"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - A question about wheels...

So now that I have my PT SL rear wheel, I've decided that I want to use it in basically every race I do, because the 200g I save by switching to my Fulcrum 1 rear wheel doesn't outweigh the benefit of having that power data to me. So my current setup is a Fulcrum 1 front, and a PT SL/DT RR 1.1 in the rear.

Just for laughs, I looked at a couple options for a front wheel, like a DT 240s/RR1.1 28-spoke, and it's actually 80 grams lighter than the Fulcrum 1 front wheel!

So now I'm starting to wonder--I could get the matching RR1.1 front wheel and use that wheelset for all my races, and if I sell off the Fulcrums I'd be able to buy a cheap spare set (Veloce/Open Pro or something) for the wheel van, and keep the remaining proceeds to save up for a set of "race wheels" that would actually make a more significant difference, like some PT SL/Zipp 404's or something.

I guess I just don't know if the Fulcrum 1 front wheel is giving me that much of an advantage... What do you think?

I would do something similar to that.

Sounds like a good plan to me. It seems you aren't getting any benefit out of the Fulcrum and you've done some research to back up your need for the matching set. It may make you feel more complete psychologically too, a sort of placebo in wheel comfort.

Performance was sellling DT front wheels like the one you described for cheap...Dunno if they are still doing it.

I'd personally sell the Fulcrums. I got a matching 1.1 from Mike Garcia for $199.
The Fulcrums are only 5 mm deeper than the 1.1's. I got them with bladed spokes, which may or may not off set that depth. But in that range it doesn't really matter much anyway.

i'm holding out for the pt sl 2.4 zipp 404 combo.

I'd keep holding with some of the problems people are having with the 2.4.

Sounds like a good plan to me. It seems you aren't getting any benefit out of the Fulcrum and you've done some research to back up your need for the matching set. It may make you feel more complete psychologically too, a sort of placebo in wheel comfort.

hehe... It's not really a need, but I guess it was a purely aesthetic urge that led me to research the DT front wheel in the first place. Ah, hell, you're right--I'm psychologically weak. ;)

I'd keep holding with some of the problems people are having with the 2.4.

+1. The wired harness isn't that hard to set up, and you get some added benefits like actual measured cadence and the luxury of actually getting all your data from a ride. :)

my bike is going to look extra wierd because my rims wont even be close to matching. i dont think i will try to find a matching wheel though. oh well

+1 on getting a dt r1.1 from MG. He could build you something really nice.

Yeah, I'd probably do the DT front.

hehe... It's not really a need, but I guess it was a purely aesthetic urge that led me to research the DT front wheel in the first place. Ah, hell, you're right--I'm psychologically weak. ;)

Man, it drove me crazy riding around with an Open Pro front and 1.1 PT SL for a week until I got my new one. I felt so dirty.

Man, it drove me crazy riding around with an Open Pro front and 1.1 PT SL for a week until I got my new one. I felt so dirty.

I ride around with a PT SL w/ open pro rear with an american classic / rr1.1 rim on a daily basis. I must really be trash. :o

+1. The wired harness isn't that hard to set up, and you get some added benefits like actual measured cadence and the luxury of actually getting all your data from a ride. :)

sure, when it actually works :P I've only had my PT Pro for 200 miles and I've already had to replace the head because the HR stopped working.

Here's what my bike looks like currently. Yep, Mavic Ksyrium Elite on the front, Open Pro on the rear. Looks hideous, but what do I care. I might switch to an OP front when I get my new frame, but I just can't bring myself to sell the Ksyriums :(
http://home.gwu.edu/%7Ebdcheung/IMG_0004.JPG

Damnit, Pete, you're such an enabler. Now I'm thinking about selling the Ksyriums and re-lacing the PT to a set of Velocity Aeroheads or Deep-V's.

haha bd

Damnit, Pete, you're such an enabler. Now I'm thinking about selling the Ksyriums and re-lacing the PT to a set of Velocity Aeroheads or Deep-V's.
Why not just buy an Ultegra or DA laced to OP front?

Performance lists that combo at 841g, and the Elite front wheel at 770g. 70g isn't much of an increase.

A 32h front wheel just seems so overkill - i'm only 67 kilos.

I was just looking over the weights on Excel's website, and the weight savings for the 240s/RR 1.1 wheel they listed is because they use DT Revolution spokes. Not sure I feel great about using those for a 200-lb crit racer's front wheel... But basically a 28H with 14/15 spokes comes out to the same weight as a Racing 1 front... The dilemma continues.

haha oh the huge manatee

haha oh the huge manatee
ouch...

haha oh the huge manatee

?
?

haha oh the huge manatee

That's it... You're getting "the look" when I dial it up and drop you like a OMG Poseur next time we ride. :D

?
?

it was a clydesdale joke.

DT Super Comp spokes in front....triple butted, and should make for a nice stiff/strong wheel. At least that's what Mike Garcia told me when I ordered my wheelset (Niobium 30's)

it was a clydesdale joke.

G*damnit...manatees are sea creatures. Clydesdales are horses, you can't expect people to make that kind of correlation :p

Manatees are the Clydesdale of the sea.

Or are Clydesdales the Manatees of the land?

http://www.exzooberance.com/virtual%20zoo/they%20swim/manatee/Manatee%20485095.jpg

Manatees are the Clydesdale of the sea.

Or are Clydesdales the Manatees of the land?

No, apparently I am the manatee of the land. ;)

I thought the Manatee was the sea cow...or pig...or something like that. Not a sea horse...they are actually pretty small:

http://www.prdiving.com/images/photos/sea-horse-picbig.jpg

I was just looking over the weights on Excel's website, and the weight savings for the 240s/RR 1.1 wheel they listed is because they use DT Revolution spokes. Not sure I feel great about using those for a 200-lb crit racer's front wheel... But basically a 28H with 14/15 spokes comes out to the same weight as a Racing 1 front... The dilemma continues.

They are bought and paid for.

I've got more 'boutique' wheels than I know what to do with but I won't part with them. I would get the matching front and keep the Fulcrums. 200 lbs in a crit and you are right in thinking that you will miss the stiffness going into corners.

Only thing worse than buyers remorse is sellers remorse.

naw, the seahorse is the.... whatever this is.... of the sea:
http://www.minihorse.net/knapp1.JPG

So riskus... you racing in the B's at tradezone this weekend? ;)

When I hear "Huge manatee," my brain goes straight to here:

"Oh, the huge manatee!"

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Hydrogen/images/hindenburg-1937.jpg

My brain does not go to here:

This is a clydesdale:

http://velochimp.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/fat_merckx.jpg

I wonder if he still climbs with a 42T 'ring

I've got more 'boutique' wheels than I know what to do with but I won't part with them. I would get the matching front and keep the Fulcrums. 200 lbs in a crit and you are right in thinking that you will miss the stiffness going into corners.

..Meaning that I'll miss the stiffness of the Fulcrums, or miss the stiffness if I use Revolution spokes?

i plan on racing the both the c and b race but we will see. I think i am due a some humble pie after last weeks race.

oh and the huge manatee thing wasnt a clydesdale thing. i meant it like "oh the humanity" in regard to picking out wheels.

i do like it in terms of clydesdales though. its not like im any lighter though.

yes thank you waterrockets

http://homepage.mac.com/barthold.van.acker/realbasic/ohthehumanity.jpg

..Meaning that I'll miss the stiffness of the Fulcrums, or miss the stiffness if I use Revolution spokes?

You'll miss the stiffness of the Fulcrums no matter what spoke you use.

Probably not climbing but throwing it into corners.

Has anyone tried to relace a Ksyrium rim to a PT?

Has anyone tried to relace a Ksyrium rim to a PT?

I don't know about the others, but my Ksyriums are laced with Mavic proprietary spokes that don't work with the PT.

yes thank you waterrockets

Ah yes. I spend time on the internet just here and Fark. I wasn't sure if that Fark artifact was in fact mainstream.

<off to hide in corner with my laptop>

:beer:

I wonder if he still climbs with a 42T 'ring

Possibly, he's nowhere near that fat now.