Originally Posted by
oldnslow2
I have a Madone 4.6c with Bontrager Race wheels. They weigh over 2000 grams. I borrowed a set of Bontrager Race X Light (RXL) and noticed a immediate improvement over the stock wheels. It accelerated quicker, I was able to climb better and the bike just rolled longer.
Originally Posted by
gregf83
Never underestimate the power of placebo! It will always make hill climbing easier.
^This... If the difference between wheels is say 45 seconds over a 25 mile ride (a typical range of claimed advantage, which is also probably highly dubious!) -- so you finish in 59 minutes 15 seconds instead of 60 minutes -- do you really think you can feel the difference in those two speeds, 25 mph versus 25.3 mph? I don't think most of us could tell the difference until we looked down at the computer.
Also, legs beat wheels every day of the week. The variability in our day-to-day physical condition would tend to swamp out the result, i.e. one day we'd feel good and finish the ride in 58 minutes but on a bad day it would be 62 minutes.
In the end, is it nice to own nice equipment, most people would say yes. It is nice to look at and a psychological boost. But you can't buy legs...
