Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

forum
road.cc bike forum

Is it worth a wheel upgrade?

by Sensible
Sun, Jul 06, 2014 14:49
35

I have been riding for a couple of years now and when i bought my first road bike I got quite a nice one so that I wouldn't have to upgrade too soon.

I have a carbon framed bike, with decent kit. It has fairly light wheels (DT swiss hubs), that are 1775g for the pair. I use Conti tyres.

I mainly ride on my own for fitness, but occasionally with friends and have done a couple of 100 mile charity rides. I average about 35-40 miles when I go out once per week and average about 15 mph. I find hill climbing hard, but am getting better and live in a very hilly area.

I understand that My wheels are good but at the bottom end of Giants decent wheel range.

Was thinking of I upgrading my wheels to something lighter, maybe 1350-1400g.

I am also unsure about the benefits of aero wheels, most of which don't seem any lighter than what I have.

If I was to buy some nice light wheels, will I notice any difference.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

35 comments

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 10 years ago
0 likes

I believe at your age adding tricks wheels won't give you a great advantage, especially given the spec of your bike and tyres. If 15mph over a hilly course then that is good. I average a solo 16.5mph over 100 miles. I am up to 18.40mph over 30 - 40 miles with 1300 ft climbing. Note I dream of weighing 13 something stone, I weigh mid 15st one and find losing weight difficult.

Try out a flatter course if your average jumps up all well and good. If it doesn't try what I have done, 3 rides a week, one 20 miles flat out as fast as you go (I do 5x5 squats when I get home. Two 40 mile highish pace over something hillier (no problem where you live) three 50+ steady ride for endurance. This will up your speed.

Avatar
Sensible | 10 years ago
0 likes

Haha..tell it as it is Colin. I was 15st 7lb before I started cycling but seemed to have stopped losing weight at 13st 10lb...I am 5'11". Could lose a bit more, I suppose.

Avatar
Colin Peyresourde | 10 years ago
0 likes

I would go Mavic Ksyerium too. Also, have you tried cutting out sugar? I was close to 13
stone, but unless you're 6ft 3, it's not a fighting weight. Still, cycling is about what you want from it, and if you don't mind fighting gradients then who I am I to say different....but I can say it worked for me (the wheels and sugar).

Avatar
ajmarshal1 | 10 years ago
0 likes

Will you notice the difference? Yes but at 13 stone 10 be careful how light you go. I've had superlight wheels that have felt like they were laced with noodles as I'm a similar weight to you.

Plenty will advise handbuilts but I own / have owned Fulcrum Racing Zero, Campagnolo Shamals and Mavic Ksyrium SLS. Would recommend all of them for your price range and rider weight. They're plenty stiff for me. One thing I will add is that I find the difference between Eurus - Shamal and Racing one - Zero to be comletely unnoticeable.

IMO my Shamals wrapped with Schwalbe ones are the pinnacle of aluminium wheelsets and I include any handbuilts I've owned over that. They're sublime.

Avatar
Sensible | 10 years ago
0 likes

I quite like these wheels which are 1370g (without skewers)
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-lite-bracciano-c50t-50mm-carbon-tubular-whee...

Pages

Latest Comments