Do disk wheels work?

boybiker

I know they work as in they go round, but do they offer any real advantage when riding a TT?
It seems to me that if the course is circuit as they nearly always are, any advantage with the wind in one direction is going to be canceled out going back the other way.
I was looking at prices and they are stupidly expensive, so maybe I should look at getting some super carbon wheels instead.

dondare

Disk wheels generate less turbulence than spoked wheels, so effectively the air resistance is less.
However; if you buy these wheels and knock a couple of minutes off yout time then it's not a real improvement in your performance. There's loads of ways of spending money to make the bike faster but then your personal best means less.

boybiker

Oww..
so you don't think that fitting a little two stroke to my bike is such a good plan then ?

SteveR_100Milers

dondare wrote:

Disk wheels generate less turbulence than spoked wheels, so effectively the air resistance is less.
However; if you buy these wheels and knock a couple of minutes off yout time then it's not a real improvement in your performance. There's loads of ways of spending money to make the bike faster but then your personal best means less.

A bit contraversial for cakestop. What if everyone else is legally using aero bikes and wheels? Is TT ing all about your own PB, or is it really about what placing you get on the day....

overthehill

dondare wrote:

Disk wheels generate less turbulence than spoked wheels, so effectively the air resistance is less.
However; if you buy these wheels and knock a couple of minutes off yout time then it's not a real improvement in your performance. There's loads of ways of spending money to make the bike faster but then your personal best means less.

Eh? You can't discount a time just becuse a disc was used. It's still fair game. When you get the results sheet at the end a race it doesn't say who used which rear wheel and you don't get an xtra pat on hte back for not using one

idaviesmoore

I use DW and if the conditions are correct they offer good advantages.
I found (and it may only be me) that one change on it's own doesn't make a lot of differance but lots of little changes i.e tribars, aero helmet and finding good positioning on bike will add up to good gains. But, as I've said that is in my experiance

However, DWs be right expensive so maybe tribars and tuning position on bike may be a cheaper alternative at the moment. Oh, and you can't beat having a good pair o' legs on the night

idaviesmoore

Oh, and they make a f@8!ing great sound as well.

dondare

Obviously you want the best time, so buy the wheels and the aerodynamic seat post and eventually a better bike. Just realise the difference between an improvemet in your performance and an improvement in the bike.

Jez mon

dondare wrote:

Disk wheels generate less turbulence than spoked wheels, so effectively the air resistance is less.
However; if you buy these wheels and knock a couple of minutes off yout time then it's not a real improvement in your performance. There's loads of ways of spending money to make the bike faster but then your personal best means less.

This is why I still use a penny farthing for my TTs...

Boybiker, if you are going to do the far more superior version of the sport (road racing ) I would look into getting some deep rim front and back wheels then you can use them for RRing and TTing.

Mog Uk

idaviesmoore wrote:

Oh, and they make a f@8!ing great sound as well.

Amen, that's reason enough for me........

boybiker

Like Zipp 404 clinchers for example?

idaviesmoore

Or HED Jet 50

robbie the roadie

or planet x carbon wheelset.

But yeah road racing is way more fun then TT

boybiker

Hmmmmm. I suppose I could sell a kidney

boybiker

Better plan, I could sell my brother' s kidney :twisted:

idaviesmoore

boybiker wrote:

Better plan, I could sell my brother' s kidney :twisted:

You'll need to sell the whole of your street's kidneys because......wait for it........
they're offaly expensive

Offal/Offaly.............

You see what I did there????

TAXI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:

Parsnip49

Dont know if anyone has mentioned it, but a rear wheelcover is a good option - you dont get the cool disk sound, but in some cases, its more aero than a flat disk due to the lenticular shape.


A Zipp sub 9 (which i would give my right arm for) is essentially a 1080 rim with a wheelcover.

As for changing wind directions, a lenticular disk (like the sub 9, new JET disk) will generate negative drag in some headwinds (so will a flat disk, but less so)

There are much better gains to be had elsewhere:

Needed Watts for Speed = 45 km/h :
Stevens San Remo bike with normal handlebar 465 Watts needed to go 45 km/h
Same bike Hands down the drops: 406 watts needed
Same bike Easton Aeroforce bar: 369 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards): 360 Watts
Same bike Triathlon position (5.5 cm lower bar, saddle forwards) and
carbon Tri spoke wheels front and rear: 345 Watt

Cervelo P3 + Tri spoke front 328 Watts
Cervelo P3 + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel : 320
Cervelo P3 + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet: 317
Cervelo P3 + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit: 307
Cervelo P3 + Tri spoke front + disk rear wheel +Giro helmet + speed suit +
saddle 3 cm further back: 293 Watts


Aerobars, helmet and skinsuit are the 3 big ones, and are cheap compared to the other savings you could make.

So unless you already have all of the above, id save your cash.

Be aware, that 465 to 293 watts is a massive difference - over a 40k TT i put out about 310 - david millar put out 400 in the 1st TT this year in the tour - even if i was on his bike, he would have killed me - but just to put it into perspective

boybiker

idaviesmoore wrote:

boybiker wrote:

Better plan, I could sell my brother' s kidney :twisted:

You'll need to sell the whole of your street's kidneys because......wait for it........
they're offaly expensive

Offal/Offaly.............

You see what I did there????

TAXI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:

Yes...I do see, but please just don't do it again, cheers

idaviesmoore

boybiker wrote:

idaviesmoore wrote:

boybiker wrote:

Better plan, I could sell my brother' s kidney :twisted:

You'll need to sell the whole of your street's kidneys because......wait for it........
they're offaly expensive

Offal/Offaly.............

You see what I did there????

TAXI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:

Yes...I do see, but please just don't do it again, cheers

Oh (sniff ) Okay