Ok heres my dilema. This year I purchased a TT bike. It was too good of deal to pass up. It came with Reynolds element disk and Reynolds SDVT66 front. I have some ROL Race SLs that I use on it for training and am loving the bike. I am still not the fastest man on earth and have my first race next Saturday. I don’t want to look like a poser taking this bike in with the fancy wheels when I will not be in the top 10 overall (I should be in the top 35 out of about 200). Should I just leave the Reynold home and race on my ROLs or should I bring the whole shabang. As an FYI I rode the course this week and averaged 21.1 mph. For a short course it does have some pretty good elevation gains and losses. I also I don’t have an aero helmet either.
ALWAYS DISK.
This question gets asked about once a week, literally.
DISK OR NOTHING.
if you want to go little bit slower and leave equipment at home that you paid good money for I’m sure others in your AG will appreciate it.
Ok heres my dilema. This year I purchased a TT bike. It was too good of deal to pass up. It came with Reynolds element disk and Reynolds SDVT66 front. I have some ROL Race SLs that I use on it for training and am loving the bike. I am still not the fastest man on earth and have my first race next Saturday. I don’t want to look like a poser taking this bike in with the fancy wheels when I will not be in the top 10 overall (I should be in the top 35 out of about 200). Should I just leave the Reynold home and race on my ROLs or should I bring the whole shabang. As an FYI I rode the course this week and averaged 21.1 mph. For a short course it does have some pretty good elevation gains and losses. I also I don’t have an aero helmet either.
unless you can destroy the field on your training wheels and simply claim the race to be a training day… bring your disc and ride the snot out of it! Its’ a RACE and your disc is likely referred to as one of your RACE wheels, so i think it’s a DUH moment.
Ride the disk.
BTW, what’s the cutoff for not being a “poser”? When wouldn’t YOU be a poser?
i declare myself a cat 5 triathlete
the greatest cat 5 triathlete that ever lived
anyone faster is clearly at least a cat 4
.
So my question to you would be - If you should always use a disc then would it make sense to just buy the disc to start with or still get deep dish and use a wheel cover? I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on a set of HED jets and was thinking of just getting the disc instead of the jet 9 and using the cover.
the advantage of getting a jet9 and a cover is if you ever in your life decide to do a road race, or crit, or triathlon that does not allow a disc - you have the best wheel you can for the rear
the other advantage may be cost, not sure what a jet disc runs
the advantage of a jet disc would be a bit less weight and more pimpness
theres also the fact that some of the flat, narrow discs out there may be hair-splittingly faster on some frames.
If I didn’t have a powertap wheel that I use a cover on when racing, I would have a solid disk.
That makes sense. I do the local TTs but don’t have the power or the experience to do a road race yet. Maybe someday though. I’m getting a really good deal on the wheels becasue of where I work so the cost difference would be minor but I can see your point about other uses for the jet 9. Thanks for the opinion.
Don’t have the power tap but that would nice. If I did have one I would be using the cover.
ALWAYS DISK.
This question gets asked about once a week, literally.
DISK OR NOTHING.
99.999 percent of the time disc, For the first time ever a couple weeks ago i couldn’t stay on my disc. I got pushed half way into the other lane. But we were having 30+mph winds and 40+ gusts haha.
So aside from IMH or any other race that doesn’t allow discs, it’s always a disc? Does the topography of the course factor in at all.
For example I’ve got STX next week, very hilly and very windy. My choice is Renn575 tubular disc or 808 tubular, the Renn is quite a bit heavier than my 808. Which rear wheel would befaster? I’m a FOP AG’er if that makes any difference.
Not trying to hijack this thread just looking for some clarification.
sure, if its a large net elevation gain, like climb mount ventoux and don’t go back down
OR if its up and down and the downs are techincal switchbacks where speed is limited more by handling, and there are no flat sections
you might use something lighter =)
So aside from IMH or any other race that doesn’t allow discs, it’s always a disc? Does the topography of the course factor in at all.
For example I’ve got STX next week, very hilly and very windy. My choice is Renn575 tubular disc or 808 tubular, the Renn is quite a bit heavier than my 808. Which rear wheel would befaster? I’m a FOP AG’er if that makes any difference.
Not trying to hijack this thread just looking for some clarification.
Thanks guys I guess it is settled I will ride my race wheels. That may even make me psuh a bit harder so that I can justify the purchase despite my weak engine. Here is the race details and my goal time.
Swim 400m
Bike 20k
Run 5k
Time goal is under 1:18. If I could run at all (shattered my back 2 years ago) I would shoot for under 1:12
If you decide to go with Hed Jet 9s, I have a disc cover I’d be willing to sell. Used once.
So my question to you would be - If you should always use a disc then would it make sense to just buy the disc to start with or still get deep dish and use a wheel cover? I’m getting ready to pull the trigger on a set of HED jets and was thinking of just getting the disc instead of the jet 9 and using the cover.
Almost Always go Disk. I choose it 98% of the time. I’m pretty sure in a race it’s always better to go faster (even if you don’t win the whole thing), with the disk you will be closer to winning it than you would otherwise.
Did a Duathlon a couple weeks ago with 25+ mph wind, and was a bit nervous. Ended up having no problems with the disk and averaged well over 24 with a consistent crosswind out and back.