Does anyone train with significantly heavier wheels than there race wheels? Curious if it makes a difference on race day. Heaviest training wheels I’ve seen are AeroSpokes weighing in at around 2600 grams for a set.
I’m not sure how heavy mavic open pros are but I got the heavy duty spokes and0 tuffy liners. I also got al kinds of crap on my frame to make it heavy; pump, saddle bag with tools, tubes, patches. Old blinky red tail-light.
Train heavy race light.
Sure, my training wheels are heavier, but I use them for their durability, not because of any effect they give me on racing day. They’re heavier because they have more material in them. I do carry all sorts of tools on my training rides that I don’t carry in a race…because my intention in a race is to place, not just finish.
If I had an extremely durable and comfortable training wheel that was a light as a racing wheel, I’d use it. Switching from a heavy training wheel to a light racing wheel isn’t going to make you any faster than training on a racing wheel and racing on it, too. You are able to develop howevermany watts that you develop and maintain during a race…doesn’t matter what wheels you use. If you actually go faster on racing wheels (possible if you are switching from a 32 spoke to a disc or tri-spoke) it might be more advantageous to work on your aerodynamics at those higher speeds.
There’s nothing majic about speed using lighter wheels and heavier wheels. Lighter ones can accelerate slightly quicker, and are easier to haul up a mountain. But changing from one set to the other doesn’t produce majical speed gains.
My Tri bike is 16lbs and my training bike weighs close to 27. I figure when I’m fast on that I can conquer the world. To be honest the real advantage is when you switch to the fast bike. In your mind you feel like you can do no wrong. Perhaps a downfall is that your muscles practice slower acceleration and that may not be good.
You can’t fool a fool. I can’t afford two wheel sets. I just pretend they are light on race day. Works for me . I always have a great time.
The dirtball!
dirtball! wrote: I can’t afford two wheel sets. I just pretend they are light on race day. Works for me . I always have a great time.
Hey dirtball!, I’d recommend trying Placebo’s… I find they can make me feel any way I want! (Steve Martin, circa mid 1980’s)