Opinions on composite wheels?

Anyone using Spinergy wheels or other composite wheels?

What is your thoughts on speed increases, durability?

Someone told me that he gained 2 mph on the top end even though the wheels were quite a bit heavier
than stock. If this is true is it because of better aerodynamics with the bladed spokes?

TIA, Mike

"Mike" <coachmb@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:Ipakb.3820$8x2.2071595@newssrv26.news.prodigy.com...
> Anyone using Spinergy wheels or other composite wheels?
>
> What is your thoughts on speed increases, durability?

Durability seems to vary. Some have reported bombproof durability, while others have not. The
problem is a complete lack of adjustability, should a minor mishap occur. The wheels are either true
and round, or they're not. Can't fix 'em yourself.

> Someone told me that he gained 2 mph on the top end even though the wheels were quite a bit
> heavier than stock.

It's possible. World records have been set with the Specialized Trispoke composite wheels. There's a
reason why racers use them.

> If this is true is it because of better aerodynamics with the bladed
spokes?

Yes, and no. The study I read suggested that it was the aero-section rims that made the most
difference. I suspect that with some composite wheels, everything about the design is better.
Lenticular discs, for instance, are very slippery; but terrible in crosswinds!

Lightweight wheels are good for events in which you are constantly accelerating/decelerating; but
for constant-speed riding, heavy wheels should be just as fast.

-=Barry=-

Mike, I use a HED3/HED Standard Disk combo on an AERO. This combo is/was touted as the fastest combo
for TT on DF's. It's what Lance uses. Down side is weight. The standard disk is heavy. The latest
version is lighter and lenticular. Neither the standard disk or the lite one is lite on price. I
believe and test data bears out that composite wheels are faster, aerodynamic gain is exceeds weight
loss. At the pro level Tour de France..... NOTHING is left to chance in design. Everything is thought out to
gains in tenth of seconds if not less. Especially so in TT. These designs include composite wheels.
If the pros use them then there is a reason. However, at the level most of us ride it can be a cost
vs. speed gain issue. A two thousand dollar wheelset that results in a 10 second gain over your
opponent in a 112 mile road race or a mere few seconds in a TT is a worthwhile investment at the
pro level and we all know that top of the line equipment in the sponsorship realm is free.
Durabilty on the Aerospokes as of late has been very good, past issues have been corrected. HED
3's are very durable but like any wheel soked or otherwise a bad crash can result in wheel
trash. HED Disk wheels can be trashed pretty easily it appears that it wouldn't take much to
poke a hole in mine. I use the disks for flat riding and contrary to most non disk users wind is
less of an issue than one might think. However, an 18 wheeler flying by at 70 mph can get your
attention.

--
Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports,
Inc 1-800-586-6645 "Mike" <coachmb@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:Ipakb.3820$8x2.2071595@newssrv26.news.prodigy.com...
> Anyone using Spinergy wheels or other composite wheels?
>
> What is your thoughts on speed increases, durability?
>
> Someone told me that he gained 2 mph on the top end even though the wheels were quite a bit
> heavier than stock. If this is true is it because of
better
> aerodynamics with the bladed spokes?
>
> TIA, Mike

Based on 1500+ miles of daily urban riding on the worst possible city roads (East and West
Baltimore) carrying 200 lb of me plus 30-40 lb of bike plus commuter junk, the lore that the
Aerospokes are "Bombproof" is pretty well borne out. I ride thru potholes without a second thought.
Of the composites I know and have used, the Aerospokes are heavier and probably more indestructible,
while the Hed-3 are lighter and perhaps slightly less bombproof (though there is a post at the Easy
Racer site of a guy who weighs 230 lb and rode H-3s across the country on a GRR without a problem.)

Nathan

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:32:40 GMT, "Mike" <coachmb@ameritech.net> wrote:

>Anyone using Spinergy wheels or other composite wheels?

If you mean the Spinergy Rev-X composite wheel, I decided against them after reading this page:

http://home.interlynx.net/~pjdu/

To be fair, the above page is a collection of incident reports and not a statistical assesment of
their danger. Plural of "anecdote" is not "data", as they say. Still, it seems that the fewer spokes
you have, the more serious the consequence of a failure.

I personally think that the standard spoked wheel is one of the most elegant pieces of engineering
in the world. It can be built and adjusted with only handheld tools, and can be made lighter than
any factory-made composite wheel.

Ken Kobayashi kkoba4@yahoo.co.jp http://solarwww.mtk.nao.ac.jp/kobayashi/personal/

Mike,

I'm riding Xero Lite XR-2s on my DF (see earlier thread). Just switched from twenty-year-old Mavics.
You betcha I notice the difference! Much more pop to the Xeros. Quicker acceleration.

Steve

Mike wrote:

>Anyone using Spinergy wheels or other composite wheels?
>
>What is your thoughts on speed increases, durability?
>
>Someone told me that he gained 2 mph on the top end even though the wheels were quite a bit heavier
>than stock. If this is true is it because of better aerodynamics with the bladed spokes?
>
>TIA, Mike
>
>
>
>

--
Steve Fox McKinleyville, CA http://SoTier2003.crazyguyonabike.com

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