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):
4.1 Watt savings holding the same speed  At the same power, you could go 0.18 mph faster. This is 26 seconds saved over 40 km (*10W would be 0.44 mph faster or 63 seconds saved)

At 20 mph:
2.2 Watt savings holding the same speed. At the same power, you could go 0.15 mph faster. This is 33 seconds saved over 40 km (*10W would be 0.68 mph faster or 150 seconds saved)

Slower one rides the more time is saved!

@ 20 mph you save 60 s over a 40K for 100 g of drag reduction
@ 25 mph you save 50 s over a 40K for 100 g of drag reduction
@ 30 mph you save 40 s over a 40K for 100 g of drag reduction

you know, you can buy the wheels AND work hard without a power meter.

GASP!?@!@

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)