Two points: Surely the benefit of an aero wheel is lost when you're sitting in a bunch? If you are stronger on the flats' date=' and by implication, weaker in climbs, surely there is more advantage to be gained by providing assistance where it is needed most? I do not expect that this discussion will yield a definitive answer, but it is interesting that the wheels that people seem to like most are BOTH aero and light - viz., the Zipp 404's and the Rolf Pros.[/quote'] The aero benefits in a bunch are reduced as you say - but in comparison to a non aero rim, the benefits are still greater. Most riders are not great in a bunch and so spend a fiar amount of time in the wind where the aero rim may help The "relative" advantage of a climbing rim to a heavy average rider is very small and can be mitigated by, say, losing a water bottle. On a flat, most heavier guys are stronger and will ride faster and so feel the benefit of an aero wheel as they speed up.
