New Bora Clincher or Wheelsmith Aero 50?

drlodge

I hope they don't come with cheap looking stickers ;-)

napoleond

I'm still putting a fair few miles/races on my Aero 60s before writing owt more than the initial impression that 'They're great'.

Dizeee

Ok will wait a few weeks before I review. A quick pic below though though:

Dizeee

How Far is too Far

looks better than lovely.

I will be interested in your opinion of them once you get some miles on them.

Dizeee

Cheers, I am blown away, wish I had done this last year.

I bought the bike out of hibernation on the weekend on the OE wheels (Fulcrum CX wheels) and managed a local 24 miles @ 21.3 average then next day a local hillier 41 miles at 20.7 - it's about where I expect to be for this time of year, so I am hoping that any aero gains no matter how slight will show themselves over the next few weeks.

The real test will come with my first 2015 10 TT times in May.

bobbydazzla

They look great on the bike, even if you have taken the pic from the wrong side ; )

Hopefully Derek will be able to take new orders soon, sounds like he's snowed under sorting out the backorders.

Dizeee

lol - apologies. If it serves to rectify - tyre decals all in line with each other - inner tube nipples were all at 6 o'clock and they are all matched - the crank arm ain't quite horizontal so I will take that on the chin.

Dizeee

In regards to orders, mine was delayed, heavily. I waited and glad I did.

Calpol

Some bikes were made to be dressed in deep section wheels. That looks fantastic. Even if you aren't any faster it sure looks like the bike is. Enjoy riding it

MBCaad8

Il Principe wrote:

Re Reynolds - My Aeroad came with the Strike SLG's. They're not a patch on my 404's and have been swapped out. For sale as it goes...

What are your thoughts so far on the Aeroad?

Dizeee

Well well.

Where do I start?

Rolled over 200 miles this week on the Aero 50's - many more to come. I was advised not to post too soon / early which made sense.

But here I am. I can't really put into words what has happened to the bike. It's a bit embaressing really - the wheels have made my already fast bike into a rocket. I am quite keen to do a write up if people are keen to know. I am just so glad I waited. Strange things have happened and yes, you DO need these wheels in your life.

nibby

Write up please

want to know everything incl av.times and have they increased

mfin

Remember he mentioned his best previous wheels were Fulcrum Quattros, so in comparison these are bound to feel like a big load of sluggishness is gone.

Dizeee

Well. I have been running these at 100 psi max as Derek stated that 90 PSI is the ideal, however that just seems too low for me. Apparently 110 is the max recommended. The rim is also wide so it means the tyre covers more road surface. 100 psi feels fine, no problem at all.

The most difference I have noticed weirdly is climbing. I am climbing much quicker than before. I did Crocknorth in the Surrey hills this week with a group and went up it at around 90% effort. I took around 25 seconds off my PB time up the 1 mile climb, a climb I have done around 12 times now. I have also had a few power bursts up some local inclines, varying in length from 0.3 to 0.7 of a mile. Putting the power down on them always results in a Strava podium, 2nd and 3rd overall came from two of these efforts and it is not hard to power up climbs at all. Yet to do some other proper climbs but the stiffness of the wheels seems to yield great results.

The flat rolling average speed is great, I can't notice an immediate difference in feel other than at around 24mph plus, but sticking at 25mph on the flat is easy and I feel like I could go on all day at this pace. My averages do seem marginally higher though on long flats so the wheels obviously do make a difference.

They look amazing which really helps too. Overall I am very pleased, they do exactly what they said on the tin and they were well worth the wait. Couldn't recommend them more and wish I had bought them sooner.

napoleond

Got my main target event of the year on Sunday. Hoping to crack under 2hrs in the beacon little mountain time trial. No mean feat for me...
Running the Aero60s... New Quarq fitted too. I've been using the Aero 60 front with a powertap rear with Raltech disc covers. I actually think these might be a faster combination. Certainly a lot lighter!

Dizeee

Lovely bike there.

This is the sort ride stats I am seeing on these - just a brief hours burn locally, fairly flat with a few lumps and bumps thrown in:

https://www.strava.com/activities/291740535

Mart74

Quick question for you.

On the Wheelsmith website is says the 38mm have a more U shape a bit like Enve's. Are your 50s the same U shape?
I've emailed them to ask but they're on Holiday until 1st May.

Bike looks great btw

sloppyschleckonds

Dizeee wrote:

Well. I have been running these at 100 psi max as Derek stated that 90 PSI is the ideal, however that just seems too low for me. Apparently 110 is the max recommended. The rim is also wide so it means the tyre covers more road surface. 100 psi feels fine, no problem at all.

The most difference I have noticed weirdly is climbing. I am climbing much quicker than before. I did Crocknorth in the Surrey hills this week with a group and went up it at around 90% effort. I took around 25 seconds off my PB time up the 1 mile climb, a climb I have done around 12 times now. I have also had a few power bursts up some local inclines, varying in length from 0.3 to 0.7 of a mile. Putting the power down on them always results in a Strava podium, 2nd and 3rd overall came from two of these efforts and it is not hard to power up climbs at all. Yet to do some other proper climbs but the stiffness of the wheels seems to yield great results.

The flat rolling average speed is great, I can't notice an immediate difference in feel other than at around 24mph plus, but sticking at 25mph on the flat is easy and I feel like I could go on all day at this pace. My averages do seem marginally higher though on long flats so the wheels obviously do make a difference.

They look amazing which really helps too. Overall I am very pleased, they do exactly what they said on the tin and they were well worth the wait. Couldn't recommend them more and wish I had bought them sooner.

What absolute horsesh!te

sloppyschleckonds

Dizeee wrote:

Lovely bike there.

This is the sort ride stats I am seeing on these - just a brief hours burn locally, fairly flat with a few lumps and bumps thrown in:

https://www.strava.com/activities/291740535

I could ride this on my Campag Khamsins and it wouldn't be any different.

Dizeee

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Dizeee wrote:

Lovely bike there.

This is the sort ride stats I am seeing on these - just a brief hours burn locally, fairly flat with a few lumps and bumps thrown in:

https://www.strava.com/activities/291740535

I could ride this on my Campag Khamsins and it wouldn't be any different.

Thanks for your lovely comments.

That's as maybe, but for me and my ability that ride average is higher than I would expect from that bike. I may have averaged just over 20mph before I had the wheels last year but this is higher than I would normally expect. It may of course be that I am benefiting from continued training as I always keep up my mileage and steadily see gains as time goes on, so it's not a scientific evaluation but that's not what I claim it to be either. I really do feel the bike is much easier to ride fast than before. It's very noticeable. I rode back tonight from work at rush hour commuting from London to Surrey in a direct headwind on this bike, which is a rarity as it is not something I would normally do but my Bianchi is in for a service. I averaged 20.3 over 28 miles, again, a figure I have never achieved before into a headwind for 100% of the ride east to west. Again, I believe these wheels are making a massive difference. That doesn't even take into account the extra traffic that exists over the first third of the ride.

Re the U shape, I really don't know as I paid little attention to the exact dynamics of the rims. What I would say though is trust what Wheelsmith says, there is no bull going on and what is quoted is what you get.

Re the

ugo.santalucia

Dizeee wrote:

. It's very noticeable. I rode back tonight from work at rush hour commuting from London to Surrey in a direct headwind on this bike, which is a rarity as it is not something I would normally do but my Bianchi is in for a service. I averaged 20.3 over 28 miles

Strava massaged figure, I imagine... commuting at rush hour in London in headwind at 20 mph is a bit unrealistic.

I have done some non massaged 20 mph commutes, but half that length, out of zone 1-2, out of rush hour and with a sizeable tailwind.

I don't know what kind of commute into London you have, but mine involves 70 sets of lights in 12 miles... if you don't massage the figures and jump a few, averaging 20 is pretty hard

Dizeee

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Dizeee wrote:

. It's very noticeable. I rode back tonight from work at rush hour commuting from London to Surrey in a direct headwind on this bike, which is a rarity as it is not something I would normally do but my Bianchi is in for a service. I averaged 20.3 over 28 miles

Strava massaged figure, I imagine... commuting at rush hour in London in headwind at 20 mph is a bit unrealistic.

I have done some non massaged 20 mph commutes, but half that length, out of zone 1-2, out of rush hour and with a sizeable tailwind.

I don't know what kind of commute into London you have, but mine involves 70 sets of lights in 12 miles... if you don't massage the figures and jump a few, averaging 20 is pretty hard

I understand your point, however, I must say and I know you don't know me personally, it's not really a fair assumption.

Yes, I do not commute into deep London and lights are not an issue as I start at Wimbledon and end up on the borders of Hampshire. My Garmin is set at an auto pause of being stationary only. So generally I can keep a nice even flow without too much disruption although I do get baulked.

I have been commuting since 2012 into and out of town regularly. Sorry, but, the figures are true. You are welcome to delve into my Strava profile, it has 7000 miles a year of commutes and weekend rides all recorded since 2012, and although you are right about winds, that is exactly the point - in a headwind home I would be looking at an average of around 18.5 + usually. Today I managed a lot more.

Dizeee

Can Strava massage figures? I know it can change elevation but my Garmin stats are always around the same and if anything I find Strava downgrades me when I upload, although that is rare. But I never get upgraded

gweeds

You can easily game figures by setting a high wheel circumference. I'm not suggesting Dizzeeee does that!

bristolpete

Ignore the naysayers and enjoy your wheels. I am delighted for you and have followed this thread with interest. I have no doubt that the evidence is tangible - some things are simple just better and work for the rider - case in point Derek's wheels. Happy days.

mfin

I agree. You have to cut the guy some slack as his previous wheels were cack and these will no doubt be a lot better and that's what he's excited about. Just ignore the attributing of increased average speed to the wheels as it's just nowhere near scientific and of course it isn't going to stack up.

Dizeee

Gweeds wrote:

You can easily game figures by setting a high wheel circumference. I'm not suggesting Dizzeeee does that!

Thing is , I use a Garmin 200, always have. I fail to see how I can massage anything. I set no figures. I just switch the device on and ride. Funnily enough when I go out on one of my regular group rides the figures all match up, so unsure how it is even possible to massage them, I would love to know how to though!

ugo.santalucia

Dizeee wrote:

Gweeds wrote:

You can easily game figures by setting a high wheel circumference. I'm not suggesting Dizzeeee does that!

Thing is , I use a Garmin 200, always have. I fail to see how I can massage anything. I set no figures. I just switch the device on and ride. Funnily enough when I go out on one of my regular group rides the figures all match up, so unsure how it is even possible to massage them, I would love to know how to though!

If you boast big numbers, you might expect someone to question them... wheels aside.
The only meaningful average that cannot be questioned is time arrival - time departure / time in minutes * 60.

Then al computers have a way to pause when you stop, but Garmins seem to be a bit more clever and stop counting even when you slow below a certain figure. On average, a Garmin will give you half a mile to a mile free. When you then upload your data, things happen and these numbers further change, which way I have no idea.

People tend to rely too much on electronically generated figures, which seem to go up year on year... our undulated (these days called hilly) club run which was a 16 mph affair, became 17 with the garmins and then 18, without anyone getting any fitter... as a matter of fact my old fashioned magnet computer still measures 16, so I am a bit weary about this technology designed to pump you up and make you believe you are a fast guy!

What I am saying is that your 20 mph is not a reproducible figure and is unrealistic in heavy traffic and headwind. In fact, if you were to do a time trial tomorrow, you wouldn't probably go much faster than that... maybe 25, maybe less, maybe a tad more?

What I am trying to say is that averages measured with those methods are meaningless and if you really want to know how much faster you are with your new wheels, then you should simply ride a course A to B and time yourself with a stopwatch... if you take enough measurements, then you should get a meaningful figure, that has not been manipulated by electronics.

It is called time trialling after all...

napoleond

To be fair, my Garmin is bang on the money when I time trial (although I always start it recording 15s before the start). I'm finding the aero 60s pretty damn good. They handle the cross winds better than my Bora Ultra 2 and older Wheelsmith 50mm gigantex wheels did/do. They're faster than the standard profile 50s too. That may be the extra 10mm, the shape or (more likely) a combination of the two.