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Old 03-08-10 | 09:28 AM
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merlinextraligh
pan y agua
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Jacksonville

Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike

The aerodynamic difference between the Rolfs and a set of 48 spoke conventional rimmed wheels is going to be substantial.

Wheels make up about 10 to 15% of the aerodynamic drag. Going from a conventional 36 spoke wheel to a deep dish low spoke carbon wheel can reduce that 25% or about a 2-3% decrease in the total aerodynamic drag of bike and rider.

My bet is that the drag reduction between a 48 spoke wheel, and the Rolfs which are low spoke, and semi deep dish would be at least as prononced if not more so.

If you run that through analytic cycling, you get a speed increase of about .25mph at 25 mph.

Add into the equatiion that the weight reduction will make the bike accelerate, and climb just a tad faster, and there will be a perceivable increase in speed.
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