Originally Posted by
wphamilton
I don't see why not. Coastdown tests could check smokehouse's claim, with decent methodology. Or a team could observe a lot of amateur races, noting everyone's choice of wheels and you could get some information with enough data points. You could monitor power output against speeds on training rides of elite riders, given different wheelsets. You could measure the various mechanical responses in a lab. I think you'd want blind testing only for subjective evaluations - but that's easy isn't it? Just don't let them see the wheels before getting on the bike.
Now this part is just my opinion: I expect that you're right that we won't see unbiased, analytical comparisons but not due to the technical difficulty of testing. Because it would be expensive, and I suspect that they'd show less difference than is commonly assumed, hence counter-productive for marketing. Without good marketing reasons there is no motivation to spend what it would take.
I'm still trying to figure out if even, in all situations, a heavier wheelset is necessarily detrimental in hilly routes. Or whether flexier wheels really rob you of power, or impact handling other than in extreme cornering. I know what people say, but people say a lot of things that don't necessarily hold up and that's particularly true of the things they've spent a lot of money for. Like you, I don't hold out much hope for objective testing though.
I think feel has much to do with it when it comes to upgrades. I know I've had some upgrades/changes that did nothing…and others that made a significant difference. I think with some items…its impossible to put some hard data on it to prove what offers a better ride or better efficiency. Hell, strapping a man to a bike to get scientific data is inherently flawed…a man is too much of a variable unless you plan on mining an ocean of data in very controlled situations and over a very long amount of time. Something no one will be willing to do over a $500 set of bike wheels.
That's why I try to come on places like this and post up what I do. I feel my wheels offer a far better ride than stock and I've found I ride faster on them. If this is pure mental BS…so be it…all I have to go on is the data logs of my rides…and little else. I come on here, state what I've found and how I found it…and some simply demand some lab results and label me a fool. Such is life I guess.
I could make a list of the things I've upgraded…and how as a package they've effected my ride and how they individually have effected my ride. As a whole, I've reduced the weight of my stock bike by 10%…or 1.8lbs off of an originally 18lb setup. That's a good amount, 10% weight reduction on any machine will make a difference. Am I a cat 2 racer now? Nope. Have I better fine tuned my bike to my liking thus enabling me to be happier/more comfortable on the saddle and thus faster? Absolutely.