Originally Posted by
derath
I guess you can have arguments on both sides. A PT is easily transferrable to multiple bike. A crank based PM makes it easy to switch between a training set of wheels and race day wheels. I mean if you have to choose between a nice carbon tubular race wheel or your clincher set to mount the PT on, which do you go with?
-D
I understand the dilemma here. I purchased a used (2 years old) PT SL laced to a Zipp 404 clincher rim. I can train with it all week. On race day I can leave it on the back of my bike and throw the Zipp 404 tubie on the front and I have a Zipped PT bike. No big deal to carry a spare tubular and a spare inner tube on a group road ride, for racing the spares are not an issue. Seems like an ideal solution. It's working so far.
That's the training set-up, throw the Zipp tubular on the front and you're in business.
One minor drawback to the PT is that it certainly doesn't like the cold. Display is dim (computer still functions) in sub 40º temps. That's OK. It will be > 40º for most of the season. I just don't like subjecting the batteries to cold air, wears them out faster. I keep both the PT hub and the computer indoors in the winter so that it spends time in the 70º house, not the 30-40º garage. Again, battery wear considerations.
That Zipp/PT set-up is about $2000 brand new, scored mine on eBay for $1100, and you can generally find them for that price, which all things considered seems quite the bargain. My PT works perfectly, needed all new batteries, but so far so good.