Is "upgrading your wheels" overrated?
05-15-13, 12:32 PM
#26
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Haha... 40. Yeah, I'd prefer that too, but I couldn't sustain that kind of speed for any considerable distance.
By "prefer" meaning I ride as slow as my slowest friend... But if I'm up front, I prefer setting the pace minimally at 21. If we're going downhill, I pedal until spin out or coast to avoid dropping friends.
At this pace, I experience an improvement in comfort and reduction in road vibration. I don't have the "highest end" of wheels, but they are an improvement. If you don't see/experience a benefit to what you are buying, then don't buy it.
Would I buy new-er or high-er end wheels/hubs because they are "better" than what I currently have, no I wouldn't. The wheels I have I consider "more than adequate" and "more comfortable" and "more enjoyable" than the previous low end wheels, they are a huge improvement a worth while "upgrade"...
Since this thread is about "is it worth upgrading wheels"... from my experience, my answer is "yes". Although, I totally understand if others do not share my experience, we ride in different places, on different bikes and moving different amounts of weight at different speeds....
Your mileage may vary.
By "prefer" meaning I ride as slow as my slowest friend... But if I'm up front, I prefer setting the pace minimally at 21. If we're going downhill, I pedal until spin out or coast to avoid dropping friends.
At this pace, I experience an improvement in comfort and reduction in road vibration. I don't have the "highest end" of wheels, but they are an improvement. If you don't see/experience a benefit to what you are buying, then don't buy it.
Would I buy new-er or high-er end wheels/hubs because they are "better" than what I currently have, no I wouldn't. The wheels I have I consider "more than adequate" and "more comfortable" and "more enjoyable" than the previous low end wheels, they are a huge improvement a worth while "upgrade"...
Since this thread is about "is it worth upgrading wheels"... from my experience, my answer is "yes". Although, I totally understand if others do not share my experience, we ride in different places, on different bikes and moving different amounts of weight at different speeds....
Your mileage may vary.
If you don't race, that would be a waste of talent. Even Contador couldn't set that pace, especially when the road pitches up (alpe d'huez).
05-15-13, 12:41 PM
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Everyone is so obsessed with numbers. If you think upgrading wheels will make you faster, yes, it's overrated. But that's not the point - with better, lighter wheels, the bike FEELS better. Nimbler, lighter, zippier. You can't quantify all benefits with a number for speed, or power, or weight.
05-15-13, 12:44 PM
#28
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05-15-13, 12:56 PM
#30
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But past that, how about decent brake pads?
05-15-13, 01:13 PM
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I have a stock 2010 design Bontrager Race wheels at 1800 grams (thinner design). Looking into getting something slightly below 1500 grams - Boyd Vitesse with the 23mm outer rim. I assume that since it will only be a little less weight, it shouldn't be considered as an upgrade and falls under the category of overrated upgrade, correct?
05-15-13, 01:15 PM
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Depending on how you feel, the wider rim and changed tire profile could be worthwhile. I like the wider rims, personally.
05-15-13, 01:16 PM
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I have a stock 2010 design Bontrager Race wheels at 1800 grams (thinner design). Looking into getting something slightly below 1500 grams - Boyd Vitesse with the 23mm outer rim. I assume that since it will only be a little less weight, it shouldn't be considered as an upgrade and falls under the category of overrated upgrade, correct?
05-15-13, 01:19 PM
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you shouldn't notice much difference with the CXP30's. They are almost as aero as 101's but weigh a little more.
I can't tell from your post but did you just switch the rear? If so, you won't experience really anything since the front makes the most difference.
I can't tell from your post but did you just switch the rear? If so, you won't experience really anything since the front makes the most difference.
05-15-13, 01:21 PM
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What if buying wheels gets you into the hot or not thread?
05-15-13, 01:24 PM
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That's coming from a friend. He said less weight alone doesn't matter to him. Weight and material does. I like my other "OCD" friend who always talk about shaving weight. "Grams shaved is grams saved."
Last edited by gundom66; 05-15-13 at 01:28 PM.
05-15-13, 01:27 PM
#37
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05-15-13, 01:37 PM
#38
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I have a stock 2010 design Bontrager Race wheels at 1800 grams (thinner design). Looking into getting something slightly below 1500 grams - Boyd Vitesse with the 23mm outer rim. I assume that since it will only be a little less weight, it shouldn't be considered as an upgrade and falls under the category of overrated upgrade, correct?
The wider rims, maybe. I ride and like them, but before that I often rode 25mm tires on ~19-20mm rims. So much of the 'upgrade' goes back to tires in that I can run 23mm at the same pressures that I used to run the 25mm at and have the larger options available in 23mm.
Do I notice the better handling I am supposed to getting from the straighter sidewall profile? I like to think so, but I need to be taking a fast and hard corner to do so. And if somebody wanted 23mm wide rims, they have been available. Many touring bike wheels come with them. They just weren't sexy until HED said they were.
05-15-13, 01:46 PM
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05-15-13, 01:50 PM
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05-15-13, 01:59 PM
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Since were talking wheels, which is the preferred: Zipp 101's or Boyd Vitessee for semi windy conditions. I'm leaning toward the Vitessee's as a 2mm depth difference (101 30mm vs 28mm Boyd's) isn't that much of a difference or is it and the extra 500 buck's pocketed is a major plus.
05-15-13, 02:24 PM
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05-15-13, 02:42 PM
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05-15-13, 03:10 PM
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I value my aerodynamic seconds a lot as in the bike legs of my triathlons I'm usually close to the podium positions in my AG (missed 3rd by less than 2 minutes in a 5 hr race last time around) but for me:
Deep-rim carbon wheelsets: Totally worth it - for the LOOKS.
Totally NOT worth it for the SPEED or RIDE.
$2k to make a average looking Cervelo look friggin' amazing is worth it to me. $2k to gain 40 seconds on 60 minutes of racing for me is definitely not worth it, but I'll happily take it because it comes with the cosmetic upgrade. I think people are always hesitant to admit that comsetics count a lot.
Deep-rim carbon wheelsets: Totally worth it - for the LOOKS.
Totally NOT worth it for the SPEED or RIDE.
$2k to make a average looking Cervelo look friggin' amazing is worth it to me. $2k to gain 40 seconds on 60 minutes of racing for me is definitely not worth it, but I'll happily take it because it comes with the cosmetic upgrade. I think people are always hesitant to admit that comsetics count a lot.
05-15-13, 03:20 PM
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05-15-13, 03:24 PM
#48
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In most cases the wheels that come from the factory on a production bike as about as good as the rest of the bike, frame included. Doing a high brow upgrade to the wheels is basically "putting lipstick on a pig", so to speak.
05-15-13, 03:39 PM
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Nah... I don't do drugs, I wouldn't fit in with the "pro's".
If the sport was broken into size categories, like boxing/wrestling, I'd consider competing. I'm 6'4" 225lbs... why would I race a 5'9" 136lbs person (like Contador)? I haven't been that small since 5th grade. There isn't any pride in winning against a person that stands as tall as your nipple. Maybe if he strapped an extra 90lbs to his bike/body, I'd race him. We'd have the same weight to haul "when the road pitches up".
05-15-13, 04:17 PM
#50
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I for one am convinced that for most riders, the differences are vastly overstated.
In terms of performance, higher-end wheels will be a little bit faster -- but the differences, however real they are, are likely below the threshold of what can be detected without strict protocols and high-end equipment. The normal variations between two wheels is smaller than most people's everyday variations due to wind, temperature, training status, and so forth.
I also toss a huge pile of salt over my shoulder when someone who invested hundreds of dollars into a new set of wheels proclaims the differences are HUGE, especially when the difference is down to a subjective quality like "ride feel" or "cornering." Expectations routinely influence our experiences like these.
I certainly haven't seen anything resembling objective data suggesting that Wheel X is smoother than Wheel Y.
For the few riders who genuinely are fighting for every last second, nice wheels are undoubtedly worth it. For everyone else, I have serious doubts.
In terms of performance, higher-end wheels will be a little bit faster -- but the differences, however real they are, are likely below the threshold of what can be detected without strict protocols and high-end equipment. The normal variations between two wheels is smaller than most people's everyday variations due to wind, temperature, training status, and so forth.
I also toss a huge pile of salt over my shoulder when someone who invested hundreds of dollars into a new set of wheels proclaims the differences are HUGE, especially when the difference is down to a subjective quality like "ride feel" or "cornering." Expectations routinely influence our experiences like these.
I certainly haven't seen anything resembling objective data suggesting that Wheel X is smoother than Wheel Y.
For the few riders who genuinely are fighting for every last second, nice wheels are undoubtedly worth it. For everyone else, I have serious doubts.