New wheels = decrease in performance. Please help

Barça

I've gone from Campag Proton wheels with Michelin kevlar tyres (I can't remember the name) to Mavic Kysrium Equipe with Schwalbe Ultremo tyres and it's like pedaling through treacle! Are Mavic Kysrium Equips really this bad?
For instance, my regular commute in to work today is just over 14 miles and I struggled to get 17 mph average and could barely get up to 20mph where as I was able to maintain 19mph/ 20mph pretty steadily and often up to 24/25mph on the long open flat sections. I've had the wheels a couple of weeks and I'm not enjoying them at all. I bought them second hand although they had only done 150 miles before I got them. They spin lovely off of the bike and even on the bike when I'm not sat on it and I haven't suddenly doubled in girth :P
I know these wheels are a little flexable but not enough to rub on the brakes while I'm riding, surely?
I don't feel ill and my heart rate off the bike isn't doing anything daft. :roll:
I'm buggered if I can work it out. I even got off and span the wheels to see if they were catching
Unfortunately, I've sold the Proton wheels and I don't have any others to put back on to try out my "rubbish wheels" test.
Please help

Jez mon

I'm sure you have, but have you checked the tyre pressure?

Barça

Tyre pressure was the second thing I thought of Jez mon. They currently have 120psi, topped them up this morning.
Thanks for the suggestion though. I'm flumaxed! I'm even wondering if over tightening the qr's would be the cause but I can't see how that would cause a problem as qr's actually release slightly as they go over the cam, don't they? I don't have them super tight in any case.
I wonder if there is somethng amiss in one of the hubs that only becomes noticeable when they are bearing weight?
I realise these are only really training wheels but I don't race anyway and this is beyond training :?

redddraggon

It's probably because they are Kysriums........isn't Kysrium a foreign word for airbrake?

dennisn

Have you looked to see if your brakes need a slight "tweaking" one way or the other or
up and down for these different wheels. Not all wheels are created equal and it has been my experience that brakes may need a bit of adjustment after different wheels
have been put on. Key word "may".

Dennis Noward

Barça

I have Dennis, numerous times . They spin nice and freely without any weight on them, no snagging on the brakes at all. I was wondering if, as they are noted as being a flexiable (to a degree) set of wheels, if they are indeed rubbing on the brakes when I'm on the bike?

oh and at the air break suggestion.

dennisn

Barça wrote:

I have Dennis, numerous times . They spin nice and freely without any weight on them, no snagging on the brakes at all. I was wondering if, as they are noted as being a flexable (to a degree) set of wheels, if they are indeed rubbing on the brakes when I'm on the bike?

oh and at the air break suggestion.

All wheels will flex laterally. Some more than others. It could be that your brake pad/ rim clearance is too tight and when you put a bit of power to it the wheel flex's ever so slightly and rubs the brake pad slightly. Most rims tend to need some clearance with the
brake pads. Try a ride with your brake quick releases opened up and see how it goes or
just adjust the pads out a bit more than they are now.

Dennis Noward

Bugly

Are you sure its not the tyres and tube combo that feels "dead'?

Jez mon

I'd be surprised if it was the tyres the felt dead, Schwable Ultremo's are good tyres. Probably better than what they replaced (in theory).

Barça are you sure you don't have a cold/random virus. New wheels really shouldn't slow you down that much

Bugly

not ridden Ultremos generally ride Mich Pro race 2s they feel fast and roll well. th Ultremos must be unworldy good then?

cougie

A set of wheels cant slow you down by 3 miles per hour. That isnt right.

Are you knackered or ill, or is has the wind changed direction ?

I think my money would be that you've done too much lately and need a rest.

Barça

Thanks again for all the replies,
I'm really lost as to what the drop in form (so to speak) is all about. I must have been batting well above my average previously
Same thing again today. I've opened the brakes right up and I'm still rubbish. My resting HR is still 54 so no indication of a poorly fast approaching. I'm not tired or stressed. The nearest I get to stressed is whinning on here about my rubbish cycling performance.
I have noticed that the pawls in the rear wheel are not as loud as they were? I think I'll put them in for a (very premature) service. If that doesn't fix it I'm going to take up fishing :twisted:
My LBS (Bike Factory in Whaley Bridge) recommended the Schwalbes over the Michelin Pro2 or 3 which they also had in stock for a similar price. I beleive they wear better than the Michelins.

cougie

I cant see how the pawls would affect your speed. They must be working, or you wouldnt be going anywhere ?

Barça

Damn! Shimano do a fine line in fishing reels don't they

It must be some kind of extended drop in form or something. I've not worn my heart rate monitor to check on my effort while riding since buying the wheels but my perceived effort is certainly there abouts. In fact, I'd say I'm pushing harder for a slower speed.

I'll certainly post up if I get to the bottom of it or suddenly find a dramatic improvement.

James1823

The Ksyrium Equipe wheels have fairly basic cartridge bearings, so that might be the difference if you were riding cup and cone style before. I noticed a big difference when I upgraded to the SLs: there's no longer a huge drag when you stop pedalling, you maintain speed on corners, sprinting and maintaining good time trial speed is improved, no brake rub, more responsive on hills (pretty much every dept was improved).

Having said all that, I don't think there a bad set of wheels and are perfectly OK for training. You shouldn't be having such a difficult time with them. Try changing the bearings?

Tom Butcher

Can you not try a different set of wheels ? Equipes aren't cheap wheels - I found they rolled pretty well so it's got to be either a fault in the wheel or more likely some kind of virus. It's been pretty wet lately - could it just be riding in the damp you've lost a bit of motivation ?