Which wheels/training on the flat
I have a set of Reynolds solitude wheels at the moment which are pretty light. I fancy getting some fulcrum 0 wheels. Looking at the specs the reynolds are lighter but it sounds like the fulcrums are stiffer.
What are the benifits of either wheel. I am decent road racer (for a beginner) and I am pretty good on the hills and sprints but not so on the flat. Which of these wheels would benifit me on the flat.
ta.
What are the benifits of either wheel. I am decent road racer (for a beginner) and I am pretty good on the hills and sprints but not so on the flat. Which of these wheels would benifit me on the flat.
ta.
0
Comments
-
IMO, just keep what you have, the Fulcrums will only be negligibly different to the Reynolds. Unless you really prefer the aesthetics...
If you want something better to help on the flats without compromising everything else then you are probably looking at expensive deep dish tubs such as Zipp 303/404 or Mavic Cosmic Carbone.0 -
On the flats weight is less of an issue so a deep section would be the way to go, as an all rounder though the FSA RD-488 wheels are great value, they are light and have a nice aero profile. You can never have too many wheels, I must have around 8 pairs now depending on the course and conditions....0
-
slunker - i've ridden both and i'd say the solitudes are nicer wheels. they feel lighter (they are actually lighter, but also "feel" it), they are more comfortable, and more aero.
the two areas the fulcrums hold the aces are: robustness - the reynolds are more fragile with spoke breakages more a problem, and second hub quality, though the reynolds are not bad by any means.
i'd rather ride on the reynolds but if i needed a wheelset that would never let me down i'd take the fulcrums.
on a related point, i don't think the fulcrum zeros are worth the premium over the fulcum 5 evolutions.0 -
Keep the ones you have, buy the tools to maintain them properly, get some latex tubes and pro race 3 tryes and spend the rest on a training camp weekend or some coaching!0
-
Coaching??????? How would you go about that?
I find it strange that on our club runs I can ride away from them on a hills but on the flat I am struggling to keep on someones wheel. Then on the sprints I seem to beat them?????
what am I doing wrong?0 -
Position? Are you too upright on the flats?
It's not wheels that's the problem, sounds like you are built for climbing...
I'm the opposite
0 -
Yes - that would be a waste of time upgrade in terms of making you go faster on the flats! Difference in aerodynamics is marginal between the Reynolds and Racing Zeroes. Typically you'd want stiffer wheels for sprinting or going hard up hills (where you say you don't have a problem) and more aero wheels for the flats. That said being able to ride away on the hills and sprint well is unusual. Sprinters are generally bigger and more powerful and better on the flat than hills. Smaller riders normally have trouble on the flat.
Either way, if you want to go faster on the flats without compromising existing strengths, a reasonably light deep section (40-60mm depending on your weight) would help more than Racing Zeroes as has been said. In roughly ascending price order things like Cosmic Carbone SL Premiums, Reynolds DV46T UL, Zipp 404s or Bora Ultras/Racing Speeds might be appropriate.
Depending on your weight, going fast on the flat may also be a partially psychological rather than physical limitation unless for some reason you're light but have a very large frontal area or aren't drafting effectively on the flat.0 -
I am 12 stone and on the flat my legs seem to be burning fairly early. I can do a 24.30 10 mile TT. My heart rate and breathing are high but comfortable. Maybe it is psycological.!!!
I know this sounds a bit much but I am going to be taking my racing more seriously this year so want to be better. :roll:0 -
When you say you are good on hills how long are they. Short ones can be done anerobically much the same as sprinting. If you struggle on the long ones as well as on the flat you need to work on your stamina and aerobic threshold with some long intervals sessions. There must be something on here about that.
As regards the wheels, they don't make that much difference. If you are going to get dropped you will get dropped. More aero wheels may mean it happens a few yards later but that is all.0 -
I seem to be better on the long dragging hills. I can seem to get in to a good tempo.0
