"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Good wheels on an ok bike...

I've got a Trek 1500 and am looking to upgrade next year but maybe the year after that. If I were to get a spinergy carbon wheel set (I get them 50% off) to put onto my Trek, would that be worth the upgrade? or would it just look silly on an aluminum bike?

2,000 dollar wheels on a cheap frame is a much better investment (ie noticeable difference) then a 3,000 frame with cheap wheels on it. Go for it.

I have Ksyrium Elites on my Trek 1000. Before that, I had Aksiums on the same bike (those wheels usually come stock on bikes $1,000+).

GREAT investment. Highly recommended!

Don't spend money on Ksyrium Elites.

Wheels can be moved onto a better frame when you get it. Since stock wheels normally aren't all that great, you can move your good wheels onto the new frame.

Enjoy your new wheels!

Don't spend money on Ksyrium Elites.

Umm... where did he mention doing that?

I have Ksyrium Elites on my Trek 1000. Before that, I had Aksiums on the same bike (those wheels usually come stock on bikes $1,000+).

GREAT investment. Highly recommended!


Don't spend money on Ksyrium Elites.


Umm... where did he mention doing that?

Perhaps...

I noticed a pretty big difference when I replaced the stock wheels on my old LeMond Reno with some Fulcrum Racing 5 Evolutions, great wheels for a great price. The stock wheels on my bike were so crappy that it did not take a lot of $$$ to tell that I had improved.

Perhaps...

That I'm trying to rid myself of....

I was planning on getting the Spinergy Stealth PBO wheels because, like I said I get 50% off on them.

Not only can you move the new wheels to a new bike in the future, as mentioned by others, you want to have 2 sets of wheels for racing.

Thus buying a nice set of wheels is the most sensible purchase you can make in the upgrade department.

If you're going to upgrade your bike, do it in this order: Wheels/tires, frame, components.

I have Ksyrium Elites on my Trek 1000. Before that, I had Aksiums on the same bike (those wheels usually come stock on bikes $1,000+).
GREAT investment. Highly recommended!

Expensive carbon wheels are probably the best example for a horrible investment. Bike parts are never good investments but the OP should buy them anyway.

If you're going to upgrade your bike, do it in this order: Wheels/tires, frame, components.

I would say fit first, if you're not well set up on your bike.

I'm doing a TT two weeks from now on a $250 used-on-ebay Scott aluminum frame, with a blackwell disc, and a zipp 1080 front. So yea, $2000+ worth of wheels on a $250 frameset.

Who cares if it's mismatched if it's fast as ****.

I've had Zipp 404s and now Reynolds Assaults on my $700 Pedal Force frame; good combo. I paid less than half price for both wheel sets though.

Deep dish carbon wheels are gonna look funny on an aluminum frame but who cares..right?

Deep dish carbon wheels are gonna look funny on an aluminum frame but who cares..right?

Not if you strip the paint and leave it clear coat it won't.

Or you could paint it black and put white bar tape.

Expensive carbon wheels are probably the best example for a horrible investment. Bike parts are never good investments but the OP should buy them anyway.

Especially if you can't afford to upgrade the frame. No offense, but if you can't afford to upgrade your bike, then you can't afford carbon wheels (remember; when buying stuff like that, you should always consider having the money there to buy ANOTHER set in case of a crash...)

Deep dish carbon wheels are gonna look funny on an aluminum frame but who cares..right?

I've got deep dish carbon wheels on my Al frame. They look fine.

Deep dish carbon wheels are gonna look funny on an aluminum frame but who cares..right?

Why? This is a common set up.

why? This is a common set up.

+1