what's the scoop on wheelsets?
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Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2016-06-21 12:56 PM |
249 | Subject: what's the scoop on wheelsets? As somewhat of a newbie, what is the scoop on wheel sets? I have a $3000 bike, which to me, was expensive, even though I know it is not in the cycling world. But, I can easily make it a $4000 bike with a "better" wheel set. Not to over state the obvious, but I imagine they make you faster? Is there really a discernible difference over, let's say, 25 miles? I'm just trying to understand it, as they seem soooo expensive, and I have trouble wrapping my mind around it. If I had a $1000, I might invest in a power meter, and hopefully get more gains that way. Ready to be schooled on this! |
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2016-06-21 1:39 PM in reply to: Burchib |
1502 Katy, Texas | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? If I had to choose, it would be a power meter (assuming you are committed to training with it correctly). It will give you more bang for your buck and since it takes time to build, you might as well get it sooner than later. The wheels give instant speed, so they can wait. However, for $1,000 you can likely do both. I regularly see aero wheels with powertap hubs under a grand used. Or you could get a power tap on your aluminum rear wheel with a disc cover and a front carbon aero wheel and get the same effect. Again, you can do that for under 1k if you look. |
2016-06-21 2:12 PM in reply to: Burchib |
Expert 2852 Pfafftown, NC | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Define more gains. Will a PM make you faster the day you install it? Will the wheels make you faster the day you put them on? How many triathletes do you see renting PM's for a race? Again......define more gains. I have race wheels (actually.....I run them all the time). I have $675 in my 60/90 FLO set. I also plan to add a PM. If I was only going to do short course, I wouldn't even bother with the PM. YMMV (I'm not saying they're useless for short course. I'm saying I wouldn't bother with one if that's all I was going to run). |
2016-06-21 3:25 PM in reply to: 0 |
Pro 6582 Melbourne FL | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? ~$700 installed for a low end P2M crank based power meter, about the same or less if you are patient and look here, ST and eBay for a set of FLO Cycling wheels. Paid $650 shipped for my FLO 60/90 set with latex tubes and GP4000 tires via eBay. FLO recently came out with their new design so the older wheels might be hitting the market. I will be looking at getting the new FLO CC 60 front wheel to replace my old model 60 front in the future. There's a rule of thumb for aero: 0.1 lbs (50 g) of drag (at 30 mph) = 0.005 m^2 CdA = 0.0005 Crr = 5 W = 0.5 s/km (0.8/mile). Thing is to pay attention to everything for potential saving, tires, tubes, helmet, and wheels. Then a PM will help you with control of effort. I HRM can also do the same thing. All depends on your testing before racing and understanding RPE can triumph objective feedback on race day. For instance I don't have a PM and can do well with HR for a bike leg of a sprint to HIM. I ignore it on the run though. Below are notes I've captured in the past At 24.86 mph (40 kph): At 20 mph: Slower one rides the more time is saved! @ 20 mph you save 60 s over a 40K for 100 g of drag reduction Edited by Donto 2016-06-21 3:26 PM |
2016-06-21 3:28 PM in reply to: 0 |
Extreme Veteran 5722 | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Originally posted by Burchib As somewhat of a newbie, what is the scoop on wheel sets? I have a $3000 bike, which to me, was expensive, even though I know it is not in the cycling world. But, I can easily make it a $4000 bike with a "better" wheel set. Not to over state the obvious, but I imagine they make you faster? Is there really a discernible difference over, let's say, 25 miles? I'm just trying to understand it, as they seem soooo expensive, and I have trouble wrapping my mind around it. If I had a $1000, I might invest in a power meter, and hopefully get more gains that way. Ready to be schooled on this! Making up numbers Let's say you don't know but your FTP (power you can generate for an hour) is 190w and you can do a 40km TT in 65min Buy a set of wheels and it will probably give you a savings of 15watts and you will be able to do that TT in 64min Buy a powermeter, work hard for a season and you can probably add 30watts to your FTP and do your TT in 62min You can then year over year probably adding 10watts and get down to 60min with time Just buy the wheels and you will stay at 64min Now if you buy the PM and don't do the work, you stay at 65min. if you want to just buy the wheels and not do the work, there are cheaper ways to get 1min. The best thing is to get both, get the minute from the wheels, the 3min by improving your FTP and you will be under 60min faster Edited by marcag 2016-06-21 3:36 PM |
2016-06-21 5:01 PM in reply to: marcag |
Extreme Veteran 3025 Maryland | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? |
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2016-06-21 5:58 PM in reply to: Burchib |
Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Originally posted by Burchib As somewhat of a newbie, what is the scoop on wheel sets? I have a $3000 bike, which to me, was expensive, even though I know it is not in the cycling world. But, I can easily make it a $4000 bike with a "better" wheel set. Not to over state the obvious, but I imagine they make you faster? Is there really a discernible difference over, let's say, 25 miles? I'm just trying to understand it, as they seem soooo expensive, and I have trouble wrapping my mind around it. If I had a $1000, I might invest in a power meter, and hopefully get more gains that way. Ready to be schooled on this! How's your fit? Aero equipment is utterly worthless if you're sitting up on the bars in the last few miles of a race because you don't have a good fit. I see it at every single race. Assuming that is in place, as stated above wheels will (may) give you instant results, as would a helmet or a skin suit. PMs also have their place but require a plan and dedication that will take a while to produce any benefits (which you can also get without a PM) |
2016-06-21 8:32 PM in reply to: #5187962 |
370 , North Carolina | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Honestly, I love the look of 50mm-80mm wheels. If it makes me feel faster, then I will be. Chasing a MPH goal will drain your wallet and hurt your feelings. If you can afford race wheels get them. If you can't don't worry it's not the end of your tri career. |
2016-06-22 4:34 PM in reply to: Nick B |
249 | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Thanks for all the input. One possibly goofy question: If a person were to lose 5 lbs and be able to increase their power/weight ratio slightly, would it not produce similar results as having lighter and faster wheels? I read something this weekend where it said if you want to make quick noticeable gains, lose unwanted pounds, as it is just like losing pounds off of your bike, because when you are on the bike, it's the weight of the complete package. (it was being related to power/weight) Thoughts? |
2016-06-22 6:45 PM in reply to: Burchib |
Pro 6582 Melbourne FL | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Originally posted by Burchib Thanks for all the input. One possibly goofy question: If a person were to lose 5 lbs and be able to increase their power/weight ratio slightly, would it not produce similar results as having lighter and faster wheels? I read something this weekend where it said if you want to make quick noticeable gains, lose unwanted pounds, as it is just like losing pounds off of your bike, because when you are on the bike, it's the weight of the complete package. (it was being related to power/weight) Thoughts? IIRC, power to weight matters a lot if doing a lot of climbing. Power to Aero matters all the time. I could lose 5lbs today from my waistline and wouldn't matter once I'm up to speed where I live on flat coastal FL. |
2016-06-24 7:12 AM in reply to: Burchib |
Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Last year I was trying to choose between a set of Flo wheels or a power meter. I bought the meter. I use it every time I am on the bike. If it is January, 20 inches of snow, blowing wind and 20 below...oh I am on the trainer in the basement using my power meter. It is used every time. The wheels would only been used every now and again. That was my logic between the two Joe |
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2016-06-24 8:31 AM in reply to: Burchib |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: what's the scoop on wheelsets? Definitely power meter if you are going to use it as a training tool. Just installing it on the bike without dedicate your training to power based is a waste of money (although it's fun to read the power after a training ride/race). Race wheels will make you faster almost instantly (take a couple of rides to get used to any change in equipment), but a power meter when used as proper training tool will make you quite a bit faster over time. |
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