In watching the last several stages, I’ve noticed that less than 1/2 the riders are choosing to go with aero wheels. I’m wondering why ? Clearly all the teams have the $$$ for the aero wheels, don’t they? It seems to me that the aero wheels would allow them to be more efficient (use less 1-3% less watts from what I’ve read) so why not use them and get the added benefit?
Because decending at those speeds it is safer to have a small x-section wheel on the corners. Zipp 202 are about perfect. Also, they are about all on bikes right at that weight limit…what do they really have to gain in a peloton?
No sprinter is going to ride an aero wheel, since the extra weight in a lead-out sprint is going to be too much of a penalty. So Boonen and the like will all ride regular wheels since they spin up so much faster.
If you are a peleton flunky, then you aren’t going to ride aero wheels, since you are just sitting in the peloton, and it doesn’t matter.
if you are a breakaway specialist, then you probably will ride aero wheels for the added benefit.
If you are a climbing specialist, then you’ll ride regular wheels to keep them lighter on the ascents. Since if you’re not ascending, you’re probably in the peloton.
Lastly, a lot of these cyclists are very superstitious. Team mechanics and managers too. Even if you sat down and showed them the data, they wouldn’t necessarily buy it. Tom Boonen, for instance, refuses to ride carbon cranks. They’re quirky. A huge amount of the tour is mental, and if they believe they might be slower on aero wheels, they will be…
Also you need to remember that depending on your wheel choice, adversaries can guess your strategy for the race. If it’s a flat stage and Jens Voigt shows up with a set of 808’s, you kinda know what he’s gonna do… 
If it’s a flat stage and Jens Voight shows up AT ALL, you kinda know what he’s gonna do…
I guess you’re right And good to see you’re in a better mood today… 
Thanks. They come and go. I do try to recognize the bad ones and warn folks…
Too bad Jens is out. He seems to be like one of those stable reliable guys you like to have on your team.
“No sprinter is going to ride an aero wheel, since the extra weight in a lead-out sprint is going to be too much of a penalty. So Boonen and the like will all ride regular wheels since they spin up so much faster.”
Doesn’t seem to be the case…
From stage 3 at the Tour:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tour05/?id=tour053/cycling-tdf2005-boonen-32
Looks like aero wheels to me but of course this photo was from a flat stage, not a mountain stage!
What?
Sprinters love aero wheels and hope to get up to 90-95% of their sprinting speed before they actually see the front. You’ll see Fulcrum aero wheels, Bora’s,Cosmic Carbones on the front of many of the top sprinters (Boonen, McEwen, Zabel, Pettachi, SuperMario used to ride Spinergys, and McGee and Cook both rode 16 spoke aero wheels from Decathlon or Shimano for a while.
-SD