Originally Posted by Bill G
I was never trying to argue or did I mean for it to come across that way. I have heard both sides of the debate over and over again over the years. There are many that think like what you have stated and there are others on the other side of the debate. When I say rotational mass I mean the weight of the wheel and tire being turned not the size. I really dont care if the spoke count is 32,36,40, paired, 700c or 26". It is still easier to spin under a load a lighter wheel and tire combo, in theory it should take less effort. A truck with the same horsepower will pull a lighter trailer up a hill faster than a heaver one. More weight less power, less weight more power thats the way it is.
I didn't think you were arguing
All true, but it's all percentages... you can see what difference 3/4 lb makes on a calculator at
http://www.analyticcycling.com/
Regardless, I can't argue that weight doesn't make any difference -- just that it's not as big of a deal as companies who deal light stuff would have us believe.
Aerodynamics play so much larger of a role. We spend the majority of our energy fighting the wind.
Originally Posted by Bill G
Also the older Rolf wheels from what Rolf told me was limited due to Treks involvment and limitations they put on his wheel desien and him. Is your friends wheels one of the models that were maid during Rolfs involvment with Trek?, I had a pair back then and they were junk and I did not care for them. That is why I questioned the man in detail when I met him. I also told him I did not care for the older set that I had owned for my road bike back then. I am not trying to defend Rolf or the fact I spent a lot of money on the Rolf Tandem Specific wheel. I did on the other hand take Dwan the owner of Co-Motion word and personal esperiance on the wheelset to be true. If they turn out to be junk I will be the first one to say it and say spending that kind of money on a wheel was a mistake, trust me I will let people know if that is the case. So far they seem to be a great performing lite set of wheels that look pretty darn good on our tandem.
Take care,
Bill G
My friend's Rolfs are 2003s, I believe.
I would never think any of these high end wheels are junk. I'm sure they are fine wheels, but I think they are all race wheels, not every-day wheels. As such, they trade minimal performance for durability.
Lance Rides conventional 32H Bontrager Classics these days (there was a pic on Cycling News this week). He's not racing, and doesn't need the minimal performance gains. And he's a guy who probably has a ton of the race wheels hanging on his wall at home.