50mm Worthwhile if not racing?

cyclingpunk

I ride a number our routes from flat long routes to medium legnth hilly routes. I do the odd sportive and was wondering if it is worth adding some 50mm wheels to my arsenal. I currently run Dura Ace 7850 on my best bike and was considering some 50mm versions. Is it worth it or should I leave them to the reserve of racers and TT specialists?!

My main reasson for wanting them is to go as fast as I can over my routes and when riding with mates/sportives etc.

hopper1

Plus they look stunning.... Buy 'em.

racingcondor

Since you're not racing I'd stick with clinchers and a metal brake track but thats no problem. I'm with hopper1, if you have the cash and you want them, enjoy the wheels.

ugo.santalucia

It generally backfires...

The amount I feel stupid when I can't keep up with a teenager on a 300 quid wreck is proportional to how much I've spent on my bike...

... oh, I should mention I don't like to feel stupid... hence I tend to limit upgrades to the minimum

The other philosophy, leading to the same result in my case, is: you only spend proportionally to the amount of aerobic watts you can put in these cranks...
in my case I've worked out that a bike worth 1000-1500 pounds is adequate, anything more is a bit silly. I reckon I can push 300-350 Watts for what we could call an aerobic time...

So if we say 333 Watts, that means it makes sense to spend 3-4 pounds per watt on a bike...

Does it make any sense? :shock:

cyclingpunk

Yea... I think I follow that Ugo! I do love the look of them and they would look really sweet on my new frame. Hmmm... then again I am not 'fit' at the moment as I have been off the bike for a long time so it would be the equivelent of buying some big alloy wheels!

Maybe quite excessive for me at the moment, I think I should learn to enjoy what I have really. Oooo.. I think I just talked myself out of it :?

dennisn

I would have to say that we all buy bike things pretty much for their looks. i.e. wow, I really like that blue paint job. Those deep dish wheels really look good to me. It has always been my theory that one of these years someone will come up with a giant
leap forward in bike tech, you'll go faster, etc. The only problem is that it will really be ugly. Bling is king these days though.

cyclingpunk

Indeed. You pay mega bucks for tiny advances. On lunch I thought 'Say I buy these wheels and the first time I go out on my local route and smash my time by a minute.. is it really worth it? The next time I will just be back to trying to beat it by a few seconds'

If I was racing I could justify it a bit more as it could be seen as the difference of maybe winning a race or finishing a bit higher up the leaderboard. Maybe I should start doing TT's but then I know I would be Sh!t whatever I was riding on

Bikerbaboon

ugo.santalucia wrote:

It generally backfires...

The amount I feel stupid when I can't keep up with a teenager on a 300 quid wreck is proportional to how much I've spent on my bike...

... oh, I should mention I don't like to feel stupid... hence I tend to limit upgrades to the minimum

The other philosophy, leading to the same result in my case, is: you only spend proportionally to the amount of aerobic watts you can put in these cranks...
in my case I've worked out that a bike worth 1000-1500 pounds is adequate, anything more is a bit silly. I reckon I can push 300-350 Watts for what we could call an aerobic time...

So if we say 333 Watts, that means it makes sense to spend 3-4 pounds per watt on a bike...

Does it make any sense? :shock:

i dont think that a y= Nx formula would work for spending on a bike. due to the deminishing returns on bike prices.

now say average bike is £1500 and the average rider can put out 333 i think that
y = Nx^2 may work better.


y= amount spent on bike in £ and
x= amount of power produced by rider in W

teamtommy

What is the value of N?

Should we not also consider:

T = the amount you earn.
Q = the amount your wife/mistress will allow you to spend.
R = the chances of it being stolen by gypsies or Welshmen.

ugo.santalucia

I'm so glad I started this...

Actually the amount you earn is irrelevant...I would leave it out... once in lycra shorts, with a big belly on a Cervelo RS anyone would look stupid (and should feel) regardless of the income! It's the power of lycra, makes us all look the same (bad!).

flanners1

Just built this and stuck the 50mm's on it (got the 24mm as well), not yet ridden though. I am expecting good things from them, the bike is still light with them on! Pic could be better.

bristolpete

I am getting these wheels, and may even spend more.

The way I see it, you work hard for you gear, so enjoy it and ride them. I reckon the return would come on the faster runs for sure. A few people who I ride with ride 50mm every week and the benefits are there when riding six or seven deep - free speed. As others said also, they look great.

I say go for it. Life is short. The other thing, yeah, the teenagers get away quicker, but over what 50, 60, 70 miles you will rinse them and that is worth remembering when ever a fixie rider trackstands in front of you.

In the words of Nap D - 'Quad power' will reign supreme.