I recently purchased a PT and 2009 will be the first year where I’ll have the option of racing with power. No IMs planned and so far I have 1 HIM scheduled (Musselman), where I’ll definitely be using the PT to help pace.
My question is what are you thoughts about the wheel option for shorter hilly races? For a hilly sprint or oly, would you choose to race with the PT but carry the extra weight?
Basically, is the power info more valuable than the extra weight (not sure how much more) for a short race? Do you typically use a PT for in-race pacing/strategy when its a sprint or oly or just for feedback purposes afterwards?
Other info:
The PT is built into a Mavic Open Pro…28 spokes (IIRC).
I am 6’ and race at 164-167lbs.
Last year bike paces…IMFL ~20, Diamondman HIM 21+mph, 2x oly b/t 22.5-23
My inclination is to sell the Jet 60 w/ cover. I have yet to do a race where I couldn’t use a disk. I’m nowhere near qualifying for Kona, so that’s not an issue.
Thanks,
Tim
***Hey Tim ***
***I race on a American classic 420 with a powertap and cover and It’s really nice to have the power during a race. Often in a race you may feel like you have it full gas but you look at your PT and know your not and you can’t always do that with just HR that can be fooled by hot or cold. So it is nice to have the PowerTap in a race. ***
***But on the flip side it will also kill you when you just can’t put out the watts and you are killing it? ***
But over all I like to race with power. ***
Dan…
*** oh and your powertap wheel with a cover will be faster then your 60, but i would not sell the 60 unless you’re thinking of getting a ligher PT wheel like the AC 420.
Thanks for the post.
The HED Jet 60 has a cover too. My thought was there was no aero benefit either way b/t a Mavic Open Pro w/ cover and a HED Jet 60 w/ cover. You actually think the Mavic could be faster?
-Tim
No, he said the 60 will be slower without cover vs. the standard wheel with a cover.
The 60 will be faster if it also has a cover.
Chris
Ah, I misread his post.
I already have the cover for the Jet 60, and since getting the cover, have never run the wheel without it.
I’m just wrestling with the idea selling the HED Jet 60. There are only three drawbacks I see for selling it;
(1) Will not have an aero rear wheel for windier conditions (have yet to have this issue)
(2) Will now be racing on a heavier rear wheel. (PT w/ cover is heavier than Jet 60 w/ cover but how much time can this cost and good better pacing make up for the lost time anyways?)
(3) Kona (not close to getting in and could borrow/rent a wheel if I ever qualified or entered the lottery)
Dump the 60 and race with power. Seems stoopid to have power but race without it. Even for short races having the data is important even if you do not use it to pace the effort much. As was suggested it can be used as a whip. If you qualify buy an 808 with a pt hub 