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Wheelset recommendations
chrisbint
Posts: 3
in General Chat
Hi
As you can see, first post on this site, although been browsing for a while.
I recently purchased a new bike on Cyclescheme with a view to entering some triathlons later on in the year. I am currently entered in a sprint tri @ westonbirt at the end of may and in the ballot for the london triathlon.
I also have my first event, a duathlon in less than 4 weeks.
Anyway, I know a fair bit about mountain bikes, but very little when it comes to road bikes and I am looking for an upgrade to the (very) basic wheelset on my bike. Unfortuantely, I am unable to link to them as they no longer sell the model that I have. They were included on my Planet X Sram Red Team Alu and from what I saw retailed at £79.99.
I am looking to upgrade these along with a bike setup, clip-on bars and have a budget of up to around £400 for a set of wheels. The wheels I have been looking at are ;
Sram AL 30 Sprint (heard a few stories about hub problems)
Fulcrum Racing 3
Shimano RS80 Carbon Laminate
Easton EA90
Anyone care to comment on the above or perhaps throw something else in the mix?
Thanks in advance
Chris
As you can see, first post on this site, although been browsing for a while.
I recently purchased a new bike on Cyclescheme with a view to entering some triathlons later on in the year. I am currently entered in a sprint tri @ westonbirt at the end of may and in the ballot for the london triathlon.
I also have my first event, a duathlon in less than 4 weeks.
Anyway, I know a fair bit about mountain bikes, but very little when it comes to road bikes and I am looking for an upgrade to the (very) basic wheelset on my bike. Unfortuantely, I am unable to link to them as they no longer sell the model that I have. They were included on my Planet X Sram Red Team Alu and from what I saw retailed at £79.99.
I am looking to upgrade these along with a bike setup, clip-on bars and have a budget of up to around £400 for a set of wheels. The wheels I have been looking at are ;
Sram AL 30 Sprint (heard a few stories about hub problems)
Fulcrum Racing 3
Shimano RS80 Carbon Laminate
Easton EA90
Anyone care to comment on the above or perhaps throw something else in the mix?
Thanks in advance
Chris
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If the money were available, do you think it would be the better long-term option to buy these;
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPP ... ace_wheels
rather than the standard 52mm carbon clinchers you mentioned.
My first event is also at Castle Combe race course, am I still going to get the benefit of these types of wheels on a course that is basically just going round and round, rather than having nice long straight sections (therefore being able to get into a more aero position more of the time)
Thanks
So if you want a wheel purely for going faster in races, get the R50's. If you want to go faster in races/training and be able to use the wheels on a regular basis without the worry of expensive tyre repairs get some deep section carbon clinchers, but pay a weight penalty on steep hills. If you just want a wheelset that will feel more lively and provide a marginal speed increase get an alloy wheel with something like a 30mm rim (such as the Srams you mention). As you are new to the sport I'd suggest waiting to get the tubulars until you come to inevitably upgrade your bike in the future as you get more serious. Carbon clinchers hold their value quite wheel on the secondhand market if you come to sell them.
As for courses, as long as your speed is in double figures aero wheels will keep your speed up and be faster, they dont just benefit you on the flat sections. There's an interesting article I read on the web which says weight only becomes more important than aerodynamics on long climbs with a gradient of over 8%, such as alpine climbs.We dont have many of them in the UK!
Lighter than my previous clincher wheels by at least 500gm. Very nice on flats, corners, hills, soaks up the road buzz so comfy and manageable in the wind and feature here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/b ... els-31023/
Use Continental Competition 22s, done about 1500Km on them racing and training; smooth, nice grip, no heart stopping moments, very little wear evident, keep the pressure up throughout a race, not raced in wet so can't give opinion on that.
My post on similar thread here:
http://forum.bcttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4254#p52918