I've been talking to numerous people about cycling whees, and everyone has told me that its the first thing that you upgrade on a bike. Im curious as to why this is. Does it have to do with power transfer? or what? I've been riding some heavy wheels but that doesn't seem to slow me down. Just curious.

I think wheels are "that" beneficial compared to every other component on the bike (other than yourself). Also it takes more energy to move something that is rotating from point a to point b.

i'm no expert, but i think there are a few reasons.

1. rotational inertia: since the wheels are spinning, any mass on the wheel increases its rotational inertia in addition to the overall weight of the bike. this means one gram removed from the wheel has a more significant effect on acceleration than one gram removed from somewhere else on the bike. pure wheel WEIGHT, though, isn't really that important unless you're a weight weenie (not that there's anything wrong with that). a 2-kg wheelset with all the weight concentrated at the hub might feel pretty much the same as a 1500-gram wheelset with most of the weight in the rim. weight is more important when you're climbing, but still probably doesn't offer as much benefit as an aero wheel (see below). so it's not surprising that you don't think your heavy wheels are slowing you down all that much, although lighter wheels generally do have lighter rims and will feel a little easier to get going.

2. yeah, there might be a small element of power transfer, since stiffer wheels are more efficient than those that flex more.

3. ride feel: the wheels (well, tires) are the only part of the bike that actually touches the ground. that means they can significantly influence ride quality and the way the bike feels.

4. aerodynamics: most stock wheels aren't very aero. deep-section rims decrease drag and let you go faster with the same power output.

How would you know you're not being slowed down by heavy wheels if you've never tried light wheels?

Weight doesn't mean as much when you're cruising at speed, but when you hit the hills it's obvious.

Nah not that important at all - in fact, remove them and see how fast you can go.

Was waiting for a response like this ^^^ surprised it took that long

Agreed.
I removed them and it really cut down the weight, but I didn't see any speed improvement.

Some bikes actually come with decent wheels...just not at the lower end of the scale.

Lighter can be better, but remember the weight you're pushing up a hill includes the rider. Losing weight off the rider is the best (and cheapest) way to improve climbing.

For me, lateral stiffness and comfort are important. The stock wheels on my bike would flex enough from side to side to rub the brake pads when I got out of the saddle to climb or accelerate, and I'm not a powerful rider. Better wheels eliminated this flex, and also do a better job of reducing road chatter.

Let's not forget the bling factor. For some, this is the overriding concern.

Doesn't seem that way until you're riding with someone with better wheels, all else equal.

I commute to work, and my office is on the top of Mont Ventoux so it's important for me to get good wheels so I don't show up late and get fired.

I think wheels are essential.

i think that depends heavily upon where you ride. seems like aero wheels are pretty heavy. if you climb a lot, it might be better to go light/less aero. you might sacrifice a few tenths on the descent/flat but more gain on the climb.

>> thinking about mountains, where you climb for an hour and the descent takes maybe 10-15 glorious minutes.

to summarize:

less weight -- good for climbing
less rotational inertia -- good for acceleration
more aero -- good for speed and bling
more rigidity -- good for cornering and hammering
more strength/mass -- good for potholes and clydes
more pretty -- good for ego

did i miss anything?

good summary

Also since wheels could potentially be the most expensive item on a bike (frame might cost more than ONE wheel but both wheels could definitely be most expensive part of a bike) it just shows you how much R&D goes into wheels

Lightweight's = Ferraris of cycling.

I like wheels that a aero and strong, not necessarily light. I have shimano r550 which are quick and then bought some used kysrium elites which dont look as aero but are certainly more comfortable and more responsive to inputs and have a both flanges cross laced which I prefer to one side being radial like the r550. 600 is my limit. when you get basically the same designs as higher end just heavier. then again I've never ridden on expensive wheelsets.

Having a light set of wheels with a good set of bearings helps with acceleration and maintaining speed. Anecdotally (I know its not a word), putting on a pair of Zipp 404 clinchers, which weigh approximately 200 grams more than the EA90 aeros I use, upped my average speed by 2mph consistently over my usual 20 mile loop.

when you get a little older, you'll most likely have to take a transfer to an office on a non-HC climb. you can't fight father time.

High end equipment is not going to help you much unless you have the motor to take advantage of it. Beginners should focus on upgrades that improve your fit and comfort on the bike. Spend the rest of your time and money on training.

i definitely agree. i meant that a majority of most people's riding is probably not at such a steep grade (= slow speed) that lightweight trumps aero. i was actually thinking about this (and another similar article i saw somewhere that i can't find right now), for anyone who's interested: https://biketechreview.com/reviews/wh...el-performance

he doesn't comment on how steep the "uphill TT" is. if it's steep enough and you're going slowly enough, then you're right, weight matters more.

I think there are a couple reasons:

1. Stock wheels are often crappy on mid-level and entry level bikes
2. It's relatively easy to change out a wheelset compared to say a whole new drivetrain

Anyway if you have a crap set of stock wheels on your entry level bike you will get the most bang for your buck with a nice set of hoops.

OTOH the differences with wheel upgrades are often modest so you should not feel compelled to get a new set.

Start out by getting good TIRES, the stock ones are often crap and you will love the ride if you get, say, a set of Conti GP4000s tires.

I am not calling you a liar but I highly doubt changing wheels alone will increase your average speed by 2mph. There must be some placebo effect or something else going on.

I would believe 0.2MPH but not 2MPH.

^Yeah, I'm not buying the 2MPH increase either.

Also - We need umd back to deal with these "avg speed" posters! Mods!