In the market for a new wheelset, just cant decide what to buy…
These will be going on my speed concept, and will be daily riders
option 1 is the Aura wheelset.
pros- cheap (er), so i would have a good chunk of cash left towards a powermeter, also could afford right away
no need to switch between brake pads wheb switching out with trainer wheel
cons - slower, not sure by how much
not as sexy, might(will) have carbon envy
option 2 is Aeolus D3s, 7 in front, 9 in back
pros - faster, no chance of wheel envy down the road
cons- much more expensive… power would have to wait and i would have to work just a bit more overtime
might need to switch between brakepads if my trainer gets utilized much this summer
Since I can’t make up my mind, what does the ST community say? Would you do the sensible option or go all in?
I use an Aura 5 up front as my daily/race wheel (HED Jet 6 rear). I love the reliable braking with aluminum. The price point is absolutely fantastic. I tell myself that I am not losing much in terms of speed when compared to much higher up wheels, but others may have data to claim I’m wrong.
I would personabley get the Auras, save the dough and pick up the power meter. This way you can really get your training going to race faster.
I just changed out tubes/tires on race day to get the extra edge.
Given that money is an object here (and there’s almost a $1500 difference in price) I think Auras are the right choice. They’re a great wheel. I’ve ridden them and enjoyed them.
I’ve definitely considered Flo and Zipp. The Flo30s willost likely find their way onto my next build project. For me though, Trek and Bontrager just belong together. That, and depending on whos data you believe the Aeolus combo is the fastest of the bunch…
If they are to be your standard go-to wheel, then I second what most said with regards to an aluminium brake track.
However, in particular with regards to your point “might need to switch between brakepads if my trainer gets utilized much this summer”, I have to ask - why would you need to use the brakes at all while riding the trainer? I set my SC, in particular brake pad spacing, for my wider, carbon race wheels. It only gets ridden outside at races or in fair weather; otherwise, the trainer it is - and then braking is not really a concern.
D3’s are great wheels… after my first couple of rides on them I ditched my entire Zipp wheel collection including 808’s, Sub9 disk and 404’s. I’m not sure about using them as an everyday wheel though but if it’s your only option go for it!
D3’s are great wheels… after my first couple of rides on them I ditched my entire Zipp wheel collection including 808’s, Sub9 disk and 404’s. I’m not sure about using them as an everyday wheel though but if it’s your only option go for it!
Why? D3 have a great rep and I know people that love them but, not having ridden them I doubt I could feel a difference between them and somethink like a 404.
There is a huge difference in the aura between aeolus, not just money difference. I think on the site of bontrager or on the net you can find some comparisation files.
At 0° yaw (a head-on apparent wind) the Aura has 140g of drag – 5g more than the Aeolus 5. At 10° it’s 80g – again, 5g more – while at 12.5° the difference is more than 10g.
In the market for a new wheelset, just cant decide what to buy…
These will be going on my speed concept, and will be daily riders
option 1 is the Aura wheelset.
pros- cheap (er), so i would have a good chunk of cash left towards a powermeter, also could afford right away
no need to switch between brake pads wheb switching out with trainer wheel
cons - slower, not sure by how much
not as sexy, might(will) have carbon envy
option 2 is Aeolus D3s, 7 in front, 9 in back
pros - faster, no chance of wheel envy down the road
cons- much more expensive… power would have to wait and i would have to work just a bit more overtime
might need to switch between brakepads if my trainer gets utilized much this summer
Since I can’t make up my mind, what does the ST community say? Would you do the sensible option or go all in?
Auras + PM. Assuming you want to train with power, know what to do with the information it provides, or have a coach that can do it for you.
There is a huge difference in the aura between aeolus, not just money difference. I think on the site of bontrager or on the net you can find some comparisation files.
All well and good but the poster I replied to was comparing D3s and 404s,and was probably talking more feel than data.
There were several reasons I went with the D3 wheels actually, they felt more solid under me, not that I’ve ever had an issue with my Zipps over the years and I basically rode Zipp wheels since I started the sport back in the mid 90’s but these just felt better, maybe it was just that they felt different and different was better, they ride different, they sound different, they look different. The workmanship is excellent, they look great, they ride great and they are super light… I just like them a lot more than the Zipp wheels I had… that is my n = 1 experience anyway.