Confused! Persuade or disuade me from buying aero wheels?

brit66
brit66 Posts: 350
edited January 2008 in Workshop
Hi folks,
I'm new to this forum but have been cycling on and off for many years and have a query...

Currently I'm doing a 27 mile round trip communte on flat to rolling terrain and can avergage 21-22mph on the flat in neutral conditions with relative ease.

I'm now considering a budget aero clincher (HED Jet 50s) in order to try to get a bit more speed for no more effort so to speak. However, I've searched this forum and seem to get conflicting views on the benefits of aero wheels?

To those who've used them my questions are simply thus:
1) would I gain any advantage, e.g. 1-2mph for the same effort?
2) Could I get any noticable benefit from buying just one areo wheel - and if so - front or rear?

Cheers. :)

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Aero Wheels for a commute? - don't bother. Something reliable and strong like a pair of handbuilts would be cheap and more appropriate for the task..
    I like bikes...

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  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    ah well - if you fancy them - buy them

    it's you money - but to be honest, your not going to find a rational justification for a commute with aero wheels

    would look great though!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    If you want speed - then tribars should be your first purchase.
  • Ste_S
    Ste_S Posts: 1,173
    redddraggon wrote:
    Aero Wheels for a commute? - don't bother. Something reliable and strong like a pair of handbuilts would be cheap and more appropriate for the task..

    Seconded
  • Doom
    Doom Posts: 133
    cougie wrote:
    If you want speed - then tribars should be your first purchase.

    Tri-bars for a commute? Thats seems like a shortcut to disaster if you ask me taking the hands further from the brakes while in close quaters with traffic.

    Suppose it depends on your route and how comfortable you are using them.
    FCN: 4
  • brit66
    brit66 Posts: 350
    Just to clarify, my communte is on good quality cycle paths plus about 3 miles of road each way.

    Besides, I though these types of wheel were pretty strong? Plus what's the difference in using them as a 'training' wheel as opposed to a commuting wheel? Surely the only difference is that like anything they will wear out more quickly the more you use them - and I'm a firm believer in using stuff until it wears out (before I do anyway!).

    My real query is about the increase in efficiency.

    That said, I'm not going to waste money on cycle 'bling' so if the consensus here is they are not worth getting for this reason then I'll save my money.

    Cheers.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    brit66 wrote:
    Just to clarify, my communte is on good quality cycle paths plus about 3 miles of road each way.

    Besides, I though these types of wheel were pretty strong? Plus what's the difference in using them as a 'training' wheel as opposed to a commuting wheel? Surely the only difference is that like anything they will wear out more quickly the more you use them - and I'm a firm believer in using stuff until it wears out (before I do anyway!).

    My real query is about the increase in efficiency.

    That said, I'm not going to waste money on cycle 'bling' so if the consensus here is they are not worth getting for this reason then I'll save my money.

    Cheers.

    you really would be wasting your money as the roads you are on don't even assist the wheels by not being smooth etc. I'd also suggest nice handbuilts (Open Pro or DT) or even get a fixed bike as your commute sound ideal for something like a pompino/langster
    M.Rushton
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Aero wheel benefits only really kick in above about 25mph - and you'll really struggle to sustain that sort of speed on a bike without tri-bars. Most aero wheels are deliberately light for speed, particularly to offset a generally heavier rim - consequently, most are less strong than a conventional wheel. My considerations for a commuter are reliability and strength. The first time you hit a pothole in a pair of 16-spokers, the chances of them staying true are pretty slim.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Ste_S
    Ste_S Posts: 1,173
    Factor in the maintenance too, as you will brake spokes - how much do spokes cost to replace on a Hed Jet 50 ?
  • henderson_mk
    henderson_mk Posts: 637
    ....about as much as the spoke costs as their normal spokes and can be trued as normal. its not a structural carbon rim.

    imo it all boils down to this... do you want aero wheels or not? i've a set of the jet 50's and occaisonally stick them on my bike to commute to work on... its just good fun hearing the noise and looking bling. they're normally used for racing on.
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  • brit66
    brit66 Posts: 350
    imo it all boils down to this... do you want aero wheels or not? i've a set of the jet 50's and occaisonally stick them on my bike to commute to work on... its just good fun hearing the noise and looking bling. they're normally used for racing on.

    Fair point.

    I need a second set of wheels anyway, so maybe I'll get some and use them on my commute occasionally but save them for racing.

    Thanks.
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    If you are thinking open pros, you should also think Rigida Chrina, especially for a commute where weight is not that important. They are a lot cheaper!

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