To Upgrade or Not to upgrade ?

[Juddy]

The Question is: Wheels how much will I benefit from an extra R5000 "investment" in lighter more Aero Wheels?

 

Ok let’s start with my current stats

9.5 kg Bike Total Weight

92kg Rider (and full of muscle .. well mostly)

 

Wheels Tires Tubes and Cassette come in at 3.1 kg

Roughly 2.1kg’s of which is the Wheels

900g Front Wheel

1100g Rear Wheel

700g Tires

250g Cassette

150g Tubes I guess

 

For roughly R4000 I can get a Slightly Aero 30mm deep wheel at 1560g for the set.

anyone care to share the benefits of the light rims ? what kind of difference can one expect from the 500g less weight ?

Also got my eye on race tires at 350g for the pair J

Total cost R5000 = Weight saving of 850g

or is that a waste of money ?

Edited August 1, 2013 by Juddy

[Cav']

Whats the specs of the bike.

 

Its not worth it putting R5k wheels on a 6k bike with shimano sora on it.

[Butterbean]

On my basic alu Scott, I went from 9 speed tiagra to 10 speed ultegra. Massive difference and the first I'd recommend.

 

Then went with 58mm carbon wheels. Awesome difference.

 

You can expect less power output needed to maintain higher speeds.

 

With a lighter Wheelset, acceleration and climbing will improve, as well as your flat and straight speeds.

 

30mm isn't a massive deep section, but definitely is better than the 10mm standard wheels.

 

I can't feel a difference on race tires except for weight.

 

Wheels are one of your most effective upgrades. Good luck man!

[King_Crispy]

Rotational weight should be the first place one looks at shedding weight on a bike.

Not only creates a lighter bike, but easier to roll, faster acceleration, lower energy expenditure and easier to hold higher speeds.

Besides, the wheels can always be switched over onto an upgraded frame at a later stage.

Edited August 1, 2013 by King_Crispy

[Juddy]

Hi there Cav,

 

The bike is "Heavy" but decent a bit like the rider :-)

2013 Specialized Allez Elite - Size 56 - 10 Speed Tiagra and DT Classic Wheels

Aluminium Frame/Carbon fork

 

The Tyres are Specialized Espoir Sport 360g a tyre

Thinking of getting the S-works Turbo at 150g a tyre

The Wheels I am looking at is the American Classic victory 30

My thinking is "rotational weight" matters most at the furthest edge of the rotation

so a rim matters more than a spoke or a hub and a tyre more than a rim ??

 

Lighter weight = better climbing and acceleration ?

More aero = higher speed on the straight ?

 

but how much of a benefit will the 850g actually bring ?

[DBK]

I have not read anything in this convo besides the title.

 

The obvious and correct answer in every single case is, upgrade.

[Cav']

Hi there Cav,

 

The bike is "Heavy" but decent a bit like the rider :-)

2013 Specialized Allez Elite - Size 56 - 10 Speed Tiagra and DT Classic Wheels

Aluminium Frame/Carbon fork

 

The Tyres are Specialized Espoir Sport 360g a tyre

Thinking of getting the S-works Turbo at 150g a tyre

The Wheels I am looking at is the American Classic victory 30

My thinking is "rotational weight" matters most at the furthest edge of the rotation

so a rim matters more than a spoke or a hub and a tyre more than a rim ??

 

Lighter weight = better climbing and acceleration ?

More aero = higher speed on the straight ?

 

but how much of a benefit will the 850g actually bring ?

You'll feel the difference a bit and its a mental thing as well.

 

But dont expect to be flying up hills like Froome due to the upgrade.

[flyluis]

Any little bit helps I think.

Edited August 2, 2013 by flyluis

[Thomo]

Lighter, aero wheels will aways be appreciated.

But @ "92kg Rider (and full of muscle .. well mostly)" be sure to ge something strong enough too.

Wheels, light or heavy, can only be appreciated if they remain round and true, and don't flex with every pedal stroke.

Edited August 2, 2013 by Thomo

[Wayne Potgieter]

Upgrades are always better, even if they are incremental.

 

Thats why they are called UPgrades and not DOWNgrades.

 

UPgrades = good

DOWNgrades = bad

[DIPSLICK]

92kg Rider (and full of muscle .. well mostly)

MUSCLE OF FAT STILL ALOT TO GET UP A HILL,,,JUST SAYING CAUSE I AM THE SECOND OPTION,

[kennyg]

I would chuck the cash, at a stiffer wheelset not a lighter one. @ 92 kg, you are right on the limit for most light weight stuff so be careful where you spend the buck.

 

The DTs work great and going to a compact for hills would give you a better feel, it will be faster initially but then you need to concentrate on rpm, and loosing some muscle..

[LOOK695]

I would maybe rather look at a costume build wheel where you can specify the no of spokes and even rim depth

[SurferChild]

I was also quite "muscle" packed not too long ago and was clocking in at about 97kg... Some training and the right eating habits had me saying hello to the 80's quite quickly. Now i'm 87kg which is getting really close to my ideal weight for my length. That is a saving of 10kg! Didn't cost R5000

Upgrading to lighter and better components on a bike is never a bad thing, but it costs a fortune... i just found that the most cost effective solution to have a lighter ride is to start with myself, and then look at the bike.

 

I'm also starting to look around for carbon rims now.

All things said above is my own opinion and own experience... just a thought

[RED1408]

I would maybe rather look at a costume build wheel where you can specify the no of spokes and even rim depth

 

HAHA! I'm sorry but that I make me laugh

[LOOK695]

Glad that you could have a laugh, haha. It was my cellphone's mistake with it's word suggestion

Edited August 2, 2013 by LOOK695