So do new wheels make you faster? (Bike Pics)

I don't know, but they are fun to play with. I ride my Madone most all the time, but keep the Bianchi has a back-up trainer/rain bike. Lately I've taken to thinking about making it my TT bike. You know spend lots of money for 20K once a month for 8 months. First I added some aero bars, and just this week, bought some Pro-Lite 50mm demo clinchers. I'm not sure how much faster I'll be, but the bike really makes you think you are fast. It still weighs a ton, but hey not bad for my Italian budget TT'er.

http://www.weberwoodworking.com/bikeforums/DSC_1411.jpg

And you'll LOOK fast to all of us on the other side of the road, heading in the opposite direction. That's gotta be worth something! :D ;)

I hope so! I bidding on some on ebay as we speak!

So do new wheels make you faster?

Of course they do. Is this a trick question? :cool:

Looks very pretty indeed.

Dang! that's a sexy bike! Oh, those wheels!!!! They sure look fast! have you put them on the madone yet? will you? How much do they weigh? what kind of tires? tubes?

Why not TT bars?

lovely Bianchi!!!

Yea! I just got some brand new Bontrager X-Lites on ebay for $510

Mr SR500, pretty Bianchi -- what's the vintage? Alu? I have a newish Bianchi cross bike and have an idle desire for a vintage steel Bianchi road bike (must be Celeste). Of course, if I had a spare $10k, I'd be tempted by the new ti ones too...

Mr. Silver, congrats on your new wheels.

I am idly wanting to get fast wheels for my new road bike (which came with Ksyrium Equipes) so I can switch the OK road bike wheels to my cross bike, which came with crappy wheels with crappy bearings (low-end Alex wheels). I'm kinda interested in Easton EA90's and HED Ardennes, both seem to be (relatively) good values. Any feedback on either of these is appreciated :D. (However, my desire is at an idle/tire-kicking level right now until I'm feeling flush enough to actually do something about it... But no good salesperson should ever write off a seeming tire-kicker because impulse is all too volatile...).

Anyhoo, if it looks fast, and makes you feel faster, you'll be faster, I promise :cool:!

Thanks all.

Silver, I don't know the weight, but they aren't light, although likely not much heavier then the low-end Mavic Ksyrium that I had on it before. I can run them on the Madone, but it currently has a set of Race-X-Lite Aeros with a power tap, so I lose the PT if I swap wheels. I might do it, but the Madone also has a carbon bar, so aero bars is a no-no. Hence the Bianchi is better suited for modification, plus I just love the Madone as it is! Since they were demos, the tires and tubes were included. Conti 4000's, no idea on the tubes. A local guy used them at the KYIM last year, so in excellent condition. Most of the guys around here have gone to tubular race wheels, either 50's or a 50/90 combo. The tubulars are a lot lighter, can run higher pressures, and have an excellent ride, but I didn't really want the extra expense or hassle of tubulars at this point. The bike as pictured is right at 22.7 lbs, but the Madone is a full 5 lbs lighter with saddle bag and PT. I guess it's a good thing I've dropped a few pounds and our TT is fairly flat.

Mr. S., Congrats on the Race-X-Lites, I've got 1000's of miles on my original set (now on Mrs. bike). They are great wheels, fairly light and stiff, plus I like the looks of a low spoke count wheel. Are you still on the LeMond?

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Originally Posted by liza

Mr SR500, pretty Bianchi -- what's the vintage? Alu? I have a newish Bianchi cross bike and have an idle desire for a vintage steel Bianchi road bike (must be Celeste). Of course, if I had a spare $10k, I'd be tempted by the new ti ones too...

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Lisa,

It's an '03 Veloce, aluminum and made in Italy. I think there was a steel option Veloce that year, but it might have only come in a triple (plus it wasn't celeste if I recall correctly).

My buddy is the Pro-Lite distributor, so he hooked me up. I think they are decent, but not really sure how they compare to a Zipp, HED, or Bontrager.

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

Mr. S., Congrats on the Race-X-Lites, I've got 1000's of miles on my original set (now on Mrs. bike). They are great wheels, fairly light and stiff, plus I like the looks of a low spoke count wheel. Are you still on the LeMond?

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I'm still on the LeMond. Since I didn't want to lay out $ for a new bike, Silver's expert advice was that better wheels would be a good interim step. Personally, I think that the hubs are shot on my existing bike

How are the studies going for Mrs. SR ?

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

I'm still on the LeMond. Since I didn't want to lay out $ for a new bike, Silver's expert advice was that better wheels would be a good interim step. Personally, I think that the hubs are shot on my existing bike

How are the studies going for Mrs. SR ?

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New wheels are always good. If you might want another LeMond, you should call your dealer, since Trek and Greg are parting ways. Might still be able to fine one...before they are all gone.

Thanks for asking, she gets home tonight after almost 2 weeks, so is good to go on the acupuncture. The bad/good news is she goes again for a week to get up to speed in the wound care clinic. Great for her, although she hates to be away from the kids. Bad for me as another week of full time Mr. Mom, and little chance to ride. Hopefully she'll start getting back in the swing and can get a few miles on her Madone soon.

my boyfriend thinks so. He had me upgrade from my stock Zero wheels to Mavic Ksyriums ES's... and I so love them. I guess we'll see the real benefit come our 15 day bike trip in Canada come July:D

[IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n/IMG_0491.jpg[/IMG]

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n/IMG_0490.jpg

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n/IMG_0489.jpg

Chicago,

Very Nice!

Do "new" wheels make you faster? No, depends on what you had on before and what you are putting on instead. Newness doesn't have much to do with it. :cool:

Personally, I think wheels are one of the best upgrades to make. So I would say, yes, better wheels make you faster (but I'm no expert).

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Do "new" wheels make you faster? No, depends on what you had on before and what you are putting on instead. Newness doesn't have much to do with it. :cool:

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Lisa! Shame of you!:D

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Do "new" wheels make you faster? No, depends on what you had on before and what you are putting on instead. Newness doesn't have much to do with it. :cool:

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You are right, but carbon wheels are just so cool you can't help but pedal faster :D

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Lisa! Shame of you!:D

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Ha ha!
AND what's more....faster isn't necessarily 'better' either! HAH! :D

When I made my first wheel, I noticed a difference right away. It seemed like my bike wanted to hop up and go. My friend in the bike shop said the finely tuned tension makes the wheel more responsive, and that is what I was feeling.

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

Chicago,

Very Nice!

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thanks!! I've been working with her alot this year...well the boyfriend has helped. I now have carbon aero bars which rock:cool: It's a great bike, and the wheels are super nice... much nicer than those heavy xero that I had on before... but hey, you do what you can with what you've got right.:p

I want to know if new wheels will make me smarter and/or sexier.

I can say that my new wheels made me poorer and louder, actually. I don't think they actually made me faster though. :cool:

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I want to know if new wheels will make me smarter and/or sexier.

I can say that my new wheels made me poorer and louder, actually. I don't think they actually made me faster though. :cool:

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I'm sure you are faster, now about the others...

Bah! BS_Girl (:eek: gasp! Did you do that on purpose??) is just jealous! ;)

DH is seriously jonesing for some Bontrager Aeolus wheels on the belief that they will make him faster.

I have tried various wheels, and found that some definitely made me SLOWER...but I can't say anything made me faster. :rolleyes: Same thing with tires. Certain tires roll like they're going through wet cement. Others are much faster.

I found this article:

http://www.roadcycling.com/news/article1783.shtml

So faster yes, but mot much. Still they look fast!:D

MrSR500, nice pic of the bike. Love the set up. If those rims don't make you go any faster, they sure look like they would go fast just by appearance alone. I am sure they will be lighter and you'll feel the breeze in your hair better:D Love Chicago's bike pics too. WOW..who knew rims could be so exciting:cool:. I think that would be my first upgrade on a bike too. (I was actually looking at the same rims that Chicago put on her bike ) But so far, I don't have a need to. I just peddle along at my speed, no TT's are in my future.

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

I'm sure you are faster, now about the others...

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Hey, I resemble that remark! :cool: :D

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I can say that my new wheels made me poorer

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That's now they make you faster, your wallet is lighter :p It's not that rotational weight thing. ;)

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I want to know if new wheels will make me smarter and/or sexier.

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Just to confirm in case there's doubt, but in my case, this isn't possible:p just ask me:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by chicago

my boyfriend thinks so. He had me upgrade from my stock Zero wheels to Mavic Ksyriums ES's... and I so love them. I guess we'll see the real benefit come our 15 day bike trip in Canada come July:D

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Hey I have those wheels too. I love the red tyres you have on yours. My bike is red so I thought it might be overkill on my bike but they look superb with the silver and red flashes on your bike.
Enjoy!!:)

The verdict is in: experts say new wheels DO make you faster, smarter and sexier!

gotta get me some of those...

:cool::cool::cool:

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

Ha ha!
AND what's more....faster isn't necessarily 'better' either! HAH! :D

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It is if you're in a race. :D

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Originally Posted by liza

The verdict is in: experts say new wheels DO make you faster, smarter and sexier!

gotta get me some of those...

:cool::cool::cool:

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Awesome news. I just got new wheels, too. Can't wait for the "faster, smarter, and sexier" to take effect. :D :rolleyes:

Then again, I didn't get lightweight racer-y wheels. I got sturdy handbuilt ones. Maybe the same effects won't be found. Ahh, well...at least I'll feel less worry about the strength of my wheels when I'm out riding.

And now, to actually go put the wheels on my bike... :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Just to confirm in case there's doubt, but in my case, this isn't possible:p just ask me:rolleyes:

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Get your new wheels yet? Let's see a pic.

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Originally Posted by dex

Awesome news. I just got new wheels, too. Can't wait for the "faster, smarter, and sexier" to take effect. :D :rolleyes:

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Congrats on the new wheels, local builder? Let's see.

I'll go for the smarter, sexier as well. :D

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Originally Posted by Trekhawk

Hey I have those wheels too. I love the red tyres you have on yours. My bike is red so I thought it might be overkill on my bike but they look superb with the silver and red flashes on your bike.
Enjoy!!:)

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You can never have too much red, here is my ex-Cannondale (had to sell for the Madone). Maybe a little overboard on red, but I loved it.

http://www.weberwoodworking.com/bikes/r900red4.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

Congrats on the new wheels, local builder? Let's see.

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Yep, local builder. Velocity Deep V rims on Ultegra hubs...sturdy, which was my main criteria while wheel shopping. :)

I'll have to snap a pic tomorrow...after I finally put the rear wheel on. I only managed one tonight, because I decided to change out the brakes since I was messing with my bike anyway--so, off with the no-name stock calipers and on with the Ultegra picked up off of eBay a few weeks ago. Also, the new tires I picked up were freakin' tight. After getting one of them on, my hands were screaming for some rest. :eek:

Up for tomorrow: pick up new tube (and maybe new bar tape), make peace with the chain whip, hope my hands are ready to wrestle with another of the tight tires, install new computer, take a pic. If all of that goes well: RIDE!

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

You can never have too much red, here is my ex-Cannondale (had to sell for the Madone). Maybe a little overboard on red, but I loved it.

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i agree, there is no such thing as too much red on a bike :D

Both my dh and even my 10yr old son think my bike looks garish with red tires, while I'm thinking of adding red handlebar tape and would love a red saddle...

and red shoes, and a red helmet...:p

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Originally Posted by Mr. SR500

You can never have too much red, here is my ex-Cannondale (had to sell for the Madone). Maybe a little overboard on red, but I loved it.

http://www.weberwoodworking.com/bikes/r900red4.jpg

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LOL - did you have to go and show me that. Your old bike looks so fab I might have to reconsider the red tyres for mine.:D

Finally! That second tire gave me fits today, and my hands (and even forearms) are really sore now. But, I did it. And I even managed to snap some pics. Go, me. :rolleyes:

Anyway, here's my Lola. She's a LeMond Reno...now with new wheels, new tires, new brakes, and new (slightly messy) bar tape.