Physically they are worth any other wheel that gets the average rider there.

Mentally they are worth every penny.

Then spend your money on a power meter or coaching. Those will make you faster. In fact you should do them before you get aero wheels. If you don't care enough about being faster to do those, spend your money on rearranging your life so you have more time to ride.

Word.

Nothing wrong with spending $800 on some good carbon wheels that are name brand, or even off brand by some of the well known builders. It won't hurt your speed and riding, that is for sure.

Until they become some known hinderance and proven as such, it is just another wheel and technology to try and utilize.

I would think if all the pro teams for certain races are running lightweight carbon tubulars..there must be something to the technology. They aren't doing it to please a sponsor, they are doing it because it makes them faster and gives them an edge.

Just my two cents. But in general, it isn't the wheels, it's the person on them. Again, they won't hurt your speed and make your slower either.

Yes and no. Teams ride what sponsors pony up with. That said, having had discussions with a domestic pro team about supplying wheels they usually describe their needs in hopes you have something that will fit the bill.

Lately most of the major guys have been pulling the plug on sponsorship - or at least the levels of sponsorship. They are making the teams pay for at least a portion of what the cost of the wheels are. As a result some teams are starting to yank decals. Don't blame them. That said pay attention to what teams are riding especially if they didn't have decals - that means that team saw fit enough to ride them that they paid for them.

You are all for a power meter and coaching, yet you just dropped money on a new bike. Why didn't you keep your Fuji (and swap the triple for a compact) and go down the power meter/coaching route?

It was going to be more expensive to do a conversion (I had the LBS give me a quote). After I sold the Fuji for $500, I took that money and bought the Felt for $975. Basically I got a better all-round bike (significantly lighter, significantly better components, and I think the Felt is better looking). I didn't plop down $2000 on wheels thinking it would make me go faster. I bought a whole new bike for half that cost and it IS significantly better than the Fuji...and it still doesn't make me significantly faster. Faster is in my lungs and legs and heart. I don't know what a power meter is, but like others have said, the OP would be better off with some coaching and training if he wants to go faster.

I am enjoying my PSIMET built carbon clinchers.