Faster wheels

[Geelwortel]

Hi All

 

I currently have Easton Vista SL wheels on my Tri bike, Specialised Transition, and use this for both training and also racing. I'm not a very fast rider but can average +- 33km/h over 40km and 25 - 27km/h on 100km + rides. Both avg is alone and not in bunch rides. When would faster wheels, like Tri spokes and discs, start to help improve my speed and by how much would this really help.

Any suggestions of which wheels would be good value for money.

 

Thanks for your help

 

Andrew

[Barend de Arend]

At any speed, if you're doing time trials, aero will help.  Believe it or not, aero wheels help plebs more than pros.  It's more important for those of us who don't have watts to spare.

 

After about 30 km/h aero trumps weight; meaning get aero before you get lightweight.

 

For time-trials I'd look at body shape and position (handlebars) and helmet before I'd look at wheels.  However, if you've done that, wheels will help.

 

As to which wheels?  Shop around.  Ping Swift.

 

Further reading:

 

Cervelo's stats on aero stuff, and the wattage it saves: http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/engineering/tech-presentations/ (focuses on the bikes, but you can find out how much time aero equipment will help you)

 

Cyclingnews on Aero handlebar vs. helmet vs. position vs. wheels

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/how-aero-is-aero

 

[BeegMig]

Some wheels only have a effect at high speeds.

like AEROSPOKE's, they realy work but you got to crank it like a beast to keep up to the speed, and they weigh a ton. So, good for short time trails, not so good for 100km with a swim and run.

Im not a fan of discwheels, for the same reasons plus sidewinds.

 

Find the midway. Light/aero-combo. I'd say ZIPP's

[Christie]

Zipp claims that a set of 808s will save you 81 sekonds over 40km, compared to a set of non-aero wheels, for a rider generating 300w, based on their wind tunnel tests.

A Zipp 900 disk wheel and 808 front will save 88 seconds, @ 300w, and a Sub9 disk & 808 will save 104 seconds.

 

On most TTs (except hillclimbs like signal hill / Kowyns pass) weight of wheels will make no difference. Heavy wheels, if fact, will conserve energy better than light wheels.

 

It is for you to decide if the gain of 90 odd seconds/ 40km is worth spending R20k. If yes, then Zipp is the way to go, imo.

 

[Eldron]

At any speed' date=' if you're doing time trials, aero will help.  Believe it or not, aero wheels help plebs more than pros.  It's more important for those of us who don't have watts to spare.
[/quote']

 

I gotta disagree with you on that point. The faster you go the more aero helps. Wind resistance is exponential so you gain more and more as the speed increases.

 

That said - an aero helmet is probably the best value for money speed you can buy. Can't remember the source but at 40kph for 40km it saved about 60 seconds. You can buy a used aero helmet for about R1,000 if you look around. Thats gotta be the best value time saver around!

 

A skin suit is also great bang for buck.

[Tightfitt]

I am a reltively big guy - 90 odd kgs and purchased a set of Zipp 808's - I don't TT but use them for all the early season flat races. They are the bomb!