Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset (Page 2)

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JeffY

2012-06-22 1:54 PM

in reply to: #4274168

Master

2327

Columbia, TN

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

flyers - 2012-06-21 4:18 PM What’s the best cost-benefit for a carbon wheelset to a road bike (pinarello FP2) to race at olimpic and HIM. And witch one : tubular or clincher?

That's an oxymoron. The cost-benefit ratio for a carbon wheelset doesn't work. You need to be looking at aluminum rim wheels if you want a cost-benefit calculation.

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Tom Demerly.

2012-06-22 1:55 PM

in reply to: #4275741

Elite

3498

Laguna Beach

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

...like I said.

cgregg

2012-06-22 4:29 PM

in reply to: #4275748

Elite

5145

Cleveland

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

JeffY - 2012-06-22 2:54 PM

flyers - 2012-06-21 4:18 PM What’s the best cost-benefit for a carbon wheelset to a road bike (pinarello FP2) to race at olimpic and HIM. And witch one : tubular or clincher?

That's an oxymoron. The cost-benefit ratio for a carbon wheelset doesn't work. You need to be looking at aluminum rim wheels if you want a cost-benefit calculation.

I took his question to be more "which set of carbon wheels gives the most bang for the buck" instead of looking for an actual cost-benefit analysis of carbon wheels.

Basically - there are inexpensive carbon wheels, and ridiculously expensive ones. Some have dimples, some are lighter or heavier, some are tri spoke and some are 24 spoke, some are full carbon and some have alloy brake rails..... all these things affect pricing and performance -- and perception.

Based on all of those combinations - what wheels give you the best bang for the buck?
Are dimples REALLY worth an extra $1500-$2000? How about 240g of weight savings?
Do those sub-$1000 carbon aero wheelsets get you most of the way there so that the rest is just "fluff"?

Edited by cgregg 2012-06-22 4:30 PM

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Bunsbert Montcroff

2012-06-22 4:53 PM

in reply to: #4276024

Member

251

Phoenix AZ

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

let me inject some crazy talk into this thread - is 1-2 minutes over a 40k worth in the neighborhood of $1000? i would love some zipps or hed 3's. not only do they look cool, they'd save me that time in a race. but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts? i'd rather sink that money into other gear, an upgraded gruppo, or even put it toward a new bike.

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erik.norgaard

2012-06-22 5:15 PM

in reply to: #4276050

Extreme Veteran

929

, Kobenhavns Kommune

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

Bunsbert Montcroff - 2012-06-22 11:53 PM ... but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts?

It won't save you 1-2minutes, it takes longer to switch the wheels before and after the race. It seems nuts, maybe start collecting some bolts to go with it.

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spudone

2012-06-22 5:18 PM

in reply to: #4274168

Master

5557

, California

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts?

a) You can't spend it when you're gone.

b) Family does not come first. The bike does.

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cgregg

2012-06-22 5:30 PM

in reply to: #4276050

Elite

5145

Cleveland

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

Bunsbert Montcroff - 2012-06-22 5:53 PM

let me inject some crazy talk into this thread - is 1-2 minutes over a 40k worth in the neighborhood of $1000? i would love some zipps or hed 3's. not only do they look cool, they'd save me that time in a race. but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts? i'd rather sink that money into other gear, an upgraded gruppo, or even put it toward a new bike.

Why get a new bike, or even a new group set?

Groupset won't make you faster, and depending on what you get, you'll easily spend that $1000 to get it, and maybe twice as much.
New bike? Why? It'll only make you a few minutes faster if you're going from road bike to tri bike. If you already have a tri bike, you won't likely be any faster at all, will you?

At some point, we all pay for speed because it is a sport where speed can be bought. Aerodynamics also mean that you don't have to work as hard to do the same speed as you were doing... so, you might get to T2 with slightly fresher legs and have a better run. If you have a better run AND were a little faster on the bike (which, a full minute is HUGE).... how valuable are those wheels now?

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Tom Demerly.

2012-06-22 5:35 PM

in reply to: #4276073

Elite

3498

Laguna Beach

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

"...but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts?"

See... there you go being all adult again...

The "sell" on race wheels happens when you go to a small to medium size race and you're a back of the middle pack athlete.

You do your race. You have a decent day.

That monday you go on line to see the results for the annual Dubuque Jaycees Muskox Man Tri, brought to you by Harley's Bike and Mower.

You were fourth in your age category. By 39 seconds.

Fourth.

Fourth.

Your brain floods with chemicals from the top of your kidneys. Your face flushes. Your pupils dialate.

Fourth. Trophies went to three places deep. You missed a trophy in a triathlon by 39 seconds.

Now you know how Laurent Fignon felt:

And you understand the difference between this:

And this...

And then it becomes just a matter of Visa or Mastercard. Because that is how our lizard brains work (or don't work...).

Edited by Tom Demerly. 2012-06-22 5:40 PM

the bear

2012-06-22 5:41 PM

in reply to: #4275748

Resident Curmudgeon

25290

The Road Back

Gold member

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

JeffY - 2012-06-22 1:54 PM

flyers - 2012-06-21 4:18 PM What’s the best cost-benefit for a carbon wheelset to a road bike (pinarello FP2) to race at olimpic and HIM. And witch one : tubular or clincher?

That's an oxymoron. The cost-benefit ratio for a carbon wheelset doesn't work. You need to be looking at aluminum rim wheels if you want a cost-benefit calculation.

I've read this several times and still don't know what you mean by this post. You can do a cost-benefit analysis on anything that has a cost and a benefit. In other words, anything.

But any cost-benefit relationship is going to be highly personal. A $1,000 cost may be the world to one individual and a pittance to another. Similarly some would kill to shave 30 seconds off a 40K while to others it's a meaningless benefit.

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Jason N

2012-06-22 6:56 PM

in reply to: #4276105

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

the bear - 2012-06-22 12:41 PM

JeffY - 2012-06-22 1:54 PM

flyers - 2012-06-21 4:18 PM What’s the best cost-benefit for a carbon wheelset to a road bike (pinarello FP2) to race at olimpic and HIM. And witch one : tubular or clincher?

That's an oxymoron. The cost-benefit ratio for a carbon wheelset doesn't work. You need to be looking at aluminum rim wheels if you want a cost-benefit calculation.

I've read this several times and still don't know what you mean by this post. You can do a cost-benefit analysis on anything that has a cost and a benefit. In other words, anything.

But any cost-benefit relationship is going to be highly personal. A $1,000 cost may be the world to one individual and a pittance to another. Similarly some would kill to shave 30 seconds off a 40K while to others it's a meaningless benefit.

I wouldn't kill for 30 seconds...but I would for 31 seconds. 1:00:30 a couple weeks ago...sigh...

ETA: I have been telling a teammate of mine to get a disc cover for his rear Mavic Cosmic Carbone wheel for over a year. He missed out on being state champion for his AG by 4 seconds.

Edited by tri808 2012-06-22 7:04 PM

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MNTridude

2012-06-22 8:08 PM

in reply to: #4275727

Extreme Veteran

668

, Minnesota

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

Tom Demerly. - 2012-06-22 1:46 PM

This is an interesting thread. Here's why:

Buying behavior, especially for males between 30 and 50, is a strange phenomenon. They portray a decision process steeped in empiracle reason, rife with spread sheets, "research", analysis, investigation. This is serious stuff, and us manly men only make the most informed, sagacious, data-driven decisions. Consumer Reports could learn a lot from us...

Then we buy either the cheapest or coolest looking thing on impulse.

At the end of the day it is the male version of buying perfume.

GUILTY as charged! LOL! That being said Tom would you say a cover would be the best bang for the buck over a set of wheels? I mean we are talking about a $90 cover vs. $900 for an inexpensive pair of deep wheels. That cost difference can be used for a nice aero helmet and still pocket a $600 to $700 cost difference. What about a cover with a deep 60 front? Maybe that's the best of both worlds cost wise?

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Bunsbert Montcroff

2012-06-22 9:35 PM

in reply to: #4276098

Member

251

Phoenix AZ

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

LOL!

great post tom - and on the money.

that said, if one has the means, pick up some carbon wheels. but most importantly, have fun out there - on your zipp 808s or your stock wheels.

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erik.norgaard

2012-06-23 3:46 AM

in reply to: #4276243

Extreme Veteran

929

, Kobenhavns Kommune

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

lakelandsledder - 2012-06-23 3:08 AM I mean we are talking about a $90 cover vs. $900 for an inexpensive pair of deep wheels. That cost difference can be used for a nice aero helmet and still pocket a $600 to $700 cost difference.

$6-700 in the pocket is not very aero dynamic, you won't have room for gels, and if you thought you'd grab something in the drive through, remember you have to stop! Highly advice against that idea.

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morey000

2012-06-23 11:11 AM

in reply to: #4276098

Pro

5361

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

Tom Demerly. - 2012-06-22 3:35 PM

"...but am i the only one who thinks that laying out a grand for wheels that you will only ride on race day, and will only save you 1-2 minutes tops is nuts?"

See... there you go being all adult again...

The "sell" on race wheels happens when you go to a small to medium size race and you're a back of the middle pack athlete.

You do your race. You have a decent day.

That monday you go on line to see the results for the annual Dubuque Jaycees Muskox Man Tri, brought to you by Harley's Bike and Mower.

You were fourth in your age category. By 39 seconds.

Fourth.

Fourth.

...

And then it becomes just a matter of Visa or Mastercard. Because that is how our lizard brains work (or don't work...).

Tom nailed me entirely.

Although for me- I was third. 2nd place was 13 seconds in front of me. 1st... just a couple minutes. And there I was riding a regular road bike in a triathlon. Did the calculation. A TT bike would have made up that difference (probably). Bought the Felt. Was all set to go back this year and claim my podium spot at that same race... but the race was cancelled. (it was the Lake Morey triathlon/Fairlee Triathlon in Fairlee, VT.). Oh well. Still love the new ride. Money well spent, even if it doesn't make me a pro rider.

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Honey~Badger

2012-06-23 4:27 PM

in reply to: #4274168

Veteran

145

Subject: RE: Best cost-benefit carbon Wheelset

So I don't know much about carbon wheels and sorry if this is a dumb question, but is there a good set of wheels that can be used for both training and racing? Right now I'm on stock wheels on my Trek Equinox 7 and don't race enough to justify having a specific set for racing.

Oldteen

2012-06-23 6:06 PM

in reply to: #4274883