 4, 2010
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Tom Boonen has been one of the last pros to ride a 32h handbuilt wheel for the classics but on Saturday he was showing off Zipps at Het Volk. It's interesting because in the past Boonen appeared to prefer a shallow section rim to a deep one.

What will he be riding for Flanders?
Were they standard Zipps at Het Volk? or was he using different hubs and straight gauge spokes like Cav?
Anyone got any photos of the Het Volk race bike?
What size tubs and pressures do the pros ride for Het Volk? the decisive bits are cobbled but the fast bits are fast?
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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Im not sure Boonen was one of the last as there were (are?) still many who use the low profile rims.
But as we all know, some brands push more (probably with a bonus) the riders to use what products they want and I think this is the case of Zipp, which has been one of the first wheel manufacters to push the use of carbon rims on cobbles.
Please notice that they had to make a new rim much wider to be strong enough.
Of course this is my personal opinion. ;)

With a quick research I couldn't find any good picture beside this:

6794527162_3b643dde73_z.jpg


But he seems to use a similar setup to Chavanel (Zipp 303?)

6929716553_8b44c336e0_z.jpg
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Bordercollie1 said:
Tom Boonen has been one of the last pros to ride a 32h handbuilt wheel for the classics but on Saturday he was showing off Zipps at Het Volk. It's interesting because in the past Boonen appeared to prefer a shallow section rim to a deep one.

What will he be riding for Flanders?
Were they standard Zipps at Het Volk? or was he using different hubs and straight gauge spokes like Cav?
Anyone got any photos of the Het Volk race bike?
What size tubs and pressures do the pros ride for Het Volk? the decisive bits are cobbled but the fast bits are fast?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking the move to 23mm rim width has opened up different options to guys like Boonen.

Probably using a slightly wider tire as well... Maybe 24mm, probably lower pressure. The wider rims are really a big improvement. Less possibility of puncture, better cornering plus the benefit of improved aerodynamics...

That and he probably is getting pressure from the wheel sponsor:)
 
El Oso

El Oso

Apr 17, 2009
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Since OP-QS is sponsored by Zipp he will most likely be using 303's. In 2010, Cancellara used 303s for both RvV and PR
saxo_bikes19.jpg

saxo_bank_cancellara_full_view_2_600.jpg

Interestingly, Cancellara did buck the trend of traditional alloy box-section tubular wheels and instead relied on Zipp's new 303 carbon aero rims instead. True, he did break one rear rim coming through the Arenberg forest but to be fair, alloy rims have failed there as well. Moreover, Cancellara's wasn't a catastrophic failure and he was able to continue all the way through until a more convenient time for a bike change presented itself – a significant improvement considering how many Zipp carbon rims then-Slipstream-Chipotle rider Magnus Backstedt broke at the 2008 Paris-Roubaix.
Click to expand...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/roubaix-tech-cancellaras-race-winning-rig

Last year Saxo Bank, another (unofficial?) Zipp team, used 303's as well
1302082264964-1966ao9knsjgu-670-70.jpg


That being said he should ride on 32 spoke Ambrosio Nemesis; deep carbon wheels at RvV and PR anger the cycling gods ;-)
 
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Bordercollie1

Jul 4, 2010
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Afrank said:
Shouldn't this be a topic for the Bikes & Gear Forum?
Click to expand...

Hi, yes I did wonder about that but I thought the guys on the Pro racing thread would know the inside line, like whether they are standard Zipps or made up especially for the pro teams?

Boonen's status has meant in the past he can choose the kit he rides regardless of sponsors wishes so I am always interested to see his bikes.
Of course he came 2nd at Het Volk so maybe he will be back on the old skool wheels for Flanders (hope so!)
 
mr. tibbs

mr. tibbs

Mar 10, 2009
2,278
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briztoon said:
Ok, so I'm still a complete noob and clueless. Can some one explain to me why the front wheel is smaller than the rear wheel, and why Boonens' bike looks way to small for him.
Click to expand...

It looks like the picture is distorted in the back; the wheels are the same size. The frame looks small b/c of the sloping geometry, I think. Or maybe it's more pic distortion.

Also, that's Chavanel, not Boonen. :eek:
 
Benotti69

Benotti69

May 26, 2010
28,143
5
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briztoon said:
Ok, so I'm still a complete noob and clueless. Can some one explain to me why the front wheel is smaller than the rear wheel, and why Boonens' bike looks way to small for him.
Click to expand...

That picture was shot on a very wide angle lens and the distortion that is normally created, such as the horizon line bending figures at the edges leaning in towards the centre verticals bending etc have been corrected in photoshop.

Standard nowadays for sports photography to get very close to the action with very wide lens then correct the perspective distortion in the computer and we get strange photos where things can look wrong, ie 1 wheel smaller than another.
 
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gilbertador

May 19, 2011
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Cant support a rider with tattoos, i dont know how companies like specialised can allow themselves to be associated with rubbish like that
 
Fatclimber

Fatclimber

Jul 5, 2009
746
10
9,995
Benotti69 said:
That picture was shot on a very wide angle lens and the distortion that is normally created, such as the horizon line bending figures at the edges leaning in towards the centre verticals bending etc have been corrected in photoshop.

Standard nowadays for sports photography to get very close to the action with very wide lens then correct the perspective distortion in the computer and we get strange photos where things can look wrong, ie 1 wheel smaller than another.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that explanation. I was going to comment on how tiny Chavanel's bike looks for him.

It may also be possible that he's running 2 different size rims to add to the distortion. Maybe 404's, 303's, or something like that. Pretty tough to tell tho.
 
S

skidmark

Mar 13, 2009
3,826
2,179
16,680
mr. tibbs said:
It looks like the picture is distorted in the back; the wheels are the same size. The frame looks small b/c of the sloping geometry, I think. Or maybe it's more pic distortion.

Also, that's Chavanel, not Boonen. :eek:
Click to expand...

Is that also why Chavanel looks like he's put on a few pounds around the midsection in the offseason?
 
CQmanager

CQmanager

Sep 28, 2011
413
0
0
Michele said:
Im not sure Boonen was one of the last as there were (are?) still many who use the low profile rims.
But as we all know, some brands push more (probably with a bonus) the riders to use what products they want and I think this is the case of Zipp, which has been one of the first wheel manufacters to push the use of carbon rims on cobbles.
Please notice that they had to make a new rim much wider to be strong enough.
Of course this is my personal opinion. ;)

With a quick research I couldn't find any good picture beside this:
Click to expand...

Not exactly, they made it wider because its more aero. Firecrest design http://www.zipp.com/technologies/aerodynamics/firecrest.php
 
S

slowoldman

Apr 10, 2009
594
0
0
I ride the new firecrest 303 carbon clinchers and I can tell you they are honestly the best wheelset I've ever ridden.

greatpark.jpg
 
Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
2,532
1
0
CQmanager said:
Not exactly, they made it wider because its more aero. Firecrest design http://www.zipp.com/technologies/aerodynamics/firecrest.php
Click to expand...

Ahem, what Im gonna say is my personal opinion, not what a brand wrote on their own website. ;)
In my area there are shops selling Zipp and when a costumer entered and asked a wheelset they wouldnt suggest Zipp cause rims were very fragile (having had many bad experiences).
If you were gonna ask why then they would keep selling them "...cause people want them!".

Now they appear on the market by saying the wider rim is more aero; obviously if they wrote it on their own website it must be true.
 
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