Schmecksiness.

If you have them you can see 'hidden pictures'. And find Waldo much quicker.

Like all things in cycling, and most other sports, if your basic equipment is set up correctly and in good shape the differences are going to be pretty small. It's often quoted that quality aero wheels can save about 1 minute an hour while time trialing when compared to your basic aluminum road wheel. That matters to some (or at least they think it does).

For me, well I build my own wheels and don't need much of excuse to start on another project.

My next wheelset.

I only use Lightweights.

fyi to OP those Rolf's are aluminum 30mm rims with paired spokes. I still have them myself, but
upgraded to 2001 Reynolds Assault 46mm carbon clinchers w/ctg carbon brake track.

Besides the aero benefits which saves 15-23 watts per this test, you will save over 1/2 lb of weight. That will make a difference in sprinting.

http://www.enve.com/cache/DOC203_Whe...20120626022821

You buy carbon wheels for the SOUND they make as you blow past the Starbucks group, the Krispy Kreme group, and the Cracker Barrel group on your weekend ride.

To be in the beer group, carbon wheels are required. ;)

Write to Rolf via email and you will get a quick response from a friendly person who will ask why type of riding you do, your weight, etc and they will offer a series of recommended choices from their lineup. Good folks there!

Remind me, did Rolf change ownership or something in the past decade? Are their current wheels the same as/better than/worse than the ones that came with treks back in the day?

I bought Planet X wheels at Christmas and have 1500 miles on them with zero issues. $500 is hard to beat for 50mm clinchers.

Unless you are racing don't waste the money. Good aluminum's will get you a lot further.

Well, as it happens I am racing, and I agree that I wouldn't have bothered buying the PlanetX CT45s if I wasn't, but I don't think there's any reason to believe that "good aluminiums will get you a lot further". Carbon rims are pretty robust.

I train and just ride around on openpros because they ride nice, and are inexpensive, not because they will get me further...

Those Planet X clinchers sure are cheap.

Could flip it to "good aluminums will get you just as far, but leave money on the table for a Powertap".

I don't think the question was "what is your priority, wheels or powermeter?"

I already answered the OP's original question; I was responding to a branch of the discussion. Thank you for your contribution, though.

I don't believe that . My Zipp 303's lasted exactly 3 years. My Fulcrums Kysiriums are still going strong at 8 years. Personally I would have the carbons for racing and aluminum for training and everything else. But that's just me and to each his own. I must admit, they do feel very nice.
BTW, I like your byline- about riding- quite true.

Well, I do use the carbons for racing and the openpros for everything else. But I'm interested in how you did for the Zipps in less than half the time of the Ksyriums. Wore out the braking surfaces? Cracked them? Mileage?

Same here... CarbonRimsSale.com has been a pretty reliable source for me.

Cracked the rear wheel, a break at a spoke hole traveling around the rim, about 6000 miles on them. I weigh 175-180, this was a set purchased in 2004 and I hear these earlier evolutions had this problem and are now much better.