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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Need wheel selection advice

dry heat

Feb 27, 04 9:26

Post #1 of 14 (364 views)

Need wheel selection advice	Can't Post

I'm in the process of building up my tri bike. Here's the dilemma: I have $750 to spend on a wheel set(s). It seems many of you have training wheels and race wheels. Would you suggest this? If so, how do divvy up the $$? Or should I buy one set of all around wheels. I do all training on the road (one of the nice benefits of AZ). I usually finish somewhere in the second quartile (bike speed ~20.5 mph ave), but will not sniff the podium, so I don't need (nor would it help to have) Lance's setup. Secondarily, I have some wheels in mind, but what would you guys suggest? The races I do (mainly sprints and oly's at this point) have no major hills and wind is not an issue. I'm 178 lbs.

thx

-Tex

Feb 27, 04 9:34

Post #2 of 14 (354 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you including tires in there as well, because those could run close to $75+ depending on what you buy.

You'll probably get the following suggestion from several folks on this board. Buy a decent set of training wheels...maybe even something with a radially laced front wheel and even bladed spokes like the Ritchey set. And, then get a Renn disc for the rear. This is a good suggestion that I'd go with as well if you don't have the $$ to spend on two sets of wheels.

Or, you could buy my set of Shimano 535(?) training wheels with tires and then have $650 to spend on another set. $350 or so for a Renn, $50 for a decent clincher tire, and you could probably find a mid-section aero front wheel somewhere for $200 plus another $50 or so for a tire, and you've got two sets of wheels.

Brandon Marsh - http://www.brandonmarsh.com
Sponsored By - ATC | Xterra Wetsuits | TYR Sports | Pure Sport Recovery | Quarq.us

JasoninHalifax

Feb 27, 04 9:42

Post #3 of 14 (345 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

There will shortly be a buch of folks telling you to get a set of Hed3's, Renn Disc, CH Aero covers, yadda yadda. But here's what I would do.

Assuming that this will be your only bike, and you don't have another set of wheels lying aroung, I would get a pair of durable, basic wheels. eg Mavic Cosmos, or something like Mavic CXP33's laced to Ultegra hubs. That'll set you back about $300 and change, at the most (plus tires, cassette, etc). Take the $400-odd bucks you've saved, put it aside, and then later when you can afford it, get a set of really nice race wheels (hed3, zipp, renn, whatever).

The big advantage of race wheels, aside from aerodynamics and possibly weight on really hilly courses, is that they haven't been abused through thousands of miles, they are round and true, the tires aren't squared off, the bearings aren't shot, etc.

____________________________________
"I'm a dirty girl" - Katy

Hid

Feb 27, 04 9:53

Post #4 of 14 (326 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [jasonk] [In reply to]	Can't Post

What jason said.

And don't forget that the front wheel is affected by aerodynamics more than the rear. So if you go to buy just one race wheel - buy the front first. It will look dorky but will provide a larger advantage than the rear.

FWIW - http://www.velomax.com has some nice and inexpensive wheels.

"Ride Fast & Have Fun" - Steve Larsen

Rich

Feb 27, 04 10:03

Post #5 of 14 (313 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Definitely two sets of wheels. This is what I would do.

If you're running 700:

Ultegra/Open pro training wheels ($200 new, $100-150 on ebay) + HED3 front ($450 new, $250-$300 on ebay) + CH Aero wheel cover ($60) If you ebay the above and get good deals, maybe you can get an ebay HED disc for the back instead.

If you're running 650:

105/CX21 or Ultegra/Velocity training wheels ($150 new) + ebay HED3 front ($250-$300) + ebay HED disc ($250-$300)

________________________________________________

Anyone who tells you they're as fast now as they were when they were 18...
sure wasn't very fast when they were 18.

docfuel

Feb 27, 04 12:52

Post #6 of 14 (259 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [Rich] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If youi don't mind clinchers. I saw Spinergy Carbon SS on the web for $699.

You might find an old Zipp 3 series for the front and CH cover over your other rear wheel.

Sandra at Bicycle John's in Burbank,CA has some Zipp 3 series tubular 700 on ultegra hubs for around $300 for the pair.
_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

(This post was edited by docfuel on Feb 27, 04 12:54)

dry heat

Feb 27, 04 13:07

Post #7 of 14 (248 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [docfuel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good info so far. Thanks all. BTW, I'll be running 700's. Not very familiar with the CH wheel cover. Will it really help someone as "fast" as me, or is the thought process: put the best you can up front, and just cover the rear?

paul cusick

Feb 27, 04 13:11

Post #8 of 14 (240 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

http://www.timetrial.org/tilium.htm

Kentiger

Feb 27, 04 13:14

Post #9 of 14 (236 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Will it really help someone as fast as me

ohhh bad call there dm..that could have just opened up a whole new debate on the topic...if nothing else (all aerodynamic mumbo jumbo half caffe double shot mochachinarino aside) you will be faster by virtue of the placebo effect it will provide. There is something about running a solid rear wheel that makes you want to go faster..and if that's all the wheel does then it has done it's job.

Hid

Feb 27, 04 13:16

Post #10 of 14 (235 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [dm in phx] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The CH Aero disc covers mount on your rims and you get a lot of the same benefits that a rear disc provides but the covers are only $60.

http://www.excelsports.com/...major=1&minor=24

"Ride Fast & Have Fun" - Steve Larsen

docfuel

Feb 27, 04 13:38

Post #11 of 14 (220 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [paul cusick] [In reply to]	Can't Post

OK! Paul,

Why foam filled? Does that anything besides weight? Does it add strength?
_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

paul cusick

Feb 27, 04 13:47

Post #12 of 14 (215 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [docfuel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

it allows for a more uniform spoke bed. check out the new ad in velonews for a photo. With a bladder mold you are at the whim of where and how much the bladder inflates in each section of the rim. Our testing showed that sometimes you get a nice flat spoke bed and sometimes you get one cocked at a 45 degree angle. The foam also allows us to add more carbon at each spoke hole without adding it in the areas in between where it is not needed. ( we die cut sections out of the foam and add more carbon in its place. We also tried some bladder molded rims with the mercury team a couple years ago at sea otter. It poured rain during the road race and they complained because all the wheels filled with water. Foam prevents that from happening

docfuel

Feb 27, 04 16:46

Post #13 of 14 (163 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [paul cusick] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks! While we're at it. I'm strongly considering it for racing (even though "a racing clincher is an oxymoron.") Do you have any data comparing it to the Alps for aerodynamics?
_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

paul cusick

Feb 27, 04 16:53

Post #14 of 14 (161 views)

Re: Need wheel selection advice [docfuel] [In reply to]	Can't Post

We havent taken the new wheels to a wind tunnel yet. Keith Miller our U.S. sales guy finished 3rd in the California State TT on them last year. Keith is a stud though so he would be fast on anything, but the wheels certainly didnt slow him down. We also had wins at Wildflower(Heather Gollnick), Ironman Wisconsin(Gollnick and Harju), fastest bike split at Coer d'Alene(Spencer Smith) and Ralphs(Andrea Fisher) Not that that is scientific data. Far from it, those athletes would go pretty good on anyhting but my point is that the wheels are at least as good as whats out there or the pros wouldnt ride them. Believe me we cant pay enough money to make someone ride inferior equipment and sacrifice their performance.