Expensive Wheels?

Newty
Newty Posts: 2
edited February 2011 in Road beginners
Hi all,

I've just bought a beautiful 2011 Cube Litening HPC Race with Dura Ace Groupset and I'm really pleased with it to say the least. I'm embarking on my first ever racing season this year and can't wait.

The bike has come with Fulcrum 5 Evolution Custom wheels. Can you more experienced riders tell me if more expensive wheels really give you an edge in races? Let's say I spent £1200 on a pair of Easton EC90 Carbon Wheels - just how much faster am I going to go?

Cheers.

Comments

  • thel33ter
    thel33ter Posts: 2,684
    Faster is hard to say, as a super light wheelset will make you faster in hilly places, but an aero wheelset will help in fast flat places.

    No matter what, they will improve the bike, but not necessarily make you 3mph faster or whatever.
    And now you know, and knowing is half the battle
    05 Spesh Enduro Expert
    05 Trek 1000 Custom build
    Speedily Singular Thingy
  • mrdsgs
    mrdsgs Posts: 337
    ultimately it is "not about the bike"!!!

    also, don't race on anything that you would not want to crash on.

    in short, a fit and capable rider on a £500 bike and wheels will out race a less fit or experienced racer on the finest carbon bling.
    Colnago Addict!
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Hardly expensive but I just put some 1500g Pro-Lites on to replace a 2kg set! Hills are easier, accelerating is easier. But on the flat the biggest difference is that if I suddenly put more power down the bike responds faster and I get more acceleration for a given power input. It's easier to gain speed.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    They are just nice to ride. Don't expect them to turn you into a pro though :wink:
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    For a first season racer I would advise against putting expensive wheels on the bike. The performance gain isn't worth it unless you feel strong enough to make a break and keep out there(very unlikely at your level). Best to spend money on top level tyres and a couple of different cassettes for different courses/training. Even better to spend your money on a decent coach.
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

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  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Planet X do a 1600g set for 125 quid I think. I've heard good things about them. If you bend them in a crash there won't be too many tears.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • sheffsimon
    sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    Newty wrote:
    Hi all,

    I've just bought a beautiful 2011 Cube Litening HPC Race with Dura Ace Groupset and I'm really pleased with it to say the least. I'm embarking on my first ever racing season this year and can't wait.

    The bike has come with Fulcrum 5 Evolution Custom wheels. Can you more experienced riders tell me if more expensive wheels really give you an edge in races? Let's say I spent £1200 on a pair of Easton EC90 Carbon Wheels - just how much faster am I going to go?

    Cheers.

    Changing wheels wont make any difference. At your level, if you are fit/fast enough you will be in with a shout at the finish. If not, where you finish will depend on how deep you can dig and how much pain you can take.

    My Fulcrum 5's have crossed the line first a few times. :)
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    As with everything there are diminishing returns at play. Fulcrum 5's are good strong wheels but not as stiff or as light as some more expensive options.

    If you find your rear wheel drags against the brake blocks a lot you might want a stiffer wheel (Fulcrum 3's are excellent for that).

    A good stiff wheelset is a joy to ride but it's not going to make you win races unless you're regularly coming second by cm (and then, hey, you took points!). If you're coming 15th you're either not fit enough or need to work on tactics. Or both.

    Of course, if you have a few hundred £ burning a hole in your pocket you could waste it on worse things than wheels.
  • FunBus
    FunBus Posts: 394
    This whole debate depends on your physical ability. Like mentioned above, you could have the most expensive, lightest bike in the world, but this is a complete waste unless you can perform to the level that bike expects.

    If you're just starting out, try racing on the kit you've got. If you find yourself doing well, you'll quickly learn what components will hep you do better if upgraded.

    All components and sports nutrition will help, but unless you're at the top of your game, the difference wont be earth shattering.
  • cycladianpirate
    cycladianpirate Posts: 122
    Woooaaaahhhhh!! Dura Ace Groupset??? £1200 wheels????? Road Beginners?????
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    cycladianpirate wrote:
    Woooaaaahhhhh!! Dura Ace Groupset??? £1200 wheels????? Road Beginners?????

    I were right about tha' saddle though
  • cycladianpirate
    cycladianpirate Posts: 122
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    cycladianpirate wrote:
    Woooaaaahhhhh!! Dura Ace Groupset??? £1200 wheels????? Road Beginners?????

    I were right about tha' saddle though

    Yellow Pages :D I actually owned that bike - Raleigh Record..... :wink:

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