Road Cycling - cranks or wheels

Hi Everyone

My wife just informed me I would be getting a nice gift certificate to the local bike shop for my b-day.
Should i upgrade my wheels Mavic cxp21's to shimano 540's or switch my stock coda cranks out for a set of ultegra cranks and a different set of pedals.I run Time mtb pedals right now and was looking at eggbeaters.they look like they will save me arouond 120gr.
Which do you think i would see more gain out of for the bang for buck.

thanks everyone
Jeff

If you're primarily looking to save some weight by upgrading components, the wheels are the best place to start. Every gram in the wheels is reciprocating weight, meaning you have to not only carry the wheel weight itself, but also accelerate it in a circle as you pedal.

The old saying that every gram saved in the wheels is worth two anywhere else on the bike- has some truth to it.

Aren't there better wheels around for the bucks than the shimanos?Biggest gain comes from cuttig rotating weight out where it matters in places lilke rims,tires and tubes.

There may be better wheels out there i haven't gotten that far,but i thought the pedals and cranks were pretty heavy and lowering that weight would help just as much. as for the wheels.I'm not sure what my wheels weigh.they are mavic cxp21's with coda hubs.
if anyone has or knows where to find this info i would appreciate it.

thanks
Jeff

In reference to Roadster's comment, it needs to be said that saving weight in the crankset/pedals is the same as saving it in the wheels. Since the same rotational physics apply to "getting the cranks turning" as to "getting the wheels turning," these things are theoretically equal. I am not sure if a savings of X grams in the cranks/pedals at a max of 17cm from the spindle are equal to the same savings in the rims at about 30 cm from the hub. I am not enough of a physicist to judge that one. But, you do have to get both of them spinning.

By the way, I know this to be true because of the dramatic difference I felt in my bike when I recently switched to Speedplay pedals, nearly halving the my "pedal weight". Someone had told be about the rotational physics. I said, "yeah, that'll be a nice side benefit." But, I never thought I would actually notice it. But, not only did I notice it, I felt like my entire bike had shed several kilos, even though I had only shed 200 grams. Of course, I have now gotten used to it. Weight savings are a short-lived pleasure.

Cheers,
Jamie

Wheels.

The weight savings from the crank/bottom bracket will be less noticable since much of the weight saved will be in the BB and close to the rotating center. Also, your pedals and rings don't rotate as fast as your wheels.

I run Egg Beaters on my road and XC bikes and love them. They are light and efficient.

Wheels but not Shimano's, their too heavy. Weigh your wheels and the ones you intend to purchase to check whether you are actually getting a weight saving. Also note that light hubs will not make anywhere near the same difference as light rims, nipples and spokes.

If you have machine built CXP-21s, you'll love an upgrade. I had CXP-21s that I had a lot of problems keeping true. I bought a set of handmade custom CXP-33s on Ultegra hubs from Colorado Cyclist ($217 with black rims) and am sooooooooooo happy with them. So much smoother and so much faster.

So apply the gift certificate to cranks and save up for the wheels from Colorado Cyclist.

Rich

I was debating between cranks or wheels my self. I chose wheels. Man the differance in the ride is grate. Smother and the bike feels so much lighter that on some of the hills I actually cut 2 min. off my time. The bike seems to respond better and accelerate alot faster. I say go with wheels first.
Slainte:beer:

If your hubs are worth keeping, then you could spend the money on new rims, spokes, and a set of speedplays; this would be the most economical way of reducing your rotational inertia-->improving performance.