Aero wheels worth the money?

For the money you're trying to spend I'd buy:

1. An aero helmet (assuming you don't already have one.)

2. Aero bars (looks like you're already on board with this.)

3.  A wheel cover for the rear.

$150-250?  used ebay wheels? 

you can get some from there but even ebay wheels will cost $600-800.  i just went through a 3 month process of looking for wheels.  to get a decent quality wheels you will have to look at $1000+ new. 

I picked up a slightly used set of HED.3's and a Renn 575 disc off Ebay for about $425 per wheel and I think I did fairly well.  Don't think you're going to find anything decent in the $150-$250 price range.

I bought my wheels because I could afford them without worrying about it (one of the advantages of being an empty-nester with a good income).  

If you're looking for a measureable return on your investment I'd suggest hiring a coach and buying a power meter.

And ride lots...

Mark

If you can't afford a tri bike, you can't afford aero wheels.

Get aero bars and a helmet.  The disc cover is for real.  It's worth it.

If you find any wheels for $250 tell me, cause I'll buy them too.

Good luck!

Unless you are doing some major uphill time trials, it will.

Quite a few, myself included.

I use it in every race I do.  I sure hope so. 

http://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/product.php?productid=16265&cat=371&page=1

It's not that the carbon material itself is expensive, it's the manufacturing process.  Carbon fiber parts are molded then cured in an autoclave, requiring a significant capital investment in tooling and equipment.  Those costs have to be recaptured; in a relatively small volume market, like that for bike aerowheels, the cost/part is going to be higher.

Mark

Once the molds are created, it may actually be cheaper to produce carbon rims than to extrude aluminum ones.

would anyone like to suggest a best bang per buck wheelset? I like the idea of the standard spoked rim disc cover, seriously cheap and aero! pity the same cant be done for the front trainer.

www.wheelbuilder.com  Not sure anyone ever re-sells covers.  Maybe one on ST awhile back but it was allready cut for a specific wheel.

Best BANG FOR BUCK (best phrase in triathlon) for aero wheels in my book is www.williamscycling.com.  From a bang for buck perspective they bost hybrid ceramic bearings (which make a HUGE difference), zipp speep weaponry technology, and they are pretty affordable.  I swear by this company.

I was curious too, so I went to the site and it looks like you tell them what type of wheel you are covering (brand, dimensions, specs, etc...) and they customize the fit and mail it out to you.

Yep,  if you have any questions you can call/e-mail them, I did before I ordered mine and they were very helpful.

I will post pic's when it gets here in a few days.