I've got 200 quid and I want to go faster - advice?

Steve2020

I am a triathlete. Cycling speed approx 23-24mph.

Currently ride standard steel road bike (653 / Shimano 105 from 1995) with aero bars and normal helmet. What is the best way to spend my 200 quid to go faster. I have a normal helmet. I dont want to buy training equipment.

Am thinking:

1. Aero front wheel (I read in C plus once this was the best to get)
2. Aero back wheel
3. Aero helmet

Any thoughts? I'm not likely to be buying a new bike anytime soon.

andrewgturnbull

Steve2020 wrote:

I am a triathlete. Cycling speed approx 23-24mph.

Currently ride standard steel road bike (653 / Shimano 105 from 1995) with aero bars and normal helmet. What is the best way to spend my 200 quid to go faster. I have a normal helmet. I dont want to buy training equipment.

Am thinking:

1. Aero front wheel (I read in C plus once this was the best to get)
2. Aero back wheel
3. Aero helmet

Any thoughts? I'm not likely to be buying a new bike anytime soon.

Send us a picture of you in your aero position - that'll help as getting your position right is the most important thing. You might need a different stem, different aero bars, forward seat post - it's hard to guess without a starting point.

But if you're in a hurry I'd spend £50 on a half price Giro advantage helmet from planet-x, and £150 on whatever deep-dished (>50mm rim) front wheel you can find.

Cheers, Andy

robbarker

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HED-3-CARBON-700C ... dZViewItem

A little over budget but there you go.

Front wheels are supposedly much more important than rears in the aerodynamic stakes.

You'd have more fun and probably more gain from a budget training camp in Lanzarote though

Ste_S

robbarker wrote:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HED-3-CARBON-700C-TRI-SPOKE-FRONT-WHEEL-TT-TRI-ROAD_W0QQitemZ320238737572QQihZ011QQcategoryZ58089QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A little over budget but there you go.

Front wheels are supposedly much more important than rears in the aerodynamic stakes.

You'd have more fun and probably more gain from a budget training camp in Lanzarote though

Seconded

wildmoustache

Budget training camp for £200?

Please tell me where ... surely once all the extras and food etc. are thrown in there is no way you could do this for £200?

Agree with Andy's suggestion. Aero Helmet and secondhand (if necessary) aero front wheel.

Steve2020

Thanks very much for the advice. I think I will investigate the helmet / wheel option.

Advice on my position would be great too - I have never put much thought into and just put the handlebars down as low as possible and stuck the aero bars on. Will it be possible to get lower? Can you buy a stem with a significant drop other than ergostem or something?

It will take me a couple of weeks to sort picture out but will post one and thoughts would be very welcome

Thanks again

hodsgod

Get a cheap moped?

gvlieghe

Aero helmet and worrying about positioning is far more important than your wheels. Look at this article here . I also read that the same guys found out that having a water bottle on your down-tube is more aero than not having one! Can't find the link anymore.