Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
Yep, any bike with just the wheels changed from lightweight climbing wheels to heavier aero wheels will be faster with the aero wheels: over any course (flat, hilly, mountains, indoor velo)
in a situation where two wheels have the same aero properties, then the lighter wheel is obviously faster, this is what I mean by "all else being equal"
now in most cases it'd likely be more expensive, weaker, or look less cool, but these are all personal choices
Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Nov 2009
- Posts
- 5,309
I've bought a set of 88/60mm clinchers, Novatec hubs, Chinese obviously but shipped from Nottingham apparently.
~1750g
£364 delivered.
~1750g
£364 delivered.
A lighter bike usually has different properties than a heavier bike.
An aero frame may be more harsh leading to increased rider fatigue over several hours giving a reduced power output negating any aerodynamic advantage.
Can’t be wind tunnel tested though and sold/marketed that way!
Soldato
That is not true either. Two sets of wheels with the same aero properties with one set being lighter than the other doesnt make the lighter set faster. On the flats, it will make no difference. The lighter set would be minutely quicker to spin up (accelerate) sure but once up to speed the overall speed will not be affected. The heavier set would be minutely faster down hill but the lighter set will be minutely faster up hill.
Soldato
- Joined
- 25 Nov 2009
- Posts
- 5,309
Glad we cleared that up 
Exactly, you never regain all the time you lost on the climb.
Thanks but I'll take the wheels that are at least 80% as aero as yours weighing under 1500g. Best of both worlds then!
Every climb is a competition!
Wow, who weighs bikes in lbs anymore, are you really that old/an american in disguise?
I would ride slower so everyone could see them...I would ride slower so I could avoid all of the potholes
Yup, then again that's why we're seeing the newer aero bikes (Foil, Propel etc) with slightly more comfort orientated geometries and being able to take larger width tyres, while also trimming some weight. Then you have 'do it all' light race bikes (Tarmac, R5 etc) getting more and more aero without gaining any real weight.
Ahh fair enough... Might be interested to try one myself! Certainly cheaper than the Specialized Power!
EDIT: Checked if the place you're buying the Foil from will sell it without the saddle? Might save some pennies? Or even see if they'll swap it for the Arione VS version as that might work for you...
Looks like Trek do several? (you'll have to check what are ok with your seatpost as my googlefu isn't strong today)
https://www.chainreaction.com/product/bontrager-rotary-head-seatpost-saddle-clamps-195859-1.htm
https://www.evanscycles.com/bontrager-seatpost-ears-for-oversized-7x9mm-rails-EV159296
https://www.trekbikestore.com/product/bontrager-rotary-head-seatpost-saddle-clamps-195859-1.htm
Or something unbranded: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/J-L-Seat...lt-Trek-Bontrager-7-9-Oval-Rail-/302627207403
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Good luck measuring the 80%Thanks but I'll take the wheels that are at least 80% as aero as yours weighing under 1500g. Best of both worlds then!
Wow, who weighs bikes in lbs anymore, are you really that old/an american in disguise?
Road cycling is very European, mountain biking is very American, and when you grew up reading MBUK in the nineties, it kinda sticks.
even now I switch my scales to lbs to weigh an mtb....
Not sure how aero my wheels are but they're definitely light at 1480g - and thankfully they do seem to suit my new bike:
https://ibb.co/gQoxBy
I need to sort out bottle cage(s) and also swap to a low garmin mount as the standard one looks stupid and just isn't in-keeping with the aero front end.
Saddle looks nice but is horrific to sit on - will be swapped soon as I get new rail ears through in the post.
https://ibb.co/gQoxBy
I need to sort out bottle cage(s) and also swap to a low garmin mount as the standard one looks stupid and just isn't in-keeping with the aero front end.
Saddle looks nice but is horrific to sit on - will be swapped soon as I get new rail ears through in the post.
Didn't clock before that the picture was yours!
Looks great, looks fast! Wheels look good, no worries about them going with the frame at all now! It does need a more aero mount/computer, like a BOLT! Also a smaller saddlebag...
Soldato
If you want rid of the Fizik Arione I'd be happy to take it off your hands at OcUK mate's rates.
I'm still riding on a Fizik Antares that's snapped in the middle from when a car knocked me off.
If you want rid of the Fizik Arione I'd be happy to take it off your hands at OcUK mate's rates.
I'm still riding on a Fizik Antares that's snapped in the middle from when a car knocked me off.
It's all yours fella - just wait for me to get a replacement sorted, the 7x9.5 ears I've ordered should roll up Monday so you can have the Arione for a small mates rates fee next week.
Soldato
Liam how badly broken is the Antares?
I rode an Arione R5 for over a year before it broke (developed a crack through the middle), I rode it for a couple of months before replacing it with a cheapy Arione and could never get on with the new one, so not ridden Fizik again. I had always meant to try an Antares/Aliante to see if it suits me better (before buying an Open/VS one)...
I rode an Arione R5 for over a year before it broke (developed a crack through the middle), I rode it for a couple of months before replacing it with a cheapy Arione and could never get on with the new one, so not ridden Fizik again. I had always meant to try an Antares/Aliante to see if it suits me better (before buying an Open/VS one)...
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Soldato
I really like the fizik seats!