Mavic Cross Ride wheels

Do they really make a difference? More than just a change of tires? I want to be a faster and more efficient rider (ah, efficiency, such a fabulous reward for good engineering and logical thought) but don't want to spend $400 for wheels on a $400 bike.

(Trek: did they really cost $400??)

When I am a rich grrl, I want to put together my own bike: Soma or Surly frame, Brooks saddle, Campy drivetrain and cantilevers, Cane Creek headset, ahhhh but what wheels? Build my own, or buy a set?

I will keep and love my commuter-mobile, but yearn for a trekker-mobile. I'd like to ride across Washington and down the coast to SoCal, and up into Cananananad-eh.

We've considered getting legally married in Canada; my neighbors did. (and they had similar citizenship prerogatives) How cool would it be to then have a honeymoon riding around BC? Even just around (literally circumnavigating) Vancouver Island?

What wheels would serve me best on a honeymoon?

KnottedYet "When I am a rich grrl"

stop :eek: now I can't get Fiddler on the Roof outa my head :eek:

well, I'm not rich, where's the jersey that says "I'm just a poor gal with a nice bike"?

"We've considered getting legally married in Canada; my neighbors did. (and they had similar citizenship prerogatives) How cool would it be to then have a honeymoon riding around BC? Even just around (literally circumnavigating) Vancouver Island?"

ah, and she bikes too?

I don't kayak but I think it would be fun (and chalenging, and a long trip and..) to kayak around Vancouver island. Pop into this or that harbour...that would be cool. I loved seeing the killer whales near Victoria BC.

I dunno about cycling honeymoons though especially tandems from what I've read here tandems have a 50/50 chance of curing .... or killing a relationship :eek:

Even my bike dates have been problematic.:o I think that's because you're somehow more yourself on a bike than other places: competitive or cooperative, considerate or kinda a jerk, careless or carefull...it all kinda comes out right out there.

But on the other hand..that saves me a lot of time and money on coffee vs. finding that out later on when the U-haul appears. Might as well know this right away. :cool:

But I highly reccomend the wheels and from what I've learned here any improvement to your wheels (lighter tires, slicks...) is one of the single best upgrades to a bike.

It's rotational weight, weight you gotta get going, rather than dead weight (the cyclist on the bike). :)

I don't really get to obsess about parts till I can afford it and i can't take 20% of the weight off the rider.

My GT's over 10 years old and the wheels..oh, just couldn't clean them looking very icky, but the frame fits like buttah and I like the bike. Now I really like it.

Now the problem is....I want to re-paint it...later.

Oh, no, a tandem is right out!

We each have our own bike, and thus it shall be. Mine and thine, and meet you at the tent after the tour dinner. (and thanks to all the PTA's that serve meals to bike tours to raise money for their schools when we camp in your playgrounds. Y'all rock!)

It is best to get these things figured out right away... "So, madam, are you a tandem-er or a ride-my-own-er?" Even when all else is majorly sucky, the biking still holds us together.

Fiddler on the Roof: is it Topol? I think he was best in the Flash Gordon with Queen. ;)