OK, so I’m getting mixed info everywhere I turn so I figured I’d just come to the experts. I have an Oly coming up and I just want to know if it REALLY makes a difference to rent some bad boy Zipps (not the full disk but the 404 or 1080’s) . I’ve heard everything from a 30sec difference for a 40k up to “you’ll be riding along, averaging 2mph faster and not even feel it”.
Right now I have a Ksyerium ES wheelset on a 2009 P2 with SRAM red group. Bottom line… what speed difference has anyone seen with a more aero wheel?
“If you only do a couple of races a year, it makes far more sense than actually buying your own set!”
I bought a wheelcover for $70 and a H3 for $300 5 years ago. I’ve done ~30 races on them. I also get to pick superior tubes/tires to what the rental companies provide, and train on my wheels (if I need to to) to ensure I am comfortable on them. I could sell my H3 for at least what I paid for it if I wanted to. So, For $70 total cost, I’ve had race wheels for 30 races, less than $3/race. Are you sure it makes more sense?
thanks, yeah I get the economy of the rental, I’m more wondering about the difference the wheels make themselves. I mean if I average 21mph on my current wheelset would the 404’s take me up to 23mph?
yep, that’s exactly what I was thinking. NOW, change gears… I’ve heard there are significant differences when you put a full disk in the back. Is it more realistic to see a noticeable difference with disk?
OK, so I’m getting mixed info everywhere I turn so I figured I’d just come to the experts. I have an Oly coming up and I just want to know if it REALLY makes a difference to rent some bad boy Zipps (not the full disk but the 404 or 1080’s) . I’ve heard everything from a 30sec difference for a 40k up to “you’ll be riding along, averaging 2mph faster and not even feel it”.
Right now I have a Ksyerium ES wheelset on a 2009 P2 with SRAM red group. Bottom line… what speed difference has anyone seen with a more aero wheel?
Thanks,
This right here tells you everything you need to know:
Lucky for you they calculated the time savings over 40K, and I believe the “industry benchmark aluminum wheelset” they refer to in the first description (the 101s) are the Kyseriums. All of the wheel calculated time savings are in reference to that. Assuming the tires on the rental wheels are as good, or better, than what you would run otherwise, then these estimates are as good as any.
It looks to me like even with 404s, you’d be saving nearly 3X the 30s someone guessed above with Zipp estimating a time savings of 80s. That’s 2s/km faster…or, if you want to think of it this way, it’s how fast you could go if you could average 20W more over 40K than you do now.
Whether it’s “worth it” or not, though, is totally up to you…
You make that sound like it’s not very significant…but, just 0.5mph faster over 40K is a time difference of 1.5 minutes…or, actually 3X the “just 30s” savings guessed above.
“You make that sound like it’s not very significant”
Well, that was not my intent. .5 mph is a huge difference to me…My point was that he/she shouldn’t expect differences of 2 mph. I agree that converting to time saved makes the differences more apparent when assessing the value of the wheels.
I have, and will again. Not sure the time savings, but It is fun and feels good being on the newest wheels. I have a set of older race wheels (zipp 440 and HED disc) that I use for small local races, but when I am investing in doing an IM I like to be on the best. Also since you can pick them up at races, it removes the cost/stress of transporting your fragile race wheels. The tech support at the races is also nice (raceday wheels).
Once again, not sure the cost benefit ratio, but it is something I have had great experiences with, and will do again.
BTW each time I have rented for IM’s (4x’s) there has been brand new rubber on the wheels. I rent clinchers and they had the conti GP 4000’s which are a nice tire.
“Well, since the OP was talking about a set of Zipps and not a wheelcover/5 year old H3, yes I do!”
I guess it depends what is important to you. If it is speed, then you are wrong. If it is bling, you are right.
Which wheelset do you think is faster, H3 front/covered rear with Conti supersonics (front) /vittoria EVO CX IIs w/latex tubes vs 404s with conti 4000s/butyl tubes?
It’s really about how cool will your bike look. No matter what, your bike will always look cooler with a pair of deep Zipps. Rent or buy, cool is cool.
If you look cool, you’ll pedal harder. So yes, it’s well worth getting race wheels.
Going back to the original question. Are they worth it. Yes, if you don’t want to spend the money on owning them and like others have said only rent 1-2 times per year or every now and then. Also if you own a set of deeps and want to use a disc every now and then or try different wheel configs on different courses. .
Will they make you faster, yes and no.
One reason to have deeper aero wheels than your Mavic Ksyriums is less about putting out a greater speed and more about using less energy. The deeper wheels at the same speed of 21mph will take less energy to pedal and will leave you with more for the run. Win, win.
Honestly race wheels don’t have to be a significant investment you just have to be smart about them. If you buy a pair of used zipp wheels at say 50% off retail you will most likely be able to use them for a couple of years and resale them at very close to what you paid for them. I took the following out of my tagline on request from the Admins, but I created a guide about used zipp wheels for exactly this purpose at http://www.usedzipp.com.
If you are smart about it and buy some wheels on the cheap you could actually make money when you finally resold them. I would only rent if you really only have plans to race once. That way you can choose your own tubes and tires for optimal rolling resistance, aerodynamics etc. And don’t listen to other about durability, I ride Zipp’s day in and day out
Re-read the original post please. It is not about which wheel is faster, which wheel offers more bling, nor which tubes are the fastest. It is simply, is it worth renting a set of Zipp 404/1080s. I opined that yes, if only participating in a few races a year it is worth renting over buying. That’s it, nothing more, nothing less. I didn’t even answer his real question as to whether the wheels themselves (Zipp 404 or 1080) will give him an improvement in speed that he would deem renting worthwhile.
When the OP needs advice on tubes, comparisons of different options/setups, then your responses will probably be appropriate…
According to Zipp, 72 seconds if you are riding 30mph. I assume you don’t avg. 30 MPH cause if you did, you wouldn’t have posted this question. So you will save even more time. So, to answer your questions, yes, they are faster. But is it worth it? You have to answer that, did you miss a podium spot in your last race by less than 72 seconds? Only you can decide if the time advantage is “worth” it. Depends on why you race, what your expectations are and how important it is to shave ride time. Here is how I look at it, are youa t your ideal race weight? If not, lose 2-3 lbs and that will help on your ride, run AND your swim, not to mention a few seconds at each Transition…