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

[redrhodie]

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!

[Mr. Bloom]

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

[salsabike]

So do new wheels make you faster?

Of course they do. Is this a trick question?

Looks very pretty indeed.

[silver]

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?

[mimitabby]

lovely Bianchi!!!

[Mr. Bloom]

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

[VeloVT]

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 . (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 !

[Mr. SR500]

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...

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.

[Mr. SR500]

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?

[Mr. Bloom]

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?

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 ?