Like a baseball player swinging with a donut...would you train with heavier wheels and switch to light wheels for events/races?

Depends, I training with my PowerTap Comp which comes in around 1300 grams (rear only). For Crits and rolling road races I would probably just stick with the PT to collect data, but a course with more climbing I would probably switch to one of my lighter wheels.

No.

If you want harder training you shift up a gear and go faster.

Yes, but my reasons have more to do with durability than weight. Also, a bad crash on "training" wheels costs a couple hundred bucks, whereas a bad crash on "race" wheels tends to be a bit more expensive...

No. there is no benefit to training with heavier and racing with lighter...just the myth of performance benefit. Best training is to use a race to train for the next one, be safe during the training race and DNF if you have to. Nothing beats racing experience.

/thread

I get this. And in theory I do the same. I say in theory because I tend to ride with my tubular unless it's raining and if it's raining I tend not to ride! My beater bike and wheels are in very good nick!

I have crashed more racing then training, so should I race on training wheels?

My race wheels are about 1400g, my training wheels will weigh 1800g. This isn't necessarily because I want heavier wheels in training, it's because clinchers weigh more (for similar profile shapes) than tubulars.

I also use a slightly heavier cassette in training. The heavier cassette is heavier because it has no Ti cogs (Ti cogs wear out quicker).

However, I prefer to train on heavier wheels etc. I load up on bottles, spare tubes, etc when I train. I do like having a lighter bike on race day. It's kind of like a conditioned response thing. I figure my bike is 3 pounds lighter when I race, give or take.

cdr

It's a risk/benefit thing. In a race, the risk of crashing (and damaging expensive wheels) is certainly high, but the benefit of those wheels is arguably even greater. On the other hand, though the risk of crashing is low on a training ride, the benefit of "race" wheels is relatively even lower.

It's an expense thing. Not at all like a baseball player swinging a donut. I have several bikes I ride at various times for various reasons. It is much cheaper to outfit them with durable, $200 wheelsets than it is to outfit them with high price racing wheelsets.

I fill my tubes with water.

I prefer cement.

the reason i ask is that my bike already has a fairly light (for aluminum) wheelset.
i was looking at some aluminum deep-section rims which are, obviously, heavier.

so i was thinking that the weight might benefit me on training rides, vs. switching to the light rims for a ride when i want to go longer/faster/etc.

why not just ride in a higher gear until your thighs scream for mercy?

I reckon race wheels are typically heavier than training wheels

I didn't play at the major league level in baseball, but a donut on a bat is only used to the loosen or warm up your swinging muscles before you go up to bat. The donut is not used in baseball training. A better analogy with biking would be someone on a trainer before a race and not heavier wheels during training.

Most of us train on heavier wheels because they are cheaper.

I thought baseball players ate the donut.


/thank you, I'll be here all week
//tip your veal... try the waitress

i train and race on heavy wheels.

The weight won't benefit you on training rides. The heavier rims may be faster on most rides if they are more aero anyway.

I train on my heavier wheels so that I don't wear out my nice wheels and tires.

I run Hed Stalingrad's.

+1 to the stalingrad
They are a little harsh on the road vibration but plenty durable

And the best part: NOBODY catches me on the descents!