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Is it worth a wheel upgrade?

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  • July 6, 2014 at 1:49 pm #21842
    Sensible

    I have been riding for a couple of years now and when i bought my first road bike I got quite a nice one so that I wouldn’t have to upgrade too soon.

    I have a carbon framed bike, with decent kit. It has fairly light wheels (DT swiss hubs), that are 1775g for the pair. I use Conti tyres.

    I mainly ride on my own for fitness, but occasionally with friends and have done a couple of 100 mile charity rides. I average about 35-40 miles when I go out once per week and average about 15 mph. I find hill climbing hard, but am getting better and live in a very hilly area.

    I understand that My wheels are good but at the bottom end of Giants decent wheel range.

    Was thinking of I upgrading my wheels to something lighter, maybe 1350-1400g.

    I am also unsure about the benefits of aero wheels, most of which don’t seem any lighter than what I have.

    If I was to buy some nice light wheels, will I notice any difference.

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  • July 11, 2014 at 10:25 pm #802661
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    Gordy748

    In reply to your
    In reply to your questions:

    Cutting weight from wheels is roughly equivalent to cutting double from elsewhere. It’s rotational weight against static weight, and the reason is that rotational weight affects acceleration more (it’s harder to change the inertia of a heavier wheel).

    You should see a big difference moving up to 25mm tires. The road contact patch changes shape, becoming shorter and rounder. Because the tire deflects less, the rolling resistance is lower and you actually go faster.

    More than that, there is more air volume in 25mm tires. So you can run your tires at lower pressures, which means the tires soak up bumps better. Which means you get battered by road vibration less and so you finish longer rides fresher and faster. Really.

    Yes, tubulars are glue-on. They are a faff to get on, but generally are better handling. FMBs cost a ridiculous amount of money but boy, are they good. Punctures are very hard to fix if you are not a seamstress, but you can put some caffe latex in the tire and that will sort any smaller punctures.

    Those hubs of yours are DT Onyx hubs. I would not recommend them. DT 350s use the ratchet system and are very good value, the 240s are a bit better but a lot more expensive for the money so not as good value.

    Be careful with ceramic bearings. You can get either hybrid ceramic or full ceramic. Hybrid ceramic bearings run on steel races but full ceramic hubs use ceramic races too. The problem with the hybrids is that ceramic is harder than steel, so the bearings can wear the races quickly… too quickly sometimes.

    The issue is with full ceramic bearings is that they are really expensive. I would upgrade my entire bike before getting ceramic bearings (I ride a custom Pegoretti with Super Record on steel bearings).

    Hope this helps!

    July 11, 2014 at 3:37 pm #802659
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    notfastenough

    Noelieboy wrote:I was really

    Noelieboy wrote:
    I was really interested in the Soul wheels because of this test ride they offered but I couldn’t get a reply off the rep.
    real shame cos I reckon I would’ve bought them.

    That’s odd – was it Adam from ASD? I only had to comment on the year-old Road.cc review article noting that Raceware Direct had dropped the price, and he replied almost instantly (I hadn’t even contacted him), and also answered my questions. I do note, however, that Raceware list most of them as being sold out now – I wonder whether they aren’t bothering to restock…

    July 11, 2014 at 2:25 pm #802657
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    Noelieboy

    notfastenough wrote:Soul

    notfastenough wrote:
    Soul wheels have a test ride program, and one of their wheel sets got a great review on here. Look them up, I think they courier the wheels out to you or something.

    I was really interested in the Soul wheels because of this test ride they offered but I couldn’t get a reply off the rep.
    real shame cos I reckon I would’ve bought them.

    July 11, 2014 at 2:23 pm #802655
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    Noelieboy

    I was really interested in
    I was really interested in the Soul wheels because of this test ride they offered but I couldn’t get a reply off the rep.
    real shame cos I reckon I would’ve bought them.

    July 10, 2014 at 8:30 pm #802653
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    Sensible

    (No subject)
    :H

    July 10, 2014 at 8:13 pm #802651
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    Joeinpoole

    Strewth! We are *sensitive*
    Strewth! We are *sensitive* aren’t we? I enjoyed reading this thread, so thanks for starting it, but I also particularly enjoyed Simon E’s observations which I thought were spot-on.

    July 10, 2014 at 8:05 pm #802649
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    Sensible

    Thanks to those that gave
    Thanks to those that gave genuinely helpful comment and opinion, but I have now unsubscribed from this thread.

    July 10, 2014 at 6:55 pm #802647
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    Simon E

    Sensible wrote:Isn’t that

    Sensible wrote:
    Isn’t that what an online forum is…. a stranger’s opinion.

    ..and you seemed to have already decided what I am both wanting and thinking. That’s quite a skill!

    Firstly, one person’s opinion is useless unless you know how they came to their conclusion; purchase justification is a well known phenomenon and happens all the time so I wouldn’t trust one stranger’s opinion. A genuine pattern across a range of users is of far more use to a potential buyer.

    And I haven’t “decided” anything about you, I was describing a very common behaviour with this type of topic. But you’re welcome to jump to whatever conclusion you wish. If the cap fits…

    July 10, 2014 at 2:31 pm #802645
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    Sensible

    Simon E wrote:Absolutely.

    Simon E wrote:
    Absolutely. Although I wouldn’t put much faith in a stranger’s opinion; it’s different if 15 regular contributors all say more or less the same thing.

    But most people asking ‘should I upgrade?’ type questions are only really looking for justification for stuff they want. They have been sold the idea and brush aside any comments that provide a different PoV.

    Isn’t that what an online forum is…. a stranger’s opinion.

    ..and you seemed to have already decided what I am both wanting and thinking. That’s quite a skill!

    July 10, 2014 at 12:43 pm #802643
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    Simon E

    Sensible wrote:Amongst the

    Sensible wrote:
    Amongst the cyclists out there there will be some that have done exactly what I am contemplating. Surely that is the point of a forum, to learn from others and get various opinions.

    Absolutely. Although I wouldn’t put much faith in a stranger’s opinion; it’s different if 15 regular contributors all say more or less the same thing.

    But most people asking ‘should I upgrade?’ type questions are only really looking for justification for stuff they want. They have been sold the idea and brush aside any comments that provide a different PoV.

    July 10, 2014 at 11:57 am #802641
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    BrokenBootneck

    I weigh the same as you, I
    I weigh the same as you, I upgraded my wheels last year after my old Mavics died (they were at least 10 years old) Bought some Forza Stratos, They were 100 or so gramms lighter, but more aero for £180. I noticed a slight difference (i ride a modified Ventoux Saracen) i bought second hand 10 years ago, it had a campy groupset when I bought it, still does. I treated it it a respray and some cheap carbon forks to replace the steel ones last year. the whole thing weighs about 10KG.

    I am riding faster, now than I was a year ago, but more to do with weight loss, and more specific training, I ride about 150 miles a week on my trusty steed. As someone once said, it’s not about the bike!

    I would probably go faster for less were I to swap my standard for a compact, and my 12-25 for a 12-28 particularly on the hills!

    July 10, 2014 at 11:39 am #802639
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    Sensible

    Those Race 24 wheels have a
    Those Race 24 wheels have a max ride weight is 80 kg for those wheels. I think I am 87. Thats something I have learnt from this forum…to check the max ride weight.

    July 10, 2014 at 11:24 am #802637
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    chris75018

    I had an interesting, eye
    I had an interesting, eye opening experience at the weekend. I’ve always thought that my upgraded wheels (Campag Neutron Ultras) made a real difference to my performance until this last weekend, when I went out on my old Khamsins (approx 400g heavier) and set PBs on a number of climbs on my usual route. Granted, hardly a scientific study as there are all sorts of variables involved, but it does make me think that light wheels are not the answer to everything.

    The Neutrons do look nicer than the Khamsins though, and, again in a purely unscientific way, I think they just “feel better” all round, so they’ll be back on the bike soon enough!)

    July 10, 2014 at 11:17 am #802635
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    Sensible

    Simon E wrote: It sounds like

    Simon E wrote:
    It sounds like you’re wanting a subjective reaction. Like with clothes and music, sometimes you just have to decide for yourself.

    You mean….spend the £700 and then find out it makes no difference….maybe.

    Amongst the cyclists out there there will be some that have done exactly what I am contemplating. Surely that is the point of a forum, to learn from others and get various opinions.

    July 10, 2014 at 9:28 am #802633
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    Simon E

    Blimey, Fulcrum Racing Zero
    Blimey, Fulcrum Racing Zero are £700!! :O :O

    That surely makes £480 for this 1430g wheelset an absolute steal – http://wheelsmith.co.uk/race24
    Strada will build up the Velocity A23 for even less:
    http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/velocity-a23-wheelset/
    With those specs and prices why would you pay more for overpriced factory wheels?

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