lighters wheels now vs save for carbon later?

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2009-07-13 2:05 PM

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Veteran
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Fairfax, VA
Subject: lighters wheels now vs save for carbon later?
I'm in a situation where I have about $500 to burn on some kind of bike bling.

I have a no-frills bike - a Mercier Aero TT (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/aerott.htm) - aluminum frame, carbon fork, clip-on aero bars.  The wheels are Shimano R-500 Aero set, total weight (without skewers) 1952 grams, 20/24 spoke count.

The wheels I'm looking at are from Neuvation Cycling (http://www.neuvationcycling.com/wheels.html R28 Aero4 front/rear , total of 1620 grams without skewers, 16/20 spoke count.

I'm thinking that these wheels + some good quality tires (Michelin Pro3's or such) will give me a boost (my best 40k is 1h 10min, just over 21 MPH).  However, my bike is pretty no-nonsense and relatively heavy, so the question is - better to buy some lighter wheels now or save for carbon later?

I can't see myself having the $$ to buy that Cervelo P2C I really want in the near future.  But if I can make an incremental improvement now maybe it's worth going for the wheels.

Opinions?

2009-07-13 2:11 PM
in reply to: #2281754

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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: lighters wheels now vs save for carbon later?
They aren't really deep enough to give you that much of a benefit.  You would notice a marginal at best difference.
2009-07-13 2:14 PM
in reply to: #2281754

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Not a Coach
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Subject: RE: lighters wheels now vs save for carbon later?
You would see a much bigger difference by buying a disc cover for you current rear wheel (yes, adding to its weight) and spending the rest of the money ($400+) on a used aero front wheel.
2009-07-13 2:17 PM
in reply to: #2281754

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Extreme Veteran
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Atlanta
Subject: RE: lighters wheels now vs save for carbon later?

Yes it seems nice to upgrade wheels now and it is quite cheap, but the problem with lighter wheels and a lower spoke count is that they will break and/or come out of true easier. Maybe it's just because I live around bad roads (Philly) but I wouldn't worry about weight when getting "training" wheels, I'm looking to get some wheels with a 24/28 count.

I would save the $500 and start a "Bike Fund" savings account that you can put in some money from time to time... I've got one going for a new car (putting in what was my car payments, before it was paid off, into a special "car" savings account for when the current one needs repairs or finally dies and I need a new car.)

Till the time comes when you can buy a new Tri bike you can rent race wheels for your Premo races of the year! Check out the Echappe site for wheel rentals. Otherwise save the cash for a new/used carbon bike. That areo/carbon bike will pay off so much more than a $100 set of "light weight" wheels.

Shanks

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