Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Whitestown, IN
Bikes: Fisher Opie freeride/urban assault MTB, Redline Monocog 29er MTB, Serrota T-Max Commuter, Klein Rascal SS, Salsa Campion Road bike, Pake Rum Runner FG/SS Road bike, Cannondale Synapse Road bike, Santana Arriva Road Tandem, and others....
Find another LBS. Even on a MTB the weight difference is recognizable on a climb, and the different between lightweight aero wheels with tubular vs heavier wheels with clinchers is pretty dramatic. I hate the maintenance issues with tubulars though, and I would watch the development of tubeless clinchers on lightweight aero wheels....
Hub quality, rim strength and rigidity, spoke weight, and tire weight and pressure all add up to better performance.
Your LBS employee is an idiot though.