I know this has been somewhat discussed before, but I’m considering my best options for an upcoming year in which I will do a HIM and likely full IM.
In terms of race-wheels, I asked a lot of folks with some killer wheels at my last race about them and they seemed to love them. However, most of the guys using true discs and deep rim wheels said that they only used them for racing.
Considering that a set of new Zipps can get up to $1500, would it make better sense to just rent them for $175-200 a pop (for the hottest current models) and get 7 races out of it, especially if I only race 3-4 times per year?
Or is it very helpful to have racing wheels to train on?
Your basic economic argument has merit, but then you can usually find pretty good deals on lightly used race wheels that will shorten the return over renting to maybe half as many races.
For me, I do all my own wrenching, so part of my comfort level with race wheels (or any other bike parts) is being able to futz w/ it in the garage whenever… maybe swapping tires, or cassettes, or whatever else. First time I changed over to a new wheel & tire combo, I also ended up having to adjust the dropout screws on account of the frame cutout spacing, which also affected the brake pad/rim alignment, etc, and the RD needed adjustment because the casettes didn’t line up exactly the same on the 2 wheels. Nothing major, but somehow it would feel like more of an issue if I potentially had to go through it each time w/ “someone else’s” wheels, whereas there are no surprises with my own so that’s one less detail to sweat.
You race on the wheels for 3 seasons, then move on.
You keep racing for 10 seasons.
$17523=$1050. You can easily sell the wheels to make up the difference, and then some. Resale values are pretty good.
$175102= a lot more than you want to spend.
Also consider that, by buying, you can use them for your smaller races too, which makes them even better. I think race day wheel rentals are good for people that might not know if they’ll race more than 1 or two races, but in the long run, getting your own is almost always the best deal.
You found a set of new zipps for $1500? Where, tell me now!
Seriously though, I think you may be confused. New Zipp sets run upwards of about $2000. You may have been looking at the price for one wheel only. If that’s the case, you may have answered your question.
A quick question. What happens if you crash and destroy a $1000 rented wheel. Is this part of the rental policy? I would not rent any wheel where you have any obligation ifyou crash it. At $200 a race, i feel like it should be covered.
I personally hate tinkering with my bike. I like to get it setup working properly and ride it and especially don’t like tinkering close to races.
For $500 for a front wheel, and $100 for a wheel cover you can go very fast. The wheel cover is one of the things that falls under my “don’t like tinkering” so I got a FP80 and call it a day.
If the look of the hottest current models is important to you, renting is not a terrible option.
If performance/cost is what is important you should get the most aero front wheel you can find and a wheel cover. I bought a used H3 in the classifieds for $300 and a wheelcover for $70 4 years ago. Add in tires/tubes and we’ll call it $450. I’ve done around 30 triathlons/TTs in that time, so my cost is around $15/race. The H3 is worth the same as when I bought it if not more, so it is actually ~$2/race.
I’m not sure what tires/tubes come with the race wheels, but I would bet that you are giving up some watts there as well.
I don’t normally train on the race wheels, but I do make sure to get a couple of rides in prior to big events to make sure everything is working.
you can get all the aero goodnewss of a $1500 set of zipps for $500 to $600
used hed jet or flashpoint front
disc cover rear
I know this has been somewhat discussed before, but I’m considering my best options for an upcoming year in which I will do a HIM and likely full IM.
In terms of race-wheels, I asked a lot of folks with some killer wheels at my last race about them and they seemed to love them. However, most of the guys using true discs and deep rim wheels said that they only used them for racing.
Considering that a set of new Zipps can get up to $1500, would it make better sense to just rent them for $175-200 a pop (for the hottest current models) and get 7 races out of it, especially if I only race 3-4 times per year?
Or is it very helpful to have racing wheels to train on?
When you own the wheels you can be sure they are perfectly true. When you rent them you can not! I rented a pair of Zipp 606’s and they were pretty out of whack (so much so I had lots of brake rub), presumably from being shipped in a flimsy plastic box. I did not have time to get them retrued and I am certainly not adept enough to true them myself! The supplier (that shall remain nameless) offered nothing to compensate me as far as a discount or anything when I told them about this problem.
I did use them, just had to loosen the brakes a lot to keep them from rubbing, and they were still better than running on my cheap training wheels, but I was disappointed.
This may not be a problem if you happen to be proficient at truing wheels, or renting a wheel with no spokes.
You race on the wheels for 3 seasons, then move on.
You keep racing for 10 seasons.
$17523=$1050. You can easily sell the wheels to make up the difference, and then some. Resale values are pretty good.
$175102= a lot more than you want to spend.
Also consider that, by buying, you can use them for your smaller races too, which makes them even better. I think race day wheel rentals are good for people that might not know if they’ll race more than 1 or two races, but in the long run, getting your own is almost always the best deal.
When was the last time you saw 10-year old Zipps?
I always rent for A races. I have a set of Flashpoints with a Tap that I ride B races and do all my training on.
you can get all the aero goodnewss of a $1500 set of zipps for $500 to $600
used hed jet or flashpoint front
disc cover rear
I know this has been somewhat discussed before, but I’m considering my best options for an upcoming year in which I will do a HIM and likely full IM.
In terms of race-wheels, I asked a lot of folks with some killer wheels at my last race about them and they seemed to love them. However, most of the guys using true discs and deep rim wheels said that they only used them for racing.
Considering that a set of new Zipps can get up to $1500, would it make better sense to just rent them for $175-200 a pop (for the hottest current models) and get 7 races out of it, especially if I only race 3-4 times per year?
Or is it very helpful to have racing wheels to train on?
Just wondering what you STers thought.
what do you think of the new renn 58mm? comparable or does it lack the toroidal shape. it seems even more competitive in price than hed or flashpoint.