What's in a wheel?

[gavroche]

I keep seeing people buying new sets of wheels and wonder at the transformation. All wheels are round so what is the deal in wheels being a few grams lighter? Does it really make that much difference if you only cycle for leisure and not racing? Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster? Please explain as it really baffles me.

 

[raleighnut]

I saw a pair of these and loved em, still do

 

[Citius]

I keep seeing people buying new sets of wheels and wonder at the transformation. All wheels are round so what is the deal in wheels being a few grams lighter? Does it really make that much difference if you only cycle for leisure and not racing? Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster? Please explain as it really baffles me.

Seriously, are the several thousand previous threads on the same topic not enough for you?

 

[Joffey]

You get an advantage if they are aero, not much advantage if they are a few grams lighter. Suppose it depends on your wallet and if you think the money is worth the extra speed.

For Average Joe I suppose any difference is negligible unless you are spending a lot of dollar.

 

[fossyant]

Tyres make the biggest difference to ride. Handbuilt wheels are my preferred choice. Quality hubs spokes and rims. Super light wheels tend to have overly fragile hubs.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Does it really make that much difference if you only cycle for leisure and not racing? Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster?

For leisure riding probably not, it will depends what you have to start with.

For racing you want anything that will give you an advantage and wheels is one area where they can have a small advantage. (marginal gains count)

Commuters and touring cyclist need reliable wheels, speed is not a high priority so it's worth spending a bit of money.

Some club riders often pay a lot money to save a hundred grams from a set of wheels while they could lose a few pounds of body weight for far more benefit. It's not unusual to see some of these riders, spending crazy money on wheels only to see their goals never materialise.... they are concerned about breaking their expensive wheels that struggle to maintain fast speeds.

Then there are those that can afford expensive wheels, the same way they afford expensive bikes... nothing wrong with that I think.... they are not very different to those people that buy a Ferrari to drive around town.

Super light wheels tend to have overly fragile hubs.

hubs with very small bearings that need replacing every 5 minutes, further more, too small spoke count and questionable rims.

 

[vernon]

I keep seeing people buying new sets of wheels and wonder at the transformation. All wheels are round so what is the deal in wheels being a few grams lighter? Does it really make that much difference if you only cycle for leisure and not racing? Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster? Please explain as it really baffles me.

Humans succumb to the attraction of 'bling' and it doesn't matter if the elevated price and performance data doesn't translate into tangible gains, the pleasure is gained from ownership.

It's a bit like folk who insist on buying branded groceries instead of own brand or budget supermarket brands. There's a lot of money being spent on food which does not translate into any nutritional advantage but the purchaser is happy thinking that (s)he has bought 'quality'.

At the end of the day, it's none of my business how people spend their money on their hobbies or food and I worry about more pressing matters like where's the nearest unexplored pie shop.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Humans succumb to the attraction of 'bling' and it doesn't matter if the elevated price and performance data doesn't translate into tangible gains, the pleasure is gained from ownership.

It's a bit like folk who insist on buying branded groceries instead of own brand or budget supermarket brands. There's a lot of money being spent on food which does not translate into any nutritional advantage but the purchaser is happy thinking that (s)he has bought 'quality'.

At the end of the day, it's none of my business how people spend their money on their hobbies or food and I worry about more pressing matters like where's the nearest unexplored pie shop.

There are no pie shops where I live although the local hotel makes a steak pie that looks a lot like a stew in a crock with a crusty lid. I haven't tried it and won't. But, in reference to your take on it that there is pleasure in ownership. I have thought a lot about this over the years - sometimes I sit and think and sometimes I just sit - and have discovered that the pleasure is in the desire and acquisition, not ownership. Once it has been acquired, the pleasure evaporates. Pies excluded of course.

 

[Booyaa]

I bought a new wheelset but that was because it was stronger than the stock ones I got on the bike. Being a heavy lad I need the extra strength in wheels as the old ones were just being put out of true on almost every ride. Not had a problem with the new wheels at all.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

There are no pie shops where I live although the local hotel makes a steak pie that looks a lot like a stew in a crock with a crusty lid. I haven't tried it and won't. But, in reference to your take on it that there is pleasure in ownership. I have thought a lot about this over the years - sometimes I sit and think and sometimes I just sit - and have discovered that the pleasure is in the desire and acquisition, not ownership. Once it has been acquired, the pleasure evaporates. Pies excluded of course.

I've thought along these lines too - although not about pies as I've never owned any for long.

My lust for purchases over the years have been watches, audio equipment and cars. And very often the thrill of the chase was better than the actual ownership - that's not to say that I didn't enjoy the ownership period but it often felt a little flat after the build up to the purchase.

Conversely, some things that I never really lusted for but needed eg walking boots, climbing harness and other simple stuff; I had no great excitement during the researching process but had enormous delight when I finally purchased them.

NB: it is *issing down outside and I am bored so this is why I am contemplating such weighty matters as I munch through my muesli.

 

[Ajax Bay]

buying new sets of wheels and wonder at the transformation. All wheels are round so what is the deal in wheels being a few grams lighter? Does it really make that much difference if you only cycle for leisure and not racing? Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster?

Q1: What is the deal? No big deal, and certainly not for a few grams. There are other variables, most inter-related, which have been covered above, including strength, rim design and material, spoke numbers and quality, hub quality, and cost.
Q2: Much [implied beneficial] difference if you only cycle for leisure? No. Lighter wheels may actually be disadvantageous if they sacrifice strength or hub quality, say, for weight-weeniness (sp?).
Q3: Is [the additional cost] really worth going 1 mph faster? Probably not, but that depends on the individual's priorities. Maybe they have a train or ferry to catch. Maybe they're trying to do better on a particular Strava link. Maybe they want to do their turn on the front (on a ride with hills) and still not get dropped near the end (or at least only get dropped nearer the end). Maybe they are a lean machine and have no more body mass to lose - mostly applies if hilly.

If going 1 mph faster is worth it to you then, for the money this article (albeit dated) http://www.sheldonbrown.com/rinard/aero/aerodynamics.htm offers a heirarchy of value.

 

[Tin Pot]

Get over yerselves! Expensive wheels are faster.

End of story.

 

[stevey]

A friend of mine has bought these to put on his F8 now i am sure they must help in regards to going uphill/speed but he does seemed to have achieved the same more or less the same by loosing a few LB''s

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Lightweight/Meilenstein-Clincher-Wheelset/2AYZ

 

[tyred]

You want the lightest possible wheels. The lighter the better for easy acceleration and hill climbing

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You want the lightest possible wheels. The lighter the better for easy acceleration and hill climbing

This is very funny. So funny and so true, I wish I had said it.