Rim height is primarily relevant for road and gravel carbon wheels.
Deep rims offer undeniable advantages, the main one being that they simply look
good :-) Of course, deep rims also provide good aerodynamics and inertia, which
you will appreciate on flatter routes. The deeper the rim, the better the
aerodynamics and inertia.
However, this does not necessarily mean that a deeper rim is a better rim. The
deeper the rim, the heavier it is. On hilly routes, lower weight and greater
agility are more valuable, which favours shallower rims. Wind is another
important factor. A shallow rim is easier to control in strong winds than a
deep rim, especially in strong crosswinds that can move the front wheel
around.
What does this mean? It depends on your preferences. In general, rims 40–45 mm
deep can be considered relatively versatile. However, a 50 kg rider and an
80 kg rider will view this differently, as will an experienced racer and a
recreational cyclist or female rider. If you are unsure, it is always better to
choose shallower rims!
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