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wheelbuilder disc cover
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 2009-06-22 11:30 AM |
Extreme Veteran  615   Dallas, TX |  Subject: wheelbuilder disc coverI think I've finally decided to buy cover instead of an actual disc this summer. I've seen the ones on wheelbuilder.com and they seem to be as good as any. Does anyone have any experience with these or can you tell me whether or not there is a distinct advantage to running these covers as apposed to nothing? I am currently racing a set of williams cycling 50mm clinchers with ceramic bearings. I already average around the 24MPH mark for Olympic distance and I'm just looking for any advantage that won't cost me an arm and a leg. Any input is greatly appreciated. |
| 2009-06-22 11:37 AM in reply to: #2233987 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290  The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover Do a search, you'll find a plentitude of information. Johnny Kay in particular is a huge (and knowledgeabel) advocate. |
| 2009-06-22 11:43 AM in reply to: #2233987 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover You can play with the graphs on the Hed site (http://www.hedcycling.com/aerodynamics_technology/). Have a look at the differences between something like the Jet 6 and Jet Disc or 808 and Sub9 disc; both of these discs are effectively a deep rim with a cover added so you can see how the drag numbers behave. I have a cover for my 50mm that I use for all non-drafting races; not sure what the actual difference is but all my PB's for bike splits have come since I've added the cover. I would definitely go that route as opposed to a disc, especially if you already have race wheels. Shane |
| 2009-06-22 12:02 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I can chime in on any particular questions you have, but Bear as already noted where I stand on them.  |
| 2009-06-22 12:19 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
Expert 1170 Southern Pines, NC | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I have one and they work as advertised. It is kind of a pain putting it on/taking it off, but if you sing yourself a little song about how you saved over $1000 while you're playing with the little plastic screws it's a little better. |
 2009-06-22 12:22 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2009-06-22 3:34 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Extreme Veteran 615 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I guess, really all I hear are how great they are and that they offer almost all the benefit of the disc but at about a tenth of the cost, etc... What negatives are out there...obviously they aren't going to offer all the stats that dimpled discs offer, but if they are close and cost under $100 I guess I'm just wondering ..."what's the catch?" I appreciate any feedback or general observation/comment. |
| 2009-06-22 3:37 PM in reply to: #2234977 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2009-06-22 3:38 PM in reply to: #2234977 |
| Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover bmcgee - 2009-06-22 3:34 PM I guess I'm just wondering ..."what's the catch?" There's no woowoo sound to help humiliate your competition as you pass them. You have to settle for silent banishment. |
| 2009-06-22 3:54 PM in reply to: #2234977 |
| Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover bmcgee - 2009-06-22 5:34 PM What negatives are out there...obviously they aren't going to offer all the stats that dimpled discs offer, but if they are close and cost under $100 I guess I'm just wondering ..."what's the catch?" The negatives; well from my POV, there really aren't any but issues that people have had: 1) misplacing the screws 2) disc can bulge if you don't take time to secure evenly 3) disc can rattle if not secured well (I really like electrical tape for this) 4) need a crack pipe 5) cover can be creased/cracked if handled roughly 6) if it is windy you will have to explain to every non-disc rider why it is really not a disadvantage to ride a disc in windy conditions Shane |
| 2009-06-22 4:14 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Fishers, IN | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I yesterday road my Wheelbuilder disc cover over my power tap in my first 40K time trial. I am not certain as to how much difference it made, but have heard that it is equivalent to the disc. It just doesn't make the cool rolling sound of a solid disc. The good news is I was able to collect my power tap data so that I can use it for setting my training power - a true measurment of my Functional Threshold Power. The Wheelbuilder cover is easy to install, all you need is a chainwhip and a small tool. It is cheap and effective. |
| 2009-06-22 4:30 PM in reply to: #2235135 |
| Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover This is one of those topics that need to be stickied here and on slowtwitch as it comes up all the time. No real negatives to speak of except the sound and maybe weighing a tiny bit more than a true disc but in most option not enough to notice. |
| 2009-06-22 8:50 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Expert 1170 Southern Pines, NC | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover Granted it wasn't quite the same sound as the disc, but I raced on Zipp 1080s that I rented and they sound like a jet engine. Motivated the hell out of me! Even after a painful slog of a swim I managed a top 1/4 bike split. I fully credit the jet engine sound. |
| 2009-06-22 9:38 PM in reply to: #2234995 |
| Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover the bear - 2009-06-22 3:38 PM bmcgee - 2009-06-22 3:34 PM I guess I'm just wondering ..."what's the catch?" There's no woowoo sound to help humiliate your competition as you pass them. You have to settle for silent banishment. with the money you save you can get a nice aero horn and "beep" at them Just to add on the list of potential disadvantages is that you have to take off your cassette to put it off and on. I'm not as fast (in just about everything) as some of the people on here at putting them on and off. but it's still less than 20 min for me.. I just use a quarter instead of a screwdriver to tighten them |
| 2009-06-22 9:42 PM in reply to: #2235813 |
| Expert 1170 Southern Pines, NC | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover Gaarryy - 2009-06-22 10:38 PM with the money you save you can get a nice aero horn and "beep" at them Or worse yet--a bell. Nothing would be more humiliating than getting passed by someone with a friggin' BELL. At least when you hear the swarm-of-angry-hornets disc sound behind you you're expecting to get passed. The bell would just be insulting. |
| 2009-06-22 9:49 PM in reply to: #2235825 |
| Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover DrPete - 2009-06-22 9:42 PM Gaarryy - 2009-06-22 10:38 PM with the money you save you can get a nice aero horn and "beep" at them Or worse yet--a bell. Nothing would be more humiliating than getting passed by someone with a friggin' BELL. At least when you hear the swarm-of-angry-hornets disc sound behind you you're expecting to get passed. The bell would just be insulting. I've always threatened to get one.Maybe this year... |
| 2009-06-24 12:32 PM in reply to: #2234173 |
| Elite 3498 Chicago | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I'm a huge fan and use it. |
| 2009-06-24 12:47 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Veteran 867 Vicksburg | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover I will tell you for the money they work. Did an olympic last month with one and rode the fastest 25 miles I have ever ridden. I am a newbie (2cnd years doing tri's) and am still improving but two weeks before I did a mock tri w/o the disk, averaged 20.3. During the olympic I averaged 21.5 and didn't feel like I was pushing it all that hard, I just kept telling myself pace for the run. I now wished I would have pushed the bike leg harder. |
| 2009-06-24 12:53 PM in reply to: #2235813 |
| Extreme Veteran 1942 In front of computer when typing this. | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover Gaarryy - 2009-06-22 10:38 PM the bear - 2009-06-22 3:38 PM bmcgee - 2009-06-22 3:34 PM I guess I'm just wondering ..."what's the catch?" There's no woowoo sound to help humiliate your competition as you pass them. You have to settle for silent banishment. with the money you save you can get a nice aero horn and "beep" at them Just to add on the list of potential disadvantages is that you have to take off your cassette to put it off and on. I'm not as fast (in just about everything) as some of the people on here at putting them on and off. but it's still less than 20 min for me.. I just use a quarter instead of a screwdriver to tighten them Would it make sense to buy a new wheel and cassette and put the wheel cover on that wheel permanently? The up-front expense is higher obviously but it saves trouble. Isn't that what people who have regular disk/race wheels do? I don't have race wheels and have been toying with this wheel cover idea for a while so this thread is cool but I have about 7 thumbs and every time I work on my bike I screw something up (no pun intended). So the less screwing and unscrewing of things (wheel covers, cassettes, etc.) the better. |
| 2009-06-24 12:54 PM in reply to: #2233987 |
| Extreme Veteran 1942 In front of computer when typing this. | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover And as for the bell idea...how about that on a shiny new P4? |
| 2009-06-24 1:02 PM in reply to: #2240057 |
| Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover louiskie - 2009-06-24 1:53 PM Would it make sense to buy a new wheel and cassette and put the wheel cover on that wheel permanently? The up-front expense is higher obviously but it saves trouble. Isn't that what people who have regular disk/race wheels do? I don't have race wheels and have been toying with this wheel cover idea for a while so this thread is cool but I have about 7 thumbs and every time I work on my bike I screw something up (no pun intended). So the less screwing and unscrewing of things (wheel covers, cassettes, etc.) the better. You could do that if you wanted, but you just lost a good chunk of the big advantage of a cover--low cost. Learn to change your cassette. It's not hard and worth knowing how to do anyway. |
| 2009-06-24 1:38 PM in reply to: #2240101 |
| Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover JohnnyKay - 2009-06-24 1:02 PM louiskie - 2009-06-24 1:53 PM Would it make sense to buy a new wheel and cassette and put the wheel cover on that wheel permanently? The up-front expense is higher obviously but it saves trouble. Isn't that what people who have regular disk/race wheels do? I don't have race wheels and have been toying with this wheel cover idea for a while so this thread is cool but I have about 7 thumbs and every time I work on my bike I screw something up (no pun intended). So the less screwing and unscrewing of things (wheel covers, cassettes, etc.) the better. You could do that if you wanted, but you just lost a good chunk of the big advantage of a cover--low cost. Learn to change your cassette. It's not hard and worth knowing how to do anyway. ditto... Taking the cassette on and off isn't that hard or time consuming..and you could keep your eye open for a good deal on an extra wheel and cassette for the future. (and a bell) I use a powermeter so I use the same wheel. It's not that big an issue,, I just noticed that someone had a nice list of the pro's/con's of a wheel cover and thought I'd add something usefull for a change |
| 2009-06-24 2:06 PM in reply to: #2240101 |
| Veteran 499 El Segundo, CA | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover JohnnyKay - 2009-06-24 11:02 AM louiskie - 2009-06-24 1:53 PM Would it make sense to buy a new wheel and cassette and put the wheel cover on that wheel permanently? The up-front expense is higher obviously but it saves trouble. Isn't that what people who have regular disk/race wheels do? I don't have race wheels and have been toying with this wheel cover idea for a while so this thread is cool but I have about 7 thumbs and every time I work on my bike I screw something up (no pun intended). So the less screwing and unscrewing of things (wheel covers, cassettes, etc.) the better. You could do that if you wanted, but you just lost a good chunk of the big advantage of a cover--low cost. Learn to change your cassette. It's not hard and worth knowing how to do anyway. x3. The whole procedure takes MAYBE 20 minutes, really not a big deal, DEFINITELY not worth buying another wheel over. Pardon the hi-jack, but to go back to the bell idea for a second: I've given serious consideration to attaching a bell to my road/tri bike, but it would be more for training purposes than racing. The bike path I ride on is frequented by pedestrians and beach cruisers. I'd like to be able to give them more advanced warning than a breathless "On your left" as I'm passing. Don't know if I'd use it in a race, though. |
| 2009-06-24 2:10 PM in reply to: #2240101 |
| Fishers, IN | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover Like JonnyKay said - it is really a snap. It took me about at most five minutes to unscrew the eight or so plastic screws, remove the cassette, take off the covers, put the covers in the box and then put the cassette back on. The wheel cover is probably one of the best bangs for the buck you can make. What I like most is you can race with a cover and if you also have a power meter you can use the same wheel to race as you train with, rather than train with power and race with a disc without a power meter as most do. |
| 2009-06-24 2:16 PM in reply to: #2240370 |
| Extreme Veteran 615 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: wheelbuilder disc cover rc63413 - 2009-06-24 2:10 PM Like JonnyKay said - it is really a snap. It took me about at most five minutes to unscrew the eight or so plastic screws, remove the cassette, take off the covers, put the covers in the box and then put the cassette back on. The wheel cover is probably one of the best bangs for the buck you can make. What I like most is you can race with a cover and if you also have a power meter you can use the same wheel to race as you train with, rather than train with power and race with a disc without a power meter as most do. It's all about bang for buck with me! |
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