I bought my wheels to enjoy them. I don’t enjoy them nearly as much sitting on the wall as I do putting them to work. Sure, they could get damaged but Rolf has a pretty good replacement plan.

As far as feeling faster on race day...I get that from swapping from gatorskin tires to my race tires and tubes. That makes a bigger difference than the wheel, in my opinion.

I’m thinking the same. I’ll still get a lift when I throw on the Aerojacket.

I have 2 bikes, my TT bike and my road bike. I only ride the TT bike on the trainer and for TT-specific outdoor near-race training rides. I have a set of HED Jet Black 9/disc wheels that are my everyday & race wheels. When I ride the bike outside, solo or small groups, it has max wheels. I freakin' love it that way.

Otherwise, I mostly ride my road bike outside in more typical group rides or general training rides.

Ride the good wheels always. Life is too short for average.

I like knowing how all my equipment will act in a race. I also like knowing what it feels like to go x speed on y effort, and not be acclimating to the extra speed in a race.

If you're getting any extra strength or "lift" from training with slower equipment, it just means you're not pushing as hard as you should be when training on your race wheels.

I use the race wheels for races (and odd 'test' rides after maintenance to check all shifts OK still etc) and to remind myself how the bike handles in windy weather, prior to race day.
Main reasons really are..

- the training wheels are made of pig iron with a lead core, but are cheap and relatively abusable - useful as some roads here are worse than those in a war zone. (+ robust and durable but draggy and rather naff tyres and butyl tubes inside) . Oh and sit on a turbo a lot (again why naff tyred)
Vs
- the race wheels will get bhuggered senseless on some of my local pothole strewn roads
- the race tyres and tubes on the race wheels are nicer but not as bombproof.
- i can't be asred swapping back and forth every time i go on the turbo. So race wheels kept (mainly) for races.

(I'm a bit old skool with a turbo that drives a drum and fluid resistance unit, not a direct drive.)

Depends on your local roads and how much you weigh. If you weigh 200 lbs and live in an area with potholes, I'd stick with the cheaper set. If you live somewhere decent and weigh 150, I'd ride whatever.

Well, 200 watts is 200 watts, you will not get "stronger" by riding 200 watts on a different set of wheels, or a different bike for that matter (assuming same position)

You will go faster with better gear, but effort should be the same (don't look at your speed to pace your effort, and don't listen to that "friend" ever again)

IMO, the only reason you should switch wells to protect them from road hazard, or because they are not appropriate for wind condition. Otherwise enjoy your investment.

I put the stock wheels on during the cold winter months, but once the time changes, the Flo's go back on the bike and I ride them all the time. The bike feels and behaves so much better therefore I don't worry about it. If my Flo's cost as much as a pair of Zipp's I might choose differently. As it is, trashing a $600 wheel versus a $200 stock wheel isn't a game changer for me.

Roads are pretty good for the most part. I’m at 149 lbs, so I’m not a heavier rider.

Very good feedback. I see a power meter in future!

Good point about the replacement cost not being an end game situation for a single wheel. I’m coming off the trainer so I might go straight to the Flo’s.

I don't race and I use the Flo 60's on the tri bike. When I bought the IA16 in 2017, I swapped the new stock wheels to my old bike and sold it so I don't even have an alternate set for the Felt. The Flo 60's have been used in training / riding since 2012 in all seasons and conditions. They even survived a hard 30 mph crash in 2017 and still have not needed truing. They look a little weathered up close by this point, but not too bad for a set of wheel bought back in 2012.

I also have the view of others that a watt is a watt. It is up to me to push the wattage for training adaptation and it just means that if I can get a 100 mile training ride done just a little faster than I am happier. Only a handful of times do I remember getting hit hard enough with a crosswind that it shook me up a little, but those random had gusts would have anyway.

I mostly ride my stock wheels but will occasionally throw on my race wheels as they’re deeper so handling is a bit different with them when it’s windy.

Pretty sure the main reason is the potential cost of replacing worn or damaged wheels if you're riding them day in day out.

Also, back in the day (10+yrs ago), tubulars were common and it might be a hassle to be dealing with tubular flats if you're more used to training and riding with clinchers.

Nowadays, with the lower costs of race wheels (compared to say 10 years ago), it's almost irrelevant - it doesn't cost a ton more money to go with race wheels like Flo compared to quality stock wheels. And clinchers are def the norm now. So just ride the good stuff and replace when breaks.

Does your fellow athlete have a lab coat? As in, a PhD of BroScience? Because that's exactly what he/she is espousing. Taking your good wheels off for a gravel fondo is one thing, but thinking that riding your alloy wheels is like swinging a heavy bat before you step up to the plate is ill-founded.

Life is to short to ride shitty equipment.
I ride on my race wheels because of that motto and love it more because there freaking awesome

Ride hard

I have 4 bikes, 5 sets of race wheels, and NO stock wheels.

Stock wheels on my roadie (although I'm thinking of upgrading), race wheels are always on my tri bike. I don't ride it that often outside of racing, but when I do I want it to feel like my race bike.

In addition to the performance difference, the Flos my be more comfortable than your stock wheels if they are wider and can be run at lower pressure. I moved to Flo 30s when I got my tri bike for this reason and haven't looked back.

AGREE!! Ride the wheels you love!!

If your training is based on power/HR/duration then what equipment you use in terms of areo benefits makes almost no difference. If you are basing your training on 'avg speed' then it makes some difference. Personally I ride the stuff I spend my money on since my training is all by power/duration. The only things I keep 'race' designation are tires and helmet.

We suggest riding your race wheels all of the time. You'll get used to how they handle in windy conditions and, why not enjoy the nice wheels you spent money on. All of our wheels are built with durability in mind and can be used on a daily basis.

Enjoy,

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Chris Thornham
Co-Founder And Previous Owner Of FLO Cycling

It's not about "shitty" vs "not shitty", it's about what's optimal for the conditions. Race wheels and tires are optimised for going fast. Training wheels and tires are optimised for durability and puncture resistance. If I'm training on nice smooth roads and dry conditions that don't put too much wear and tear on the wheels then I will absolutely ride fast wheels and tires. If I'm riding on roads with potholes, debris, wet weather that grinds down braking surfaces, etc, then I don't need either the cost or hassle of looking after equipment that isn't optimised for those conditions.

It's like owning a VW Golf and a Ferrari, and using the Ferrari to do your weekly grocery shop because you don't want to use the "shitty" Golf...

You got a point there which i understand.
Situations are indeed a important factor.
I would still go with the ferrari to get the groceries.

Disclaimer i don't own a ferrari

Mark