"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - wheel choice question,, when starting racing

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sbskates
03-09-07, 01:22 PM
i am thinking of using my 36 spoke strong wheels for some upcoming races. they will be cat 5 races. i am only doing a few a year mainly for the enjoyment. i want to do the best i can but i also dont want to trash my best wheels doing that. anyone else share this view?

bdcheung
03-09-07, 01:23 PM
Wheels won't help you win a race. Use your 36-spoke bomproof wheels.
waterrockets
03-09-07, 03:10 PM
Wheels won't help you win a race. Use your 36-spoke bomproof wheels.

+1 in a road race or crit, the difference wheels make is pretty minor. Anyone who's faster than you with your 36h wheels will still be faster than you when you get a pair of RaceLites.

cat4ever
03-09-07, 03:42 PM
i want to do the best i can but i also dont want to trash my best wheels doing that. anyone else share this view?



Yep.
sbskates
03-09-07, 04:04 PM
yes thanks guys! thats the way i feel about it also.
Stallionforce
03-09-07, 04:27 PM
Your original post seems to suggest you have a set of racing wheels already. I say if you got 'em, use 'em. But if all you have are the 36 spoke jobs, then just use those for now. If you get more ambitious later, you can pick up some race wheels.
merlinextraligh
03-09-07, 05:16 PM
+1 in a road race or crit, the difference wheels make is pretty minor. Anyone who's faster than you with your 36h wheels will still be faster than you when you get a pair of RaceLites.


True, but if you got better wheels, why wouldn't you use them? Take the plastic cover off the sofa.
wrote4luck
03-09-07, 05:30 PM
Wheels aren't going to help anything in a Cat5 race. +1 to using your existing wheels.
waterrockets
03-09-07, 06:37 PM
True, but if you got better wheels, why wouldn't you use them? Take the plastic cover off the sofa.

Good point. I guess being conservative until you get some confidence after your first few races will take the wheels off your mind. Fear of losing something you love can be really distracting.