New wheelset - Would I benefit?

elffy

I am thinking of upgrading my existing wheelset (Shimano WHR500) to either some Shimano RS80's or some Mavic Ksyrium Elite's. I am a novice cyclist who averages appromiate 19-20mph on a 50 mile ride on the relative flat. Would I benefit from upgrading my wheels? My existing wheels seem prity bombproof when dealing with conditions of our roads and seem ok when up to speed but they seem prity dead when trying to get up to speed. Would a new wheelset give me a different feeling?

Thanks in advance.

unixnerd

Main advantages would be fast acceleration and improved climbing. I went from wheels about 100g heavier than yours to some weighing the same as the RS80s / Ksyriums and it was the best thing I've done to the bike. Much more responsive and climbs like a mountain goat now :-)

ollyridesfirst

Yes....in a word!

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

amaferanga

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

Yes....in a word!

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

>4mph improvement from a new set of wheels? Absolute rubbish.

ollyridesfirst

amaferanga wrote:

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

Yes....in a word!

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

>4mph improvement from a new set of wheels? Absolute rubbish.

not rubbish at all.....much better at cutting through the air, lighter, spin up quicker and a lot easier to keep speed.....

simple really

Sirius631

I wouldn't recommend going for too deep a section wheel too soon. I'm not unfamiliar with my Planet X Pro Carbon 50's, but there are circumstances that you just don't come across when riding in this country. Twice, when out in Majorca earlier this year, I was descending rapidly off a mountain and the cross-wind (strong breeze really) caught me, setting up the most terrifying speed-wobble. Hadn't happend before or since. Next year I'll be taking narrow sections just to be on the safe side, rather than going for out-and-out lightness.

The Mavic Ksyrium Elites have a following amongst my club mates.

Pseudonym

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

not rubbish at all.....much better at cutting through the air, lighter, spin up quicker and a lot easier to keep speed.....

simple really

get yerself racing asap fella - anyone who can average 25/26mph would have no problem hanging with a 2/3 or even a 1/2/3 field....

jgsi

For every day riding....? if you want to, get some nicer wheels... as they make some difference if only for bling purposes.... but everyday means everyday potholes ..
I did recommend someone who was doing the Acte 1 etape to swap for some RS30s at least... I think he might notice some difference going uphill for that length of time as what he had on stock was not just fugly but also the heaviest that I'd ever felt since I was in short shorts meself.
(yes, I know most who do Etape thingy can afford Zipps etc... but that was one step too far for his other half)

Headhuunter

elffy wrote:

I am thinking of upgrading my existing wheelset (Shimano WHR500) to either some Shimano RS80's or some Mavic Ksyrium Elite's. I am a novice cyclist who averages appromiate 19-20mph on a 50 mile ride on the relative flat. Would I benefit from upgrading my wheels? My existing wheels seem prity bombproof when dealing with conditions of our roads and seem ok when up to speed but they seem prity dead when trying to get up to speed. Would a new wheelset give me a different feeling?

Thanks in advance.

I had WHR550 or something on my Focus Cayo when delivered and I upgraded to RS80s late. I immediately noticed that they were stiffer. When climbing the cheap wheels would flex, I could feel them rubbing the brake pads when under extreme pressure, this never happens with the RS80s, I can feel that when I push hard, the bike leaps forwards...

x8swift9x

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

amaferanga wrote:

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

Yes....in a word!

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

>4mph improvement from a new set of wheels? Absolute rubbish.

not rubbish at all.....much better at cutting through the air, lighter, spin up quicker and a lot easier to keep speed.....

simple really

4mph?! With those calculations you'd probably get a 15 mph increase is you'd bought zipp 808 firecrests (awesome wheels).

Bozman

If you can afford them, get them.
You will notice a difference and you'll get the placebo effect. RS80s and Elites will do the job well, they're both pretty light and robust, I upgraded a set of Elites to a set of SLs a couple of years back and there isn't that much difference in the ride i just ended up lighter in the pocket.
Remember to add £80 on top for some good tyres/tubes.

amaferanga

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

amaferanga wrote:

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

Yes....in a word!

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

>4mph improvement from a new set of wheels? Absolute rubbish.

not rubbish at all.....much better at cutting through the air, lighter, spin up quicker and a lot easier to keep speed.....

simple really

So you're saying that some deep section wheels that weigh a few hundred grams less than your old wheels result in you going >4mph faster for the same effort? Like I said already, absolute rubbish.

MattC59

Get some 40 or 50mm carbon wheels. I've got some Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC wheels, and love them. They do seem to have improved speeds and they're lovely to ride on, but more importantly, they look and sound great

danowat

elffy wrote:

I am a novice cyclist who averages appromiate 19-20mph on a 50 mile ride.

:roll:

Ollyridesfirst wrote:

I've just upgraded my R500s with some Dura Ace 50mm carbons and my average speed has gone up from around21 to around 25/26. It's also a lot quicker to get there...

:roll: :roll:

If I could go 4mph faster I'd be challeging Hutchinson on a 10 mile TT

unixnerd

You might care to quote things properly, unixnerd most certainly did not write that bit.

danowat

Keep ya hair on, mistake that has been corrected

Bobbinogs

I must admit danowat, you spotted the two things that surprised me about this thread.

On the one hand, a novice that can regularly do a 50 in 2.5 hours (only managed my best time of 2,35 a couple of weeks ago :oops: so I have some way to go to being a novice yet). On the other hand, a set of wheels that will make someone go 5 mph faster. I need to dig out my receipt for those RS80s and get them back to the LBS later today for checking

elffy

Bobbinogs wrote:

I must admit danowat, you spotted the two things that surprised me about this thread.

On the one hand, a novice that can regularly do a 50 in 2.5 hours (only managed my best time of 2,35 a couple of weeks ago :oops: so I have some way to go to being a novice yet). On the other hand, a set of wheels that will make someone go 5 mph faster. I need to dig out my receipt for those RS80s and get them back to the LBS later today for checking

Why would you not class me as a novice? I am a weekend and possibly a couple of times a week cyclist and I only bought a bike in 2008. I dont race and I'm not signed up to a professional company so surely I'm classed as a novice? I'm not sure what you are trying to say?

elffy

Bobbinogs wrote:

I must admit danowat, you spotted the two things that surprised me about this thread.

On the one hand, a novice that can regularly do a 50 in 2.5 hours (only managed my best time of 2,35 a couple of weeks ago :oops: so I have some way to go to being a novice yet). On the other hand, a set of wheels that will make someone go 5 mph faster. I need to dig out my receipt for those RS80s and get them back to the LBS later today for checking

Why would you not class me as a novice? I am a weekend and possibly a couple of times a week cyclist and I only bought a bike in 2008. I dont race and I'm not signed up to a professional company so surely I'm classed as a novice? I'm not sure what you are trying to say?

antfly

A novice doesn't average 26 mph unless it's one way downhill or with the wind. Check your bike computer or turn pro.

elffy

antfly wrote:

A novice doesn't average 26 mph unless it's one way downhill or with the wind. Check your bike computer or turn pro.

I never said I did average 26mph. 50 miles in 2.5 hours when I was at school was 20.

antfly

No, it wasn't you it was Ollyridesfirst.

danowat

The point is, and I am not saying you are lieing, is that there is too much BS around when people quote avg speeds, and distance times.

And people saying that go from an avg of 21mph to 25/26mph by change wheels is just ludicrous, I don't get that increase when I go from a set of Alu rimmed low section wheels to a full aero set of 50mm carbon aero front and disc rear on a 10 mile TT :roll:

Pseudonym

elffy wrote:

I never said I did average 26mph. 50 miles in 2.5 hours when I was at school was 20.

but you did say you average 19-20mph over a 50 mile route - which is equally impressive for a novice. Like someone else said - you should be racing...

elffy wrote:

I am a novice cyclist who averages appromiate 19-20mph on a 50 mile ride on the relative flat.

elffy

danowat wrote:

The point is, and I am not saying you are lieing, is that there is too much BS around when people quote avg speeds, and distance times.
quote]

I have no reason to lie as I'm only cheating myself. I'll call a spade a spade and tell anyone straight (exactly how Mark Cavendish tells it which makes people laugh)

I see the fact that when I started off cycling in 2008 that I was averaging 16 and now between 19-20 as a personal success. The link below is just evidence I'm not lying

http://t.co/93yNJNu

Bobbinogs

Hi Elffy, I wasn't calling you a lier, just saying that a novice doing 50 in 2.5 hours is quite impressive.

Anyway, back to the OP, yes, I do think you will feel the benefit of upgrading the WH500's. When I went from Spesh OEM hubs/CXP22 rims to RS80s I felt the bike become more responsive (slightly more sprightly both in handling and acceleration) and the extra stiffness does help when climbing (which I end doing a lot of). I honestly don't think this has brought any massive/tangible benefits in my times but I do enjoy riding on decent wheels (with decent tyres) more...so pretty much a big smile factor if nothing else.

Treat yourself, you know you want to

x8swift9x

elffy wrote:

I was averaging 16 and now between 19-20 as a personal success. The link below is just evidence I'm not lying

http://t.co/93yNJNu

Nice improvement you have. If you can hold those times on your own, you'll do fine in a 4th cat race. Get yourself a race license next year and give it a go - all good fun at the end of the day! (P.S - pretty flat 50 mile route )