How much would you pay for +1mph/40K on the bike? (Page 2)

Originally posted by erik.norgaard I really can't answer this, spending on the bike is mostly irrational! There is little if any scientific data to support your need for whatever, and when there is, question remains how much that improvement translates to your performance. So you set your mind on upgrading your wheels because somebody on the 'net said it will give you another mph, but then you look at the different choices and your mind slowly accept the idea to spend a little extra because surely you don't want to upgrade again, ... but are those other wheels worth the $100 extra? do you get .1mph extra? Most of what we spend on the bike is spent because we feel we need something new every so often, or we just fall plain in love with that whatever. And then we try to rationalise and justify that we actually really need this thing. And D.Joe on the internet helpfully comes up with some fictitious fact that fits right there where our rational thinking got derailed. If you're not going to podium, you're really competing against yourself, and you win when you improve. Buying "free" speed only serves to cover up the fact that you didn't work as hard as you should have. But we do it again and again, for over more money to get that rush exceeding our targets and improving gives. Switch: I wouldn't set a target speed before I will grand myself permission to buy that whatever thing. If you've in your mind decided to spend the money, you might just as well get it now, the sooner, the more you'll enjoy it. If I should set a target, it would be to spend consistently a set amount of hours/week on the bike for say 6 months, or something similar, so when I get my new thingy I won't just collect dust. For example, I still ride a road bike, and I've decided not to buy a tri bike until I have done at least two HIMs and I know what I commit to.

Originally posted by switch

I *gasp* couldn't even tell you what my tires and tubes are. 

Originally posted by DanielG Those are some of the first things to change out, even before thinking about rims. Getting back to riding after a couple years off I started out with a road bike, Specialized low-end tires and heavy butyl tubes. I rode that for 6ish months and the tires were starting to flatten. I bought Conti 4000s tires and on the same circuits I was getting .5-1 MPH faster speeds. Grins and giggles, I threw in latex tubes and was a solid 1 MPH faster than the original tires with butyl. Going from road bike bars to aero bars is at least a 1MPH, if not more, difference. Aero helmet is a cheap way (cost/benefit) to pick up a bit of speed as well. yeah, yeah, yeah, work on the engine as well, but all this other stuff adds up .1 here, .3 there, 1 on the other one AND working on the engine gives better return than engine alone with non-optimized equipment One of the least cost/benefit things is deeper wheelset but that's one of the most obvious things people see, if you care about other's views on your bike :)

Originally posted by switch

This is great info Daniel, thanks.  I have seen a lot of people recommending the Conti 4000s, but I've heard they're hard to get/severely back ordered.  Anyone have a source they'd be willing to share for ordering? What makes them so good?  Less rolling resistance?  Will these be more prone to flatting?

What brand of latex tube--does that matter? 

Originally posted by switch

I have seen a lot of people recommending the Conti 4000s, but I've heard they're hard to get/severely back ordered.  Anyone have a source they'd be willing to share for ordering? What makes them so good?  Less rolling resistance?  Will these be more prone to flatting?

What brand of latex tube--does that matter? 

Originally posted by switch

Sweet--thanks.

Dude, are they more prone to flatting or what?