Making a difference on the Tri-Bike section?

Iron Enthusiast

I’m considering upgrading my Road Bike wheels before next years Tri-season kicks off and was just wondering:

“For triathlon how much of a difference does getting a better set of wheels for your road bike make?”

I know some of the lads swear by it, so I’d interested to hear others opinions on this! (Also I know that improving your fitness and technique come first before fancy gadgets when it all boils down!)

Cheers!:)

tunney

Iron Enthusiast wrote: »

I’m considering upgrading my Road Bike wheels before next years Tri-season kicks off and was just wondering:

“For triathlon how much of a difference does getting a better set of wheels for your road bike make?”

I know some of the lads swear by it, so I’d interested to hear others opinions on this! (Also I know that improving your fitness and technique come first before fancy gadgets when it all boils down!)

Cheers!:)[/SIZE][/FONT]

Wheels make a difference no doubt but the biggest limiter to aerodynamics is you.

Does your bike fit?
Is it an aero position?
Have you an aero lid?
Are you larger than you should be?

If the bike doesn't fit or you can't get an aero position on it then the best bang for buck is a new frame.

Normally I would say "get a coach before wheels" but there seems to be a deluge of "coaches", so I'll skip onto the next one. A power meter will, when combined with a solid winters training and a good race strategy, have a much bigger impact on times than race wheels and winter training.

The key thing is - training. I have friends who I try to convince out on the bike every year, and every year they say "next month" and so on. Then they buy new bikes, wheels whatever and hope that will make them faster. In the end they can't even go for an easy spin with the rest of us over the summer and needless to say their bike splits suck.

Train, train, train, train. Set yourself a training target and if you hit that in April/May then get new kit. Otherwise save your money.

My 2c

(yes I bought the wheels before I needed them, and the disc, I only justified them last year)

tunney

That being said - good wheels rock and are fantastic to ride.

But consider your style of events and the rest before you splash.

What event(s) are you targetting over the next few years?

Iron Enthusiast

Cheers for your response Tunney, loads of good of advice!

In 2010 i’m doing my 1st IM in August and will also be doing the Mount Leinster Challenge, W200 and a HIM as will in 2010. (So plenty of time in the saddle).

I only got my new bike recently enough and am pretty happy with the set up. (But still have plenty of questions about race wheels and race tyres!) It’s amazing how you train away, happily oblivious to these questions until someone you know shatters your world by asking you questions about your wheels etc… It’s then that the doubt creeps in!:o)