So I got a rear PT laced on an open pro rim, and I got some racing wheels (Reynolds SDV66)
The minute I started training with power I fell in love with it, and now races are around the corner and I really do not know what wheels to choose…
I am familliar with the option of installing a wheelcover, but that will make that rear wheel weight like 1.7kg, thats rediculous as I’m thin, but I do suffer on hills- with heavy wheels.
I know racing with power will get me better results, but I’m not sure racing with that heavy rear wheel will get me faster to T2 than a lighter tubie deep wheel.
Your open pro plus a cover is going to weigh more than 3.5 lbs? How much does it weigh without the cover? How much do you think a cover weighs?
I will not try to convince you that a heavier wheel with a cover will be faster than your reynolds although it will. There are about 1,000,000 threads on that. The takeaway is that aero is good unless you do not believe that science works. Having power will also get you to the finish line faster if you learn how to use it and do so the right way. Even if you got to T2 faster isn’t the point to get to the finish?
“…that will make that rear wheel weight like 1.7kg,…”
Read Tom A.'s comments on this. The weight just isn’t significant. Just use the cover. Unless the course has multiple long segments with a climbs over 8%, the extra pound or less, compared to the weight of your body and bike and nutrition, is just not much.
I got a cover for the reynolds and it weighs around 450g, the PT wheel is about 1.2kg so yeah, heavy…
From my experience with the cover, it does a really good job on the flats, but when I get to a rolling terrain, I eat shit on the hills, and it takes more from me to speed again at the downhills… I weight 150lb.
Though I will believe you if you tell me that its only me :
So you are all certain that a 1.7kg covered wheel is faster than a 800g 66mm wheel on most courses (except really hilly terrain)?
Yes!!! It is much faster, even on hilly courses. It’s only slower if you are doing the Mt Washington hill climb. That is less than 1% of the total weight and until you have sustained periods under 8-10 mph, it is faster. It also makes the bike MUCH more stable in the wind.
Keep in mind that although the extra weight slows you down a bit on the way up, you get some of that energy back on the way down. The extra 450g gives you a little more inertia, so you decelerate less from aero drag. And with a wheelcover, you’ll actually recover more of your energy because your aero losses will be smaller when going back down the hill.
Having power means you can ration your effort and not “blow up” over the longer distance. It takes longer to recover from a deficit from going over threshold than maintaining a stable power over the entire time. I would always race power unless, like stated earlier, >8% or your event is UCI and you can’t use aero wheel covers. If you know your body well enough, get a disc and just watch your HR.
My wife is thin and sets course records with such a setup.
wheel weight ain’t worse than any other weight.
I am familliar with the option of installing a wheelcover, but that will make that rear wheel weight like 1.7kg, thats rediculous as I’m thin, but I do suffer on hills- with heavy wheels.
