So, I’ve been mulling over this power thing and it seems like a handy bit of data to have. As I’m tight and baulk at the prices of these things I had been looking at an ibike or the polar computer thing. Opinions vary wildly on these things from they are out by a bit to they are pretty close. I was looking around and found that the PowerTap COMP is not that badly priced and the wireless is also tempting when compared to the ibike price.
I own a set of Zipp 303 that don’t get much use since I bought some other race wheels and I was wondering if I could buy the powertap and get it fitted to the 303, I then buy a wheel cover and hey presto I’ve got power and a disc if I want one and I use the 303 without cover to train on.
These things are also quite weighty, is this an issue
PT w/disc cover. Sell your 303’s if you want the cash and buy a deep front wheel. You now have a perfect training AND racing setup. Call wheelbuilder.com to see about lacing into 303 but do you want to train with that?
So wheelbuilder (can you just go LBS I am leaing the states in 18 days so I need to do this quickly) can install it on my 303. I already own a hed jet 60 and hed 3 so I figured that getting the tap installed on my 303 would be pretty cost effective when compared to buying an ibike.
The issue then was that a powertap plus wheel cover makes for a fairly weighty back wheel. Do I want to train with that, well I can’t see why not, may as well get utility out of something I’m not using much. I only got 303’s as I picked them up bvrand new for 1250 at the LBS and they are a good wheel.
I assume that they take out your zipp hub and put in the powertap, is this hub any good?
Don’t know anything about the ibike except I’ve read countless time that they are finicky and not in the same class. I’m sure others will argue this point. You’ll have to ask LBS about the rest of your question. I know that wheelbuilder has a “build it fast” option and they can crank out a dt swiss or similar wheel very quickly.
I don’t worry about weight on the TT bike. Call wheelbuilder and just get info on weight. They will be glad to help. I train/race on a mavic open pro w/PT and cover. It’s bombproof and fast.
I personally sold my race wheels and bought a front clincher with the Mavic as described above. It got me to Kona.
So wheelbuilder (can you just go LBS I am leaing the states in 18 days so I need to do this quickly) can install it on my 303. I already own a hed jet 60 and hed 3 so I figured that getting the tap installed on my 303 would be pretty cost effective when compared to buying an ibike.
The issue then was that a powertap plus wheel cover makes for a fairly weighty back wheel. Do I want to train with that, well I can’t see why not, may as well get utility out of something I’m not using much. I only got 303’s as I picked them up bvrand new for 1250 at the LBS and they are a good wheel.
I assume that they take out your zipp hub and put in the powertap, is this hub any good?
Mass differences between wheels (or equipment in general) is essentially irrelevant for TT riding. It’s all about ratio of power to aero-drag (and pacing).
In my presentation last night, I demonstrated the additional distance to be gained in an hour record attempt by a 5% change in various factors for a rider I coach:
improve power by 5% = 850 metres gained
reduce CdA (aero drag) by 5% = 810 metres gained
reduce Crr (rolling resistance) by 5% = 75 metres gained
reduce mass of equipment by 5% = 9 metres gained
reduce wheel bearing drag by 5% = 8 metres gained
Give me a heavier but more aerodynamic wheel any day. And one that enables you to actually test for power and aerodynamics so that you can get that ratio as high as possible is of huge benefit to performance.