carbon wheels vs. powertap
11-24-08, 11:35 PM
#1
Mr.Schwinn F'in Armstrong
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carbon wheels vs. powertap
One day I might have disposable income.
When that day comes I will have to decide between some carbon tubular wheels for racing or a powertap built up at the shop that I would train/race on. Which will I chose.
When that day comes I will have to decide between some carbon tubular wheels for racing or a powertap built up at the shop that I would train/race on. Which will I chose.
11-24-08, 11:52 PM
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From what I've seen here on the forums, its the powertap all the way.
If you utilize the powertap as the powerful training tool it is then you will go way faster and you would gain much more power and speed than the gain from carbon tubies.
GL!
~The Bike Kid
If you utilize the powertap as the powerful training tool it is then you will go way faster and you would gain much more power and speed than the gain from carbon tubies.
GL!
~The Bike Kid
11-24-08, 11:58 PM
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powertap first, then save up again and get some nice wheels. Powertap is great because it makes the engine faster, but the free speed that comes from good wheels is pretty wonderful...
11-25-08, 12:00 AM
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I've been wrestling withthe same problem.
Conclusion I came to was, if you want to perform better in a race, the PT will do more good than carbon tubulars (assuming you use it right)
Conclusion I came to was, if you want to perform better in a race, the PT will do more good than carbon tubulars (assuming you use it right)
Last edited by MONGO!; 11-25-08 at 12:28 AM.
11-25-08, 12:09 AM
#5
Mitcholo
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Scotty, I might be pawning off those carbon Vueltas I've got. I doubt they've got 200 miles on them. I'd unload them at a pretty good bro discount with the tires.
11-25-08, 12:15 AM
#6
Making a kilometer blurry
I won several races this year with 64 spokes under me, and half of them laced to a PowerTap. There were several CF wheels behind me in all races...
In the last year, my 8-mile TT speed went up from 25mph to 27mph... with the same hardware.
In the last year, my 8-mile TT speed went up from 25mph to 27mph... with the same hardware.
11-25-08, 12:20 AM
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11-25-08, 02:06 AM
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I opted for a powertap when faced with the same decision. Did it work? I don't know because the PT wheels are set for delivery on Dec 1. I'll let you know.
11-25-08, 02:10 AM
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11-25-08, 07:28 AM
#12
Making a kilometer blurry
I used to be just a maybe-3rd-place-field-sprinter.
Last edited by waterrockets; 11-25-08 at 07:38 AM.
11-25-08, 07:33 AM
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Well said, waterrockets.The difference between training with power and not training with power is worlds greater than the difference between riding with CF wheels and not riding with them. My PT 2.4 wheel has made the biggest improvement in my race performance than any other upgrade by far.
cheers!
rj
11-25-08, 08:57 AM
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11-25-08, 09:02 AM
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+1. And to add, if your not going to immurse yourself and learn how to interpret your data to ammend your training going fwd, or pay for a coach to look at it, you've just purchased a really expensive paper weight.
11-25-08, 10:20 AM
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Why not carbon tubulars with a PT rear hub...
Best of both worlds (with a 200g penalty)...
Best of both worlds (with a 200g penalty)...
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11-26-08, 12:40 PM
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I'm under no delusions of being able to tear up the field, I'd be happy at first for a middle of the pack finish. My goal is to get much more fit than I am now and my type "A" personality gets lots of motivation from mixing it up in competition.
11-26-08, 12:55 PM
#22
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I'm going to keep saying it until I'm blue in the face... if you get a crank based power meter, you can get race wheels later and not have to get a second powertap, or relace the powertap. You can also get an iBike, which is good enough for training purposes, if not eWang measuring.
11-26-08, 01:04 PM
#23
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+1. I see crank-based PM's as the way to go.
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11-26-08, 01:12 PM
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I'm going to keep saying it until I'm blue in the face... if you get a crank based power meter, you can get race wheels later and not have to get a second powertap, or relace the powertap. You can also get an iBike, which is good enough for training purposes, if not eWang measuring.
What if you have a bike with a standard double, triple, compact triple, and compact double...
Like me...
Each has its own specific use...
I race the compact triple...
I am in the market for my 3rd PowerTap...
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11-26-08, 01:21 PM
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I'm going to keep saying it until I'm blue in the face... if you get a crank based power meter, you can get race wheels later and not have to get a second powertap, or relace the powertap. You can also get an iBike, which is good enough for training purposes, if not eWang measuring.
Thanks,
Greg