Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - track wheel weight

Just got new track wheels deep V and are much heavier then my old ones. will this slow me down? Also they are 36 spoke. Smooth hubs, too.

Nope.

Weight is an issue on the road because of climbing. When climbing on the road, you build up a lot of potential energy as you climb up a hill and rarely get the benefit of it coming down due to terminal velocity (either real terminal velocity or the most velocity that your nerves or your tires can handle).

On the track, the energy spent going up the track is quickly regained when coming down the track, so it's a net zero. The same goes for a heavier bike being slower to get moving...but it also carries more momentum once it's moving. This is why people say that "weight doesn't matter on the track".

That's my arm chair physicist view on it.

It can be argued that aerodynamic are more important on the track than on the road because of the higher average and top speeds used on the track. At higher speeds wind resistance increases exponentially. This is why trackies compete in skinsuits.

...that and the fact that pockets aren't necessary when at an event because your gear is never more than a few yards away in the infield.

Aero is definitely the priority on the track, but depending on the racing you do weight can matter some. In mass starts it can be nice to have lighter wheels if you're in races that have a lot of accelerations, particularly for lighter weight riders. I've had wheels that I was just fine on and lent them to lighter friends who came back and said "OMG, how can you accelerate those!". If the speed is just going to go high and stay high it doesn't matter so much.

Thanks guys.. they should be fine then for racing. They have been good on the street and fast going down hills.