Old 05-16-18 | 11:33 AM
  #15  
sch
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Mountain Brook. AL
Doubt you will realistically notice much variance in performance between 1600 and 2000 gram wheelsets based on weight unless you are regularly
racing and have combined steady state power levels in the 500 or so watt range. IME we did our fastest century (~5H 5') on a 44# tandem and
never matched that speed when we switched to a Macchiatto with Rolf aluminum wheels a few years later. Of course our combo weight in the 380#
range and combo age in the 130 range may have contributed. Light weight wheels are mostly noted in acceleration, either on the flat from lower
to higher speed or in climbing, which requires you to accelerate at some cosine of the local gravitational constant in order to keep your speed
constant.

Aero wheels can be a benefit if you can stay above ~20 mph consistently and really come into play above 25mph but cross winds can be a *****.
FWIW we noted the use of aero bars would result in a speed change of +2 mph if the pilot went from the drops to the aero position at 28 or so mph.

Last edited by sch; 05-16-18 at 11:38 AM.
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