I have a 2012 Felt B12. I am doing a few Olys and a HIM and have been looking at upgrading the wheels vs. disc covers. Wheels are not in the budget, nor will they be for a while. At the earliest, wheels will be next year, but I would rather upgrade the road bike before dropping some cash on some wheels.
I know renting is an option, but I don’t really want to mess with it, which led me to looking at wheel covers. A little google says they will work on the TTR3 wheel, but I don’t see the 5mm clearance that wheelbuilder is suggesting I need. Any Felt owners who race with the TTR3 wheel? From what I gather, it is a decent aluminum aero wheel and to get a noticable gain would require a significant investment towards carbon wheels.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t even bother because the time savings will be minimal and crosswinds already are challenging at ~140lbs but I thought I would see if others have any experience or insight.
Should be OK.
Get as narrow a front tyre as you can - the TTR wheels test very fast with a 700c/20. Continental Supersonic would be my choice.
At 140lbs the narrow tyre won’t be too uncomfortable either.
Nice wheels. I have 2 sets, love 'em. Poor man’s Shamals.
I have continental gp 4000s tires on now with latex tubes. The setup is definately fast (compared to my road bike). I’m just wondering if the wheel cover is possible and a good idea.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t even bother because the time savings will be minimal and crosswinds already are challenging at ~140lbs but I thought I would see if others have any experience or insight.
I’ve got one on my powertap wheel, and measured about a 2mph increase (from 20mph to 22mph) when using the disc cover and aero helmet. The helmet alone accounts for about half of the increase.
You also won’t notice cross winds, those hit your front tire, the disc should make you feel more stable.
I have TTR3 wheels on my old S22 and WB said they were compatible. But I made my own cover last weekend before my Sprint race, half the cost of WB. I followed this DIY thread.
And as someone already said, it’ll help with stability as its on the trailing end (think vertical stabilizer fin on an airplane).
I have a Felt B14 with TTR3 wheels, a powertap laced to the read wheel, and a disc cover from WheelBuilder for that wheel. No issues. Fits just fine. Get it.
my wheels for last year were TTR3 with the wheel builder cover… no issues what so ever. Just tape the inside so you don’t get a little rub on the cover. Works very very well.
I have a 2012 Felt B12. I am doing a few Olys and a HIM and have been looking at upgrading the wheels vs. disc covers. Wheels are not in the budget, nor will they be for a while. At the earliest, wheels will be next year, but I would rather upgrade the road bike before dropping some cash on some wheels.
I know renting is an option, but I don’t really want to mess with it, which led me to looking at wheel covers. A little google says they will work on the TTR3 wheel, but I don’t see the 5mm clearance that wheelbuilder is suggesting I need. Any Felt owners who race with the TTR3 wheel? From what I gather, it is a decent aluminum aero wheel and to get a noticable gain would require a significant investment towards carbon wheels.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t even bother because the time savings will be minimal and crosswinds already are challenging at ~140lbs but I thought I would see if others have any experience or insight.
As others have said, the wheel cover should work out just fine. Rest assured, for the front wheel you’ll need to invest in some spendy equipment before you get anything that is significantly faster. Up until a few months ago only a couple companies had any wheels faster over the -15, 0, 15 sweep and nothing from France at any price was faster. MAVIC’s CXR trumps the TTR now but it is moot if new wheels aren’t in your budget.
As another poster pointed out, a 20mm tire works optimally for low-drag. The Veloflex record, bonty 19mm, or Conti SS 20mm are good choices if you’re willing to give up a fraction of crr and comfort.
I have a Felt B14 with TTR3 wheels, a powertap laced to the read wheel, and a disc cover from WheelBuilder for that wheel. No issues. Fits just fine. Get it.
Did you rebuild your rear TTR3 wheel for the powertap? I have a powertap on a separate wheel from WheelBuilder, and I am debating on whether to move my powertap to my TTR3 or just get an aerocover for the separate wheel. If you rebuilt your TTR3, what spokes did you get?
I have a Felt B14 with TTR3 wheels, a powertap laced to the read wheel, and a disc cover from WheelBuilder for that wheel. No issues. Fits just fine. Get it.
Did you rebuild your rear TTR3 wheel for the powertap? I have a powertap on a separate wheel from WheelBuilder, and I am debating on whether to move my powertap to my TTR3 or just get an aerocover for the separate wheel. If you rebuilt your TTR3, what spokes did you get?
Thanks!
-TropicYes, I had the hub built into my TTR3 wheel by my LBS. Spokes were comparable to what came off, normal rounded, but I dont remember the brand we used. Then, I called Wheelbuilder, told them I had a TTR3 wheel with a Powertap SL, and a week later I have a disc cover that fits the wheel and has the larger cutout for the PT hub on the non drive side. Works like a champ!
If you already have your PT laced to a wheel, then just get a disc cover and race it. No reason to move the PT.
I have a Felt B14 with TTR3 wheels, a powertap laced to the read wheel, and a disc cover from WheelBuilder for that wheel. No issues. Fits just fine. Get it.
Did you rebuild your rear TTR3 wheel for the powertap? I have a powertap on a separate wheel from WheelBuilder, and I am debating on whether to move my powertap to my TTR3 or just get an aerocover for the separate wheel. If you rebuilt your TTR3, what spokes did you get?
Thanks!
-TropicYes, I had the hub built into my TTR3 wheel by my LBS. Spokes were comparable to what came off, normal rounded, but I dont remember the brand we used. Then, I called Wheelbuilder, told them I had a TTR3 wheel with a Powertap SL, and a week later I have a disc cover that fits the wheel and has the larger cutout for the PT hub on the non drive side. Works like a champ!
If you already have your PT laced to a wheel, then just get a disc cover and race it. No reason to move the PT.
Thanks - yeah, that sounds like the way to go. I’ll contact WB re: the aerojacket.
Hi, I just wanted to check with you how was your experience with the Aerojacket in your B12 as I am 140 too. I have a B12 and I am doing Rev3 70.3 in Venice Florida this coming Nov and I am debating in getting an Aerojacket for my rear TTR3 and maybe renting a front HED H3 or maybe just TTR3 front and TTR3 rear with AeroJacket.
I am/was pretty happy with the cover. I raced a sprint, oly, and HIM with my disc cover and felt very stable. All of these days were not too windy.
I have since upgraded to a flo 90/disc combo. This set feels faster and a little lighter. At the AG nationals the wind over the Hoan bridge had me lean into the wind a bit. I think once I get a little more time with them it will not be an issue.
Having both, I prefer the disc over the cover, but I didn’t have any issues with mine.