Tri Bikes - does anyone keep the wheels?

X2...or X3 or whatever.

Yes, I kept them they became my training wheels. I wouldn't be happy if I was out training on my expensive wheels and had an accident or something happened to them. As far as budgeting, I saved more money and bought HED Jet 6 & 9.

Train heavy, race light. 

Sure - train on the wheels it came with.  You can even race on them just fine until your budget recovers enough to buy race wheels (which can cost as much as the bike did!).

I occasionally bring my race wheels out on a regular ride, but mostly I stick with the stock wheels to avoid any potential damage to the carbon race wheels.

Got it. So my budget should be a 2 step process. One thing at a time!

keep them?  what do you mean?  they should be used for training. 

most people ride fancy race wheels in training simply because of the look.  there is no reason to use them in training. 

use heavy pos wheels and then put them on race day and fly.

I think the 2 step process is a highly followed route  Good luck....

I got the bike over 1.5yrs ago. I'm still on the original wheels. I rent my race wheels, just so it isn't so expensive

Eventually I'll get another set, but even then, I'll keep the originals, ride on them, and save the racers for races.

You don't have to have the race wheels.... but they sure are pretty

I keep my race wheels on all the time simply because my Powertap is built into the rear wheel. Now granted, they are only Flashpoints.....pretty bomb proof. Fine to leave on all the time. If I had super expensive Zipps I am sure I would think differently.........

I sold my stock wheels to dilute the cost of my Reynolds Assault.  I bought my wheels brand new off of ST.  Somebody there bought a new bike that came with the Assaults, but they already had Zipps. 

The stock wheels were worth a couple hundred, which was barely worth the effort selling them. 

even if you broke one of your flashpoints you would start to think differently.....

I have a PT in my Assaults.  Those never come off my bike.  I do have them built slightly 'tougher' than how they come OEM.  I also believe I have a higher spoke count than the typical race wheel.  Can't remember. 

I haven't invested in race wheels yet, but I haven't kept the stock wheels on a bike in years. I have a pair of Ksyrium elites I bought off a college cyclist a few years ago and use them. It might just be mental, but I have til now preferred them to stock wheels.

I'd love to get some race wheels someday soon, but like others have said, it's too big a blow especially if one has just purchased a bike.

I find purchasing a bike is a 3-tier process:

• The Bike (first and really the only required of the 3)
• Race Wheels
• Power Meter

I was barely able to convince my wife to buy a bike, and each year I will add one of the other two; probably a PM first.

Shoot - I have one cheap set of wheels that came with my low end road bike.  I use them for the trainer, practice and races.  After about 2 months I do swap the rear and front tire do to trainer wear

This is a hobby.  Too many other things to spend money on, like my wife   OK, it's not like I am buying a wife, or paying her, errr..... never mind.

enjoy,

Duane