Aero wheelset.
 

Maybe this is the wrong forum to ask about this ... anyhow I am in the process of tricking out my new frame to take out to the velodrome. I wanna get something fast and affordable. I'd like to be able to use these wheels on a nicer track frame (far off purchase) and the front perhaps on a TT bike (far off but closer purchase) or something. I wanna spend less than $2k, in fact, I would prefer to spend closer to $1k, but I realize that when you're buying nice equipment, you can't let price be your top consideration. I have been reading about performance of disc wheels and trispokes but I frankly don't know what would be the best setup for me.

Some of the wheels I have been suggested (and thus have read about) are Zipp 404s, Cane Creek Sprint 85s, and several HED track models. Based on the numbers it looks like a trispoke front with a disc rear is the most aero option ... but would sidewinds negate the practicality of that? Etc etc.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Get some tubular box sections and watch yourself get your ass kicked by 15 year olds.

I got my trispoke and a zipp 950 for around 600 bucks.

Honestly though, I think you're over thinking this and just need to get out on the track, figure out what you need THEN spend money. Going in guns a blazing is a waste of money, and especially on the track if you're not fit, you really can't spend your way to victory.

BTW: You are not going to enjoy time trials. No one does.

I guess I should have said Tri bike instead of TT bike. My friends think I am pretty silly for not wanting a road bike. I probably am. But I love my Cervelo frame and it is essentially the same frame geo as the P1/P2, which are TT/Tri. I've been to the velodrome before, granted, never to race. But I am hoping that will change. I dislike training unless it is training as a form of entertainment. I need to keep getting better for the 24 hour race I am doing in September, and I feel like the track is the logical place for me to improve without being bored.

Anyhow, back to wheels, I just thought it would be time to invest in a nice pair that will last me a few years.

Mavic IO in the front and H+Son in the back :p

Lol, frankly, I would use my street wheels but I am trying to get more legit track equipment. My other bikes are nice for the road and the regular beatings I subject them to ... but I am trying to get a little more serious about cycling than I have been in the past. I figure upgrading my wheels is a worthy 1-time investment and aside from having a new frame altogether, it will give me the greatest improvement aside from training, which is already taken care of.

hang out around tri and tt riders. oftentimes the wheels they upgraded from have lots of life in them, and they'll unload them cheaply to help get their new jams.

Yes, I've been checking CL in my area regularly. Found this post today for some Jet 60s:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/bik/1189236319.html

But I think the price is a little steep considering they are several years old now and, of course, used.

it's the powertap that's driving the price up on those, i think.

Yeah, figured. Too bad it's not really a selling point for me. I just want some nice wheels.

I've contemplated just going ahead and buying my TT/Tri bike now with the wheelset included. It's just a lot of money to drop all at one time.

Probably the powertap hub. Those things run you some bucks.

e: f;b

so you have never raced at the track and you want to spend 1500 on a wheelset for track racing? Are you serious dude? If you want to get faster, go buy a road bike and ride a ton.

I've never raced on the track. I have ridden though. As for improving, getting a road bike isn't going to really be the primary way to get better. Because I already ride a fair amount ... 10 mile commute every day plus a 20 mile ride 3 times a week. Then probably another 50 or so miles bar crawling, running errands, etc. It's not a ton, but it's what I can work in with my work schedule and social life. Getting a road bike will not make me ride more.

However, I will be getting a road bike anyway so I can ride with my friends who ride road bikes and keep pace. Anyhow, I wanted to be able to at least use the front on both.

Let's please not let this thread degenerate into a discussion of why buying nice equipment won't give you the same gains training will. I am aware of this. I already ride my bike at 95% capacity. Any more and I would be seriously cutting away at my social life and I have no desire to become a pro cyclist. The point of this was just to ask what wheels are recommendable at this price point. The velodrome is the obvious context for the purchase because they will be going on a track bike, because that is what I have at the moment.

You could buy my Cane Creek Track V-33 carbon clincher wheelset since it's great for the track :D
They are really stiff, fast, and will be ~ 1/3 of what you're willing to spend ;)
PM if you're interested
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/...8148dab6_b.jpg

running errands and commuting is not the same as training. You are definitely not riding at 95% capacity (whatever that means). I'm not trying to turn this into a debate about equipment vs. training, I am just saying that I feel like you are about to waste 1500 of your money. That's all. I'm just saying this as someone who has wasted money (which I don't have excess amounts of) on parts that weren't really necessary and then regretted it.

By saying I am riding at 95% capacity, I am taking about 95% of possible biking opportunities rather than doing stuff like reading, or watching tv, or playing video games. If it matters, this is a significant amount of time, as I don't have cable or own a car.

You might not call my biking training, but I would. My 20 mile rides 3 times a week are about as much "real" training as I can squeeze in during my weeks. Some weekends I am able to get a huge ride in, in addition to my usual, but that is generally not possible. I ride as fast commuting as I do anywhere else because I know that is the only way I will get faster.

Anyhow, I appreciate your concern about my buying an expensive wheelset. I am open to suggestions as to where the money would be better spent. As I said originally, I already plan on buying a geared bike. Aside from points of contact, IMO, aero or light wheels are the next logical upgrade, no?

Aren't Mavic Ellipses considered pretty good? Why not start off with a set of those, train on the track, and if you get really deep into it, sell them on CraigsList (I guarantee you'll get a good price if you claim track-only use, as it will equate to "cred"), and get yourself that fancy new wheelset you've been saving up for while riding the Mavics.

My friend has those and they are really nice. Super light ... was hoping for something more aero though? I feel like I would be more picky with weight on a road bike, but that might just be me personally. I dunno, I've never owned "nice" wheels before, so I am no expert.

I have no experience with them but Flit wheels sells a 50mm Carbon Track Wheelset for 700.

no, they are definitely a good upgrade, I just thought I would contibute the "hey, dude, do you really think you should spend 1500 on a wheelset" comment that was probably inevitable. Again, not trying to accuse you of anything or be a dick, I just know that if I had a couple grand in my hands, I would probably blow it on bike parts and then regret it later on down the road when I am looking to make a down payment on a house or something lol. But, if you are prepared to spend that much on an upgrade, a wheelset is probably a good part to invest in.

$2000 is a ****load to spend on wheels for anyone.

Since you've never raced it's absurd. Start racing first then think about wheels. You should be able to get an older zipp front and a disk for<$750 which will be more than enough for you until you really start training.

If you're an hourly employee **** the wheels, take $2000 of time and spend in training it will make a much bigger difference.

i'd buy those creeks from gyes if i had the scratch.

I am salaried. I've done races, just not on the velodrome. And like I said before, I plan to dual purpose the front. Anyhow, Id like to spend <$2000 and >$1000. Preferably closer to $1k like I said before, but if adequate justification exists for spending more, then I can't ignore it.

Dude, you don't have a road bike and you say you've done "races"?

No offense, but you're going to get dropped on the track like you've broke your legs.

Buy a road bike with the money you want to spend on wheels. Your training schedule is bunk and isn't doing any benefit for you. Doing errands, bar hopping, commuting... all of that is pretty much worthless for improving yourself. When you actually start riding a road bike HARD, you will understand.

Sheeet. For 1500 bucks, you can get a really nice used 10 speed rear road bike and actually GO REALLY FAST and start to really train yourself, which will make you faster than any wheel set right now.

I'm going to make a very wide sweeping generalization, but most fixie kids are not good riders in the sense of performance. Sure there's a few fast guys, but they probably also already own road bikes, and if they don't, they'd be a lot faster if they did.

done races in what sense? As in you've done a few alleycats, fm24 and maybe a silver comet tt or two or done races in that you have a license and are well on your way to upgrading out of the 5s. Spending >$1000 on track race wheels before you've ever raced on a track is kind of stupid. Even if you were seriously committed to tts you'd be looking for different wheels if you decided the track wasn't for you. Get down to the track right now, race at least until you're out of the d's if not the c's, then you can think about what wheels will best suit you and if it's really worth spending a grand on them.

no, they're not considered pretty good. they are prone to many problems.