Road Cycling - Change my wheels?

Ok, my bike cost around $2600, if I were to spend another $700 on a wheel set that would shed 300 grams, would it be money worth spending? In other words, would the ride experience be enhanced much? I don't need them so that I can become a hammer head, I'm that way already, being such, I just wondered what would happen if I did change over. Anyone ever drop that kind of weight? seems like it would make a big difference but I dont know. $700 bucks is a lot of change.

Errm

What wheels were you looking at?

I had them upgrade my bike from the stock mavic's to the campy wheels I have now...that way I didn't have two sets. I guess if I had the cash I'd have one "training" set and one carbon climbing race set (ok maybe not quite that crazy but..)

Are you racing? If not...??

Chad

$700 for 10.5 oz? That's equivalent to about 10 oz of water (about 1/2 a water bottle). why don't you go out with half a bottle of water and see for yourself if it's worth it?

Gear-head.

$700 for 10.5 oz? That's equivalent to about 10 oz of water (about 1/2 a water bottle). why don't you go out with half a bottle of water and see for yourself if it's worth it?
Are you realted to Ewitz? I keep my water bottles on the frame, they aren't mounted on my wheel rims! :eek:

Rotating weight is a lot different than weight on the frame. An empty water bottle wouldn't show the same difference.

Is it worth it? I don't know, never tried, not enough experiance, don't race .............

But there would be a differance in acceleration. Physics says so.

$700 for a 10.5 ounce reduction in weight does not seem worth it to me, especially since your not racing. If you really want wheels, then shop around more, I bet you can find wheels that would weigh close to that range for less money; example Mavic Ksyrium Equipe weighs 1835 grams for 2 wheels and cost $349 for the pair and Mavic Cosmos are a tad less expensive and weigh about the same, or Velomax Circuit weighs 1620 grams for $449. But don't forget one thing...lighter racing type of wheels are not going to last as long on the street as Mavic Open Pro or Torelli Master Series rims, which are just standard box type rims with 32 or 36 spokes, probably similar to what you have now.

Vegan....... Send me that $700 and I'll send you a bottle of some natural diet pills.

Vegan....... Send me that $700 and I'll send you a bottle of some natural diet pills.
LOL,, good one, but how do I get my bike to eat them? the down tube? they can't be for me @137#.

What wheels do you have now and what wheels are you looking at?

$700 for a 10.5 ounce reduction in weight does not seem worth it to me, especially since your not racing. If you really want wheels, then shop around more, I bet you can find wheels that would weigh close to that range for less money; example Mavic Ksyrium Equipe weighs 1835 grams for 2 wheels and cost $349 for the pair and Mavic Cosmos are a tad less expensive and weigh about the same, or Velomax Circuit weighs 1620 grams for $449. But don't forget one thing...lighter racing type of wheels are not going to last as long on the street as Mavic Open Pro or Torelli Master Series rims, which are just standard box type rims with 32 or 36 spokes, probably similar to what you have now.

I belive those Circuits are just as strong and semi-aero at 28mm.1680 isnt THAT light,its just that 1835 is heavy.$449 without skewers.

Are you realted to Ewitz? I keep my water bottles on the frame, they aren't mounted on my wheel rims! :eek:

Too funny.

55/Rad

if I were to spend another $700 on a wheel..., would it be money worth spending? ... would the ride experience be enhanced much?

I assume your current wheelset is less than $700, maybe Mavic Open Pros (or equiv.)? $700 would be in the range of Shimano 7700s (mine) or Velomax Ascents (friend's). I think either of these wheelsets is superior to Open Pros (on my old Medici). I posted on some other thread that I think the 7700s are stiffer and the Ascents roll better. However, I wouldn't pay no $700 for either of them. I got mine when I got my bike. The Ascents were bought (I think from Supergo) for ~$400 on a blowout last year. I'd keep an eye out for a similar sale (you may need the Orions).

In any case, YES ... wheelset makes a tremendous difference. Many think that DA or Record makes the "ride". Wrong. Frame-Fork, then wheeelset, then components is where/how the money should be spent (unless you're FSR ... [filthy stinkin' rich]).

Best.

What wheels do you have now and what wheels are you looking at?
I'm on a set of Mavic Elite with a few thousand miles on them. I've been thinking of Velomax Accend II @1420 grams/set, or maybe American Classic CR-420 @1440 grams/set. Don't the Elite's weigh around 1850 grams?; I think that's a big difference; I've noticed a difference in just using a lighter tire! I'm not worried about beating them up too bad, I weigh less than 140#. Well?

If they get you more excited about your bike & if they make you smile, you will ride more. That is justification enough...

I would rather have them a little heavy and not true them then the other. I think its more like 1780 for the elites.

I would rather have them a little heavy and not true them then the other. I think its more like 1780 for the elites.
Your right, at Weight Weenies.com they said 1781. But Velomax @ 1420 = 361 grams lighter, divided by 28 grams=12.89 ozs. less! Man, that's the majority of a pound! And I can feel the difference in a lighter tire! hmmm

Curcuits are like 1640. I would rather have those then the elites. Aero and strong.

I'm on a set of Mavic Elite with a few thousand miles on them. I've been thinking of Velomax Accend II @1420 grams/set, or maybe American Classic CR-420 @1440 grams/set. Don't the Elite's weigh around 1850 grams?; I think that's a big difference; I've noticed a difference in just using a lighter tire! I'm not worried about beating them up too bad, I weigh less than 140#. Well?

I switched from a set of Alex 320s (~1650gr) to American Classic CR-420s. It made a significant difference in the ride. Nearly half a pound (230gr) off the wheels feels incredible.

I ride a set of Velomax circuits with Mich Race tires, and love the things. When I switched from the stock wheels that came on my Specialezed (ALX-330) I noticed a huge difference in weight and faster spin-up.

$700 for 10.5 oz? That's equivalent to about 10 oz of water (about 1/2 a water bottle). why don't you go out with half a bottle of water and see for yourself if it's worth it?

Actually...if Vegan were to tape 10.5 oz of weight on his wheel, he'd get a feel for if the reduction in rotating weight was worth spending money for. What's that, one piece of power bar?

We are all gear heads and we all like to think that some other piece of equipment is the missing link between our mediocrity and potential superiority, but I think deep down we all know that it's the engine and not the bike. Many upgrades in cycling fall under the diminishing returns concept, big bucks spent for very little gain.

A higher end wheel set may be lighter than the average wheel set and that seems to be getting the majority of comments here.

With most higher end wheel sets you not only benefit from weight savings, you also get a stiffer wheel, better hub and better engineered lacing design to address both aero and strength issues. A mid range wheel will have the strength and durability, but it will not be as stiff, aero and light.

Having said that, I'd recommend a pair of Rolf Vigors. They're incredibly light, more aero than the average wheel, durable enough to be the only wheels you own for training, centuries and racing and they're made in the USA.

Rolf Prima Vigor (http://www.rolfwheels.com/products/vigor_rs.html)

And what,8-900 bucks?