As part of a Fanken bike build I'm considering running a deep dish light front wheel (Zipp 440) with a low spoke count but strong back wheel (Shimano 540).

No climbing or descending and most likely 20 to 40 mile group rides at 19 to 23 MPH.

Would this set up pose any significant handling concerns?

As part of a Fanken bike build I'm considering running a deep dish light front wheel (Zipp 440) with a low spoke count but strong back wheel (Shimano 540).

No climbing or descending and most likely 20 to 40 mile group rides at 19 to 23 MPH.

Would this set up pose any significant handling concerns?

If you can only do one aero wheel, the front is best because the rear wheel drafts the frame. The area south of Pungo where you ride through that marshy section will give you some scares with crosswinds. I would be careful riding out to Knotts Island with those cross winds as well. As far as handling in a straight line and cornering, shouldn't matter at all. If you have never ridden an aero wheel in a cross wind, try it by yourself before you jump in a group.

If you can only do one aero wheel, the front is best because the rear wheel drafts the frame. The area south of Pungo where you ride through that marshy section will give you some scares with crosswinds. I would be careful riding out to Knotts Island with those cross winds as well. As far as handling in a straight line and cornering, shouldn't matter at all. If you have never ridden an aero wheel in a cross wind, try it by yourself before you jump in a group.
I have never used an areo rim but I had considered the wind. I just don't know at what point it really becomes a problem. I will certianly try it by myself some first. I kinda suspect that if I knew I was going to knotts island or the wind was going to be high I would change out the front.

If you can only do one aero wheel, the front is best because the rear wheel drafts the frame. The area south of Pungo where you ride through that marshy section will give you some scares with crosswinds. I would be careful riding out to Knotts Island with those cross winds as well. As far as handling in a straight line and cornering, shouldn't matter at all. If you have never ridden an aero wheel in a cross wind, try it by yourself before you jump in a group.

Glad you asked this ? as I was about to. I am considering getting a front aero wheel for the increasing number of long road races I do here in Denver metro area. I cannot afford a set, so the front one seems to be the most important.

And when I say aero, I believe that the rim depth needs to be at least 51mm+. At least I think that's where the benefits really start to pay off. In other words, a Zipp 404, Cosmic Carbone, Reynolds Stratus, or sth from HED.

Can someone remind me again what depth the rim needs to be for the aero benefits really to come into play?

I race a Cosmic carbon front with a Ksyrium rear. It's aero and way stiffer than any other front wheel I own.
It's a bit heavier than a 404, but I think it's stiffer. Once up to speed, it just wants to roll.

I race a Cosmic carbon front with a Ksyrium rear. It's aero and way stiffer than any other front wheel I own.
It's a bit heavier than a 404, but I think it's stiffer. Once up to speed, it just wants to roll.

so there's often older model Cosmic carbones on eBay. Are the ones from '99-'04 worth the dough, or do you really need the lighter one that came out in '05, I think it is. They seem to all have pretty much the same shape and rim profile, etc, but the weight I think has been decreased over the years. What year is your wheel?

Can someone remind me again what depth the rim needs to be for the aero benefits really to come into play?
There really isn't a magic number where benefits suddenly show up. It's more of a continuum with drag going down as rim depth goes up. Since price, weight, and effect of crosswinds also seem to go up with rim depth, it's really an individual choice as to the cost-benefit of diferent rims. Zipp has a white paper showing drag on their own wheels as a function of rim depth to illustrate the relative benefit of various rim depths.

so there's often older model Cosmic carbones on eBay. Are the ones from '99-'04 worth the dough, or do you really need the lighter one that came out in '05, I think it is. They seem to all have pretty much the same shape and rim profile, etc, but the weight I think has been decreased over the years. What year is your wheel?

My Carbones are 2004 models. They aren't the light ones that came out in '05.
If you are going to buy a front, you want a 03 or 04. Anything earlier than that and may run into spoke breakage issue simply because of their age.
I think they are definitely worth the dough.

If your worried about crosswinds but you want as much aero benefit as poss, then you need a deep section rear not front. The wind will effect the front of the bike far worse than the rear surely? Watching some of the Giro and TDF this year i see a few riders using rear deep section without fronts not the other way around.

If your worried about crosswinds but you want as much aero benefit as poss, then you need a deep section rear not front. The wind will effect the front of the bike far worse than the rear surely? Watching some of the Giro and TDF this year i see a few riders using rear deep section without fronts not the other way around.

I can only speak for myself but I don't give a rat's a$$ about the aero benefit. I'm doing it because I think it will look cool and I got a killer deal on a 440 front and a set of 540s.

Someone had told me that there could be some handling concerns other than just the wind issue.

"I don't give a rat's a$$ about the aero benefit. I'm doing it because I think it will look cool and I got a killer deal on a 440 front and a set of 540s."

Good for you. The right wheel combination might take a little time off you ride or a 10lb lighter bike might be easier to climb (ok, thats a bit much) but i think alot of us forget that these pieces of machinery that we pay fortunes for are bloody gorgeous looking and deserve to be displayed as art. Consider some of the rubbish that is considered art.