I’ll make the assumption that people don’t have race wheels for the following reasons…
If cost is the issue, would you buy race wheels that were $500-$600 for the set? Assumming they had great aero benefits, weight etc.
Finally, how many people partially want race wheels just because they look cooler?
Thanks everyone.
Yes, for me your assumptions are correct. I bought my tri bike used for $750, so even putting on lower cost wheels doesn’t make sense for me.
I don’t buy anything just to look cool.
My Cervelo P2SL cost me $1200. That’s everything - frame, wheels, components, etc. That’s new (on closeout because it was an older model but still new) with warranty.
I’d love to throw race wheels on there - but as a 35 year old wanna be age grouper, will they make that much difference? I don’t know - I don’t have $1000 sitting around to experiment like that.
Sad reality, but true.
Race wheels are one of those items that seem to perpetually be #2 on my ‘to buy’ list. Last year they lost out to a new road bike. This year it’ll be a new pair of skis. I do own a wheel cover which I use in all races.
Realistically I should just buy a front 404 or cosmic carbone but for some reason I just never seem to do it.
Race wheels are one of those items that seem to perpetually be #2 on my ‘to buy’ list. Last year they lost out to a new road bike. This year it’ll be a new pair of skis. I do own a wheel cover which I use in all races.
Realistically I should just buy a front 404 or cosmic carbone but for some reason I just never seem to do it.
Im in the same boat. I choose a cross bike over race wheels last year, good choice. And this spring im thinking of picking up some xc skis.
are you asking the same question twice? if you can get good wheels that you like riding on for $600 and you have $600 laying around do it.
i rode all year last year on 404 clinchers as training wheels, fun riding wheels, sometimes race wheels, and also cyclocross wheels. and they were just fine. i put bigger tires on for training. smaller ones for racing and CX ones for cyclocross.
fun times.
I want training wheels/tires that are bombproof.
I don’t want to taco an expensive race wheel.
Training with a disc is a bit tridork.
I’d love to train on a set of 60mm deep V’s, but #2 is the limiter.
Although I am after a pair of H3’s at the moment but I must consider the cost compared to the cost of making them. I assume the markup must be immense which is putting me off and which is also why I’m after a pair second hand
Its hard to justify the cost for a MOP guy. The thought of using the wheels for 3 races a year to finish 5 spots higher while seeing them just sit in my room is the limiting factor. However, I would definitely buy a front for $250-300.00 if the time was right. I just haven’t seen the right wheel at the right price at the right time. FWIW I definitely think they look cool, but not a good enough reason to buy them.
b/c I love my PT and train/race with it laced into a mavic open pro. Don’t want to fork out the money for PT in race wheel. I feel that mavic with disk cover is as good as fancy wheel.
I’m with the others who think they’re just too expensive for MOP racers. Heck, those fancy race wheels cost more than my 8 yr. old Cannondale MultiSport bike. It’ll probably look cool but it probably won’t be a big boost to my overall placing. Plus, I can get a decent pair for $200.
I haven’t been doing this long enough to get all the stuff I can’t afford. Probably if I’m going to use them 10 times a year between tri and bike racing then I’ll buy race wheels. My every day wheels are Fulcrum 1’s which I love and that’s going to stay the same for a few years until I’ve got an athletic base big enough to consider myself competitive.
Obviously it is a lot of money to shell out for the amount of time you actually use them. The rest of the time, they are just collecting dust. That said, I have been down that road several times before. For me, I don’t mind spending the money and enjoy trying new things. Over the past few years, I have owned the following combination:
–Hed H3 & Hed disc, purchased new for $950
–Zipp 404/1080, purchased new for $1900
–Hed H3 used purchased for $350 and disc cover for $75
–Zipp 808 used purchased for $450 and disc cover for $75
At the end of the day, I am just as happy spending riding the last two sets than I am on the $1900 set.
I have them for the reasons why I bought my BMW. They are good toys to have. Do I need the race wheels or the BMW to do what I’m doing in them ? No … but if you can afford them then why not ? Price and money are all relative. If you can afford the luxury … why not ?
I think that it’s funny that some people think that you should be a FOP before getting the race wheels. From a functional standpoint, whether you are fighting for first place or second to last, race wheels allow you to finish faster with the same level of effort. Why does a FOP have the exclusive rights to that luxury ? If you can afford them then why not ? Some of the people who frown upon those BOP with race wheels are the same one with $4-5K carbon bikes that produces the same results if they were on $1-2K aluminum bikes.
they’re too expensive; i don’t race often enough; and when i race, i don’t care that much how high i place.
i really don’t spend that much money on things that i only use when i race. if i’m going to race 2-3 times a year, but ride my bike 2-3 times a week, i’d rather spend the money on things that are going to make the training more enjoyable.
I have them for the reasons why I bought my BMW. They are good toys to have. Do I need the race wheels or the BMW to do what I’m doing in them ? No … but if you can afford them then why not ? Price and money are all relative. If you can afford the luxury … why not ?
I think that it’s funny that some people think that you should be a FOP before getting the race wheels. From a functional standpoint, whether you are fighting for first place or second to last, race wheels allow you to finish faster with the same level of effort. Why does a FOP have the exclusive rights to that luxury ? If you can afford them then why not ? Some of the people who frown upon those BOP with race wheels are the same one with $4-5K carbon bikes that produces the same results if they were on $1-2K aluminum bikes.
For me, it’s got nothing to do with rights or having the privilege at all. I completely respect your decision, but when I make the same choice, say no to the wheels. Probably comes down to the fact that I’ve got a more restricted ability to buy anything that would be a fun toy. If I would use it more, or the difference between being 85th and 78th in my races made a big difference to me, then I’d probably have different sets for each type of course.
Tell me why YOU don’t own race wheels.
The prospect of divorce. 
Mavic Carbones double as race and training. I did a lot of testing on the same course, conditions and what not. No it wasn’t in a wind tunnel so jackmott will need to chime in, but the difference between my Hed dics and Trispoke front vs. the Carbones was so negligible that it didn’t merit the cost. So my wheels are a bit more than a set of training wheels, but I picked them up used for $450 with tires and cassette. Crazy fast over training wheels, but absolutely bomb proof.
To merit having a separate set of wheels at $1,500 which might pick me up 40 seconds in a 40k over my Carbones…ehh. Not worth it to me. Sold the race wheels for $1,500, bought Carbones and put $1,000 in my pocket to buy mama a road bike so we can do my easy rides together.
I have them for the reasons why I bought my BMW. They are good toys to have. Do I need the race wheels or the BMW to do what I’m doing in them ? No … but if you can afford them then why not ? Price and money are all relative. If you can afford the luxury … why not ?
I think that it’s funny that some people think that you should be a FOP before getting the race wheels. From a functional standpoint, whether you are fighting for first place or second to last, race wheels allow you to finish faster with the same level of effort. Why does a FOP have the exclusive rights to that luxury ? If you can afford them then why not ? Some of the people who frown upon those BOP with race wheels are the same one with $4-5K carbon bikes that produces the same results if they were on $1-2K aluminum bikes.
There is concept called “cost effectiveness”. Where do you think a race wheelset fits on the list in the grand scheme of life things. Let me think about that one.
I have been down that road. The question posted is a very valid one. My biggest regret is buying a $2000 race wheelset. I am a top 10% placing AG-er withno benefit seen from race wheelset.
In 2008 I posted twice the fastest bike split at smaller local tris racing on aluminum frame with training wheels and left many DAs and P3s behind.
I wish I bought power meter instead.
And yes, I did drive a BMW killer too, Audi, but no longer do, Xterra Off Road is a lot more practical for $20000 less.
That is a concept of cost effectiveness.
Beacause I like the reflectors in my stockers. Much cooler than deep-dish carbon.
I am a MOP guy(at least in the sprints I have done lol) and I am still planning on buying a set of S80’s with my new ride. Partially because they look cool and I like “trick” components. It all stems from my MX background. I always liked to save my money and buy the neat little trinkets as I was able.