Experiment: Cheap roadbike with Expensive wheels.

macnab

I bough a Carrera TDF 2nd hand last week and decided to fit the wheels from my good bike onto it as an experiment.
I cycled the same 36.6km route, 3 times, each 2 days apart, similar weather conditions, same wind speed and close to the same wind direction, same clothing etc.
The result for me is an extra 2 kph Average over this course.

Lap 1: With stock wheels, Average HR 166: 1hr 30mins 22secs
Lap 2: With Shimano RS80, Average HR 163: 1hr 23mins 58secs.
Lap 3: With Shimano RS80, Average HR 167: 1hr 22mins 40secs.

The bike weighs 11.3kg stock, 3.9kg of which is wheels, tyres, tubes and cassette.
The RS80's weigh about 2.5kg with tyres, tubes and casssette.
So that makes the bike about 9.9kg with the lighter wheels.

Gains can be broken down to about 50 Seconds for a 9km stretch with an average gradient of 0%, and about 4 minutes for a 9km stretch with an average gradient of 0.5%.

I would normally do this 36.6km circuit in about 1hr 18mins at this time of year on my 7.9kg Boardman team carbon, my fastest time is 1hr 10mins, but thats with a strong west wind in mid summer on my 6.7kg Trek Madone.

The lap in question is Summerhill, Rathmoylon, Enfield, Kilcock, Summerhill. All in County Meath.

fat bloke

So that's stock wheels and cheap wheels covered. Still waiting on the "expensive" wheels test .

ednwireland

fat bloke wrote: »

So that's stock wheels and cheap wheels covered. Still waiting on the "expensive" wheels test .

+1 was wondering where the expensive wheels where (god we are fussy on here):D

macnab

ednwireland wrote: »

+1 was wondering where the expensive wheels where (god we are fussy on here):D

If you think I am putting my Zipp 404's on a Carrera TDF you can think again.
Fussy is right, do ye not know there's a recession.


PS Zipp test to follow.......

mp31

So saving weight by using lighter wheels = faster ave speed.

What about saving weight by using a lighter frame i.e. use the stock Carrera wheels but with the Trek frame - would you be willing to give that a try?

el tel

The test does not accomodate for the effects of you getting fitter through the trial period.

Had you considered doing the test with the 'better' wheels in first?

on_the_nickel

You've opened yourself up to all sorts here!

Please complete the following trials, though I do have a concern I don't see a way around them being unblinded.

• Morning vs Afternoon
• Shaved legs vs leggings vs hairy
• Porridge (1 bowl) vs toast (2 rounds)
• Off the beer for a week vs mildly hungover vs very hungover
• Sex the night before vs in the dog-house
  etc etc

And the controversial helmet vs no helmet

Morrisseeee

on_the_nickel wrote: »

You've opened yourself up to all sorts here!

Please complete the following trial

• Sex in the dog-house
  etc etc

FYP : :pac:

on_the_nickel

Morrisseeee wrote: »

FYP : :pac:

Sounds like you're volunteering for that one!

macnab

I put the Zipp 404 on the front 2 days ago, did the same course, I gained over 40 seconds on the flat (average gradient 0%) and lost 80 seconds on the drag from Kilcock to Summerhill (Avg 0.5%)

I am too lazy to change the rear cassette from 10 speed to 8 :P

mmmmm cheap wheels on a decent bike, might try that ha ha

macnab

el tel wrote: »

The test does not accomodate for the effects of you getting fitter through the trial period.

Had you considered doing the test with the 'better' wheels in first?

The final test should be to return the TDF to standard with the heavy wheels. That will reduce the margin of error due to fitness.