What's in a wheel?

[Wolf616]

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

Whilst I understand slight annoyance at repeated posts, surely the onus is on you to just ignore them and read something else than on him/her not to post it? If we didn't repeat topics this place would very quickly become a desolate wasteland (although there are of course quite a few original threads every now and then, too)

 

[MontyVeda]

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

I see you've found a rare photo of @blazed

 

[Ajax Bay]

@MontyVeda that is totally unfair and a misidentification. We have established that @blazed is 200lbs of power generating, fast twitch muscle. Nor would he be able to achieve all those KoMs with that riding position. I suspect he already has an awesome set of wheels so this thread has even less relevance to him than others.

 

[vickster]

@MontyVeda that is totally unfair and a misidentification. We have established that @blazed is 200lbs of power generating, fast twitch muscle. Nor would he be able to achieve all those KoMs with that riding position. I suspect he already has an awesome set of wheels so this thread has even less relevance to him than others.

On his stabilisers?

 

[beastie]

When I had pringled my wheels I replaced some Alex r500's + continental ultra sport tyres with Fulcrum 5's and Michelin pro3's. There was a noticeable difference in handling and comfort. They certainly felt nicer. They also felt quicker and my ave speed was up about 0.75 mph.

 

[vickster]

When I had pringled my wheels I replaced some Alex r500's + continental ultra sport tyres with Fulcrum 5's and Michelin pro3's. There was a noticeable difference in handling and comfort. They certainly felt nicer. They also felt quicker and my ave speed was up about 0.75 mph.

Wow!! Over what distance? Exactly the same traffic conditions? Gadget algorithm? How do you know it wasn't the tyres?

Fair enough changing knackered wheels however

 

[Yellow Saddle]

When I had pringled my wheels I replaced some Alex r500's + continental ultra sport tyres with Fulcrum 5's and Michelin pro3's. There was a noticeable difference in handling and comfort. They certainly felt nicer. They also felt quicker and my ave speed was up about 0.75 mph.

Troll alert!

 

[beastie]

Wow!! Over what distance? Exactly the same traffic conditions? Gadget algorithm? How do you know it wasn't the tyres?

Fair enough changing knackered wheels however

On an identical 30 mile loop. The next day.
There is no traffic in Cumbria.
Probably was mainly tyres, or a better day.

My point was mainly that the new kit felt better, certainly more comfortable, maybe faster. If it makes ones ride more enjoyable then it is a good upgrade.

 

[beastie]

Troll alert!

Piss off with the troll alert, it was just an anecdote. If the new kit makes you enjoy the experience more then why not.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

On an identical 30 mile loop. The next day.
There is no traffic in Cumbria.
Probably was mainly tyres, or a better day.

My point was mainly that the new kit felt better, certainly more comfortable, maybe faster. If it makes ones ride more enjoyable then it is a good upgrade.

You are digging a deeper hole for yourself. Your claims for your new wheels so far include:

Increased comfort
Increased speed
Upgrade (i.e. the new wheels are better than the previous)
Improved handling.
Quicker (although I don't know how quick and faster differs)
Increased average speed (also don't know how that differs from the other types of speed increases).

These are all measurable and explainable properties of wheels. Would you care to explain how you measured these and attempt to explain why the new wheels gave you all these advantages over the old ones.

I'll let you off the hook with two claims since I can't argue about what goes on in your head.

More enjoyable
Felt Better.

 

[Tin Pot]

These rawk, and are on my wish list:

Over 180km and lord knows how many hours, I reckon they'll save me a minute or two over my current, not unworthy wheels

 

[Tin Pot]

Is it really worth forking out hundreds of pounds for the sake of going 1 mph faster? Please explain as it really baffles me.

113 miles at 15mph = ~7.5hrs in the saddle
113 miles at 16mph = ~7hrs in the saddle

 

[gavroche]

113 miles at 15mph = ~7.5hrs in the saddle
113 miles at 16mph = ~7hrs in the saddle

Thanks for that. It puts my mind at rest as I never do 113 miles on the bike and never will so the time gained on my mostly 20 to 40 miles is therefore negligeable.

 

[tyred]

113 miles at 15mph = ~7.5hrs in the saddle
113 miles at 16mph = ~7hrs in the saddle

Great, so you are home in time to watch Eastenders

I'll spend 1/2 an hour longer on the road and put the money saved on wheels towards a weekend away.

 

[beastie]

You are digging a deeper hole for yourself. Your claims for your new wheels so far include:

Increased comfort
Increased speed
Upgrade (i.e. the new wheels are better than the previous)
Improved handling.
Quicker (although I don't know how quick and faster differs)
Increased average speed (also don't know how that differs from the other types of speed increases).

These are all measurable and explainable properties of wheels. Would you care to explain how you measured these and attempt to explain why the new wheels gave you all these advantages over the old ones.

I'll let you off the hook with two claims since I can't argue about what goes on in your head.

More enjoyable
Felt Better.

It was just an anecdote about my experience buying replacement wheels, not The Theory of Everything. Get over yersel.