Aerodynamics versus Weight
478
Member
1465 days
kona_expat posted 1 year ago.
In all cases lose 2 lbs. yourself and then the wheels won't matter at all, or don't carry any fluids on your bike, taking them all on course :)
But if you are really interested in getting geeked out about wheel weight/aerodynamics, go search the Slowtwitch forum, where you will find plenty of folks to help you out with your dilemma.
My $.02--I have a HED 3D disk (which I love), and I ALWAYS use it to race on unless it's quite windy or quite hilly (I have a set of Cane Creek Chronos w/Ti spokes and use the front with the disk). I believe the aerodynamics of the disk provide an advantage that overrides the slight extra weight.
71
Member
797 days
usasportstrain posted 1 year ago.
Insidetri.com has an interesting article about it as well. There's also a cool video (in the video section, upper right) of a bike fit.
The article: http://insidetri.com/portal/news/news.asp?item=106647
Weight is very controllable (especially body weight), but everything I've read indicates that there's few general rules of thumb. A good adjustment for one person doesn't equate to a good adjustment of the same type for another.
Just take a look at a train in a Team Time Trial stage and you'll see all sorts of configurations. And they probably each went through an expensive wind tunnel test and have the latest gizmos for aerodynamics. Some people's aero bars are at a crazy angle and they are in some oddball position, while others are completely opposite.
Shea
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At what point does wheel weight begin to matter more than aerodynamics? For Sprints and Olymipcs does aero always win out unless it is a VERY HILLY course? I am looking t a bike with a HED.3 front wheel and HED disk rear. The HED discs are heavier than Zip at 1300grams putting the total wheel set at 2000grams with the Trispoke in the front. I race mainly sprints with 2 Olympics and will do one Half IM this year. The Half IM is suppoed to be pancake flat... just wondering when its better to swap out the light-weight road wheels...