As I begin my search for wheels… my original I rent was to use the race wheels daily.
Then, I thought I could just throw some Magic ksyrium or cosmic elite aluminum rims on for daily.
Any point to different wheel sets anymore?
I use aluminum with ceramic brake track on my climbing bike and carbon race wheels on my tri bike. If I only had one, do-it-all bike for day in and day out training, I’d pick aluminum. The braking power with my carbon wheels just isn’t there. I could never imagine descending on 'em.
As I begin my search for wheels… my original I rent was to use the race wheels daily.
Then, I thought I could just throw some Magic ksyrium or cosmic elite aluminum rims on for daily.
Any point to different wheel sets anymore?
No way i would run carbon wheels as daily drivers. Could they stand up? sure. but if you’re racing, save the wear and tear on rims, cassettes, bearings, etc for race day. plus there are risks of errant potholes, etc. if you can afford a pair of inexpensive training wheels, I don’t see any reason to NOT use them for daily training.
I use aluminum with ceramic brake track on my climbing bike and carbon race wheels on my tri bike. If I only had one, do-it-all bike for day in and day out training, I’d pick aluminum. The braking power with my carbon wheels just isn’t there. I could never imagine descending on 'em.
Since I’m now running disc brakes, that’s a non issue
Would you run carbon daily if you had disc brakes?
As I begin my search for wheels… my original I rent was to use the race wheels daily.
Then, I thought I could just throw some Magic ksyrium or cosmic elite aluminum rims on for daily.
Any point to different wheel sets anymore?
No way i would run carbon wheels as daily drivers. Could they stand up? sure. but if you’re racing, save the wear and tear on rims, cassettes, bearings, etc for race day. plus there are risks of errant potholes, etc. if you can afford a pair of inexpensive training wheels, I don’t see any reason to NOT use them for daily training.
I always thought this. Since I found out the hard way that my Specialized Roubaix uses SCS which is basically a proprietary rear wheel spacing, I could t put on the Intended aluminum wheels. Bike shop said ride the carbon rovals daily. I have and it’s been fine.
On the hunt for a new Tri bike build as I’m planning for a wheel set for the Tri bike, wondering if I should plan to do the same? I just don’t see why I need to roll around on zipp 404’s daily, but then again- why buy 2 wheel sets if I don’t have to.
yes, I use all my race/carbon equipment daily. I can’t afford not to, and I want to know how it all works for race day. plus what’s the point of a nice set of wheels if you don’t ride them?
As I begin my search for wheels… my original I rent was to use the race wheels daily.
Then, I thought I could just throw some Magic ksyrium or cosmic elite aluminum rims on for daily.
Any point to different wheel sets anymore?
No way i would run carbon wheels as daily drivers. Could they stand up? sure. but if you’re racing, save the wear and tear on rims, cassettes, bearings, etc for race day. plus there are risks of errant potholes, etc. if you can afford a pair of inexpensive training wheels, I don’t see any reason to NOT use them for daily training.
I always thought this. Since I found out the hard way that my Specialized Roubaix uses SCS which is basically a proprietary rear wheel spacing, I could t put on the Intended aluminum wheels. Bike shop said ride the carbon rovals daily. I have and it’s been fine.
On the hunt for a new Tri bike build as I’m planning for a wheel set for the Tri bike, wondering if I should plan to do the same? I just don’t see why I need to roll around on zipp 404’s daily, but then again- why buy 2 wheel sets if I don’t have to.
I’d base it on how much you intend to ride the bike.
Back in the day, my OG Cervelo P2 only had clearance on the back for an 18mm tubular, which meant that it could only be fitted with a nearly $200 tire (Conti Competition 650-18) The only wheelset I had for it was a Zipp 400 front / disc rear. But then I only rode it maybe once every couple of weeks for training, for specific sessions, and in races.
I totally get that if someone lives in a junky road area or tight budget. Then by all means take the right precautions to safeguard your investments.
If that’s the case though, I wouldn’t spend your money getting “nice” training wheels. Either you’re broke or you ain’t broke. If you are broke, run some cheapo used alloys. If you ain’t broke…run the race wheels whenever you can. Losing time soft pedaling in a solid cross wind will delete lots of hard training work and delete lots of the “tech” you spent your hard earned money on.
Just IMO.
I got some used Zipp 202 s that I use as my training wheels on my road bike
For the tt bike I use alloy because I only have a disc for the back. But I use that on the weekly TT and some KOM hunting.
As I begin my search for wheels… my original I rent was to use the race wheels daily.
Then, I thought I could just throw some Magic ksyrium or cosmic elite aluminum rims on for daily.
Any point to different wheel sets anymore?
Roval CL50 Discs. All day erryday. Love em every time I go out and ride. Never really think twice about it
My 50mm carbon wheels are so inexpensive that I run 'em daily on my TT bike. (My road bike has my stock cheap wheelset, I ride both 50/50).
A lot of Carbon wheels now are so inexpensive that it’s not a big deal to run 'em daily. But I do understand if you’ve got $$$$ Enves etc that you want to save for race day.
yes, I use all my race/carbon equipment daily. I can’t afford not to, and I want to know how it all works for race day. plus what’s the point of a nice set of wheels if you don’t ride them?
An entirely preventable life changing injury. The carbon wheels in your closet will work in the weeks before and on race day, I guarantee it.
Carbon wheels fail. It’s a fact. Disc brakes prevent the most common form of failure but they still fail. I’ve seen it, more than a few times. The number one rule of biking is: The bike can not fail. Watts are watts, 250W on race day on your carbon disc wheel TT super bike is still 250W on your steel/aluminum training bike, you just go faster.
It’s not worth it, ever. The bike can not fail.
yes, I use all my race/carbon equipment daily. I can’t afford not to, and I want to know how it all works for race day. plus what’s the point of a nice set of wheels if you don’t ride them?
An entirely preventable life changing injury. The carbon wheels in your closet will work in the weeks before and on race day, I guarantee it.
Carbon wheels fail. It’s a fact. Disc brakes prevent the most common form of failure but they still fail. I’ve seen it, more than a few times. The number one rule of biking is: The bike can not fail. Watts are watts, 250W on race day on your carbon disc wheel TT super bike is still 250W on your steel/aluminum training bike, you just go faster.
It’s not worth it, ever. The bike can not fail.
flawless argument, I stand corrected
Carbon fiber wheels are not exactly cutting edge these days, disc or rim. My bike came with 60mm carbon wheels, I ride on a flat terrain and I don’t worry a bit about my wheels failing, especially compared to the rest of the on-road risk that I brave each day.
I only run carbon wheels on my road and tri bikes. Braking power is fine unless wet. I ride my cross/gravel bike if the weather is iffy or I’m venturing off reasonably smooth tarmac.
Honestly, part of the motivation is that I think aero road bikes and TT bikes look cool with deep carbon wheels and kinda strange with shallow aluminum rims, but you may be less vain. Ride whatever makes you happy.
I only run carbon wheels on my road and tri bikes. Braking power is fine unless wet. I ride my cross/gravel bike if the weather is iffy or I’m venturing off reasonably smooth tarmac.
Honestly, part of the motivation is that I think aero road bikes and TT bikes look cool with deep carbon wheels and kinda strange with shallow aluminum rims, but you may be less vain. Ride whatever makes you happy.
I suppose this makes most sense when you have more than one bike. I do have a gravel bike with aluminum wheels. If it’s ever a worry, I could just take that bike!
I think it depends how much you ride and race, amongst other factors identified by others. If you don’t ever plan to ride the carbon except races and only race a few times/year, why not just rent wheels? In general, I say ride them. You will get the enjoyment of riding them, which is the major point of buying wheels. And, I assume you will be running a disc on the rear for races that will rarely, if ever be used in training anyways.
4 bikes. Zero aluminum wheels😂
yes, I use all my race/carbon equipment daily. I can’t afford not to, and I want to know how it all works for race day. plus what’s the point of a nice set of wheels if you don’t ride them?
An entirely preventable life changing injury. The carbon wheels in your closet will work in the weeks before and on race day, I guarantee it.
Carbon wheels fail. It’s a fact. Disc brakes prevent the most common form of failure but they still fail. I’ve seen it, more than a few times. The number one rule of biking is: The bike can not fail. Watts are watts, 250W on race day on your carbon disc wheel TT super bike is still 250W on your steel/aluminum training bike, you just go faster.
It’s not worth it, ever. The bike can not fail.
flawless argument, I stand corrected
Don’t aluminum rims fail too? And carbon frames and steerer tubes and stems and bars and brakes and tires and anything that is mechanical ever? I don’t know if the data is there to support the risk assessment here. Sure you want to reduce risks as much as possible but at a certain point there are probably other risks in your life worth chasing-especially if you really enjoy riding nice wheels.
Ive ridden carbon wheels mostly in training for the last 5 years of my career. That is 120 000 km and millions of feet of climbing and descending. My wheels have never let me down across several good brands. Think about World Tour racing, that’s millions of very hard kms and when is the last time you heard about a crash due to wheel failure? You’re much more likely to deck it because of an untimely flat, on this logic you best run the heaviest, thickest tires available with sealant in training to reduce risk.
And in response to the braking argument, sure it is not quite as good but how hard do you need to brake in training? Again if emergency stop or corner adjustment is needed, your tires are far more likely to let you down in the wet especially. Ride the wheels you want as long as they are quality and not a Chinese knock off and enjoy your life!
I ride my Lightweight Fernwegs as my ‘daily’ wheel because I am obscenely wealthy.