Have a cannondale road bike–all aluminum r4000
can’t buy new bike + race wheels
would it be better to simply buy some kick ass reynolds and keep the same bike??
Race wheels will make you faster - no question - but not as fast as a proper fit on a tri bike.
I have played around with a powermeter and training wheels vs. Hed Alps vs. Zipp 909’s vs. Alps front/Renn disc rear. My Easton Velomax training wheels compare very favorably to all of the above as far as I can tell. For me at about 20 mph I’d guess the best race wheels MAY save up to 1 min/hour as far as I can tell.
My P3SL - steep/low (81.6 degrees/15 cm drop) vs. my Cannondale road bike with clip ons (maybe 75 degrees with a 1-2 cm drop seat to arm pads and a mediocre fit/stretched out). Thats worth a lot more…I don’t have any better numbers as I haven’t tested but I’d say at least 1 - maybe 2 mph. Most of that is position changes vs. bike itself…
Will you ride the new bike in a better position? All bikes are about the same - but fit/position is key. If you buy a nice/new bike and ride it in the same position - then don’t buy a new bike…
Race wheels are cool and nice but won’t make you all that much faster.
Dave