"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Bontrager Race Wheelset Upgrade?

I'm new to racing and I need to get an extra wheelset. I'm currently on a Bontrager Select wheelset with Race Lite 700x23's and an Ultegra 12/25 10-speed cassette. I don't want to spend a fortune on a new wheelset so I'm thinking a new Bontrager Race wheelset with an 11/23 cassette. My reasoning is that I would have a slightly better wheelset with a faster cassette for racing. I would take the Select's to put in the support truck. I could also continue to train with the Select's. Should I run into a course that needs lower gearing I run the Select's and put the Race's in the truck. My budget is about $400 for new wheelset, cassette, and tires. What are the flaws in this plan? Are there better options/suggestions?

If you don't have much money to spend, why spend it for such a minimal improvement? You might consider just saving some cash and get a set of durable heavier wheels for training and the wheel van. $230 gets you a set of Open Pro/Ultegras that will last as long as 2 sets of Bontrager racing wheels.

As a new racer, wheels are going to make absolutely no difference in your results. By the time you get to the level that they'll make a reasonable difference, you'll probably be getting them for free from your team.

I have been really impressed with my cane Creek Strados wheels that I got from Nashbar for 250.00/set.
Bombproof. Have not trued them even once. They ride great too. I would buy Cane Creek again.

http://canecreek.com/strados.html

Not certain that you will really see that much of a difference between those two wheels... Also, why do you think that a 11-23 will be faster than a 12-25? Yes, you will have a taller top gear, but can you REALLY spin it? If you loose cadence due to a taller gear, then you really haven't won anything (except for sore legs, potential knee problems) and could actually loose speed. Correct gearing is important. The pro's can definately use a 53/11, but there aren't that many others that actually need it or can use it.

Stick with your 12-25 instead.

I'd skip the Bonty Race wheels. If you look around you can find the Race Lites for $375 or so (they retail for $429). The problem with the Bonty Race is that they do not use an insert on the rims around where the nipples come through. The Selects AND the Race models are prone to the rims cracking around the spoke holes because of this. The Race Lite wheels, get you the Swiss made flangeless hubs, stronger, lighter rims and more durablility.

So my advice...Take it from someone who has a lot of Bontrager wheels.....don;t buy the Race wheels...save up a little and get the Race Lites and you'll be much happier in the long run.

Good luck!

You won't see much of a difference in those 2 wheels. Look on ebay for some used race x lite wheels, you can probably get them for 3-400 bucks. The new 2007's are going for a tad over 500. Save up and get the race x lites, those are some really nice wheels.