Which Wheels as next upgrade?

[Slower than you]

I thought id update as an interesting find. After getting the bike during covid I decided to take the plunge.

My question was would wheels actually make a difference on my 2018 bike.

I saw that carbon wheels range from low hundreds to thousands. I didn't have a need for the high end range but wondered if I should spend the money.

Previous setup: DT Swiss alloy r470 wheelset with Schwalbe Durano Plus tyres 28mm, running inner tubes.

New setup: Hunt 50 carbon wheelset (bought on sale) fitted with Continental GP5000 tyres 30mm, (could've fitted 32mm) running standard inner tubes. I like for like replaced the discs, installed a new cassette, adjusted the callipers, cleaned and used fresh chain lube and cleaned pedals, and used recommended pressure from silca.

Im a hobbyist who enjoys cycling, but by no means anything to write home about having had many injuries over the years.

wanted to share that, I did find a noticeable difference, the bike felt more responsive, rolled better and interestingly, almost 3kph faster than on the same route, effort and conditions as a ride last week.

On a separate ride, I did push it on Friday alot. For much more effort on my last set up, it was only 2.1kph slower.

(Only kept an eye on cadence and not speed as I always do). I spent below £900 in total. It's alot of money but cheaper than a new bike and more higher end equipment.

It's only one ride, but, the aim was, give the bike a new feeling, and while I did quite a lot of research and delayed for years, im pleased with the result.

 

[Jameshow]

Do you know the weight difference? Might be 500gms in the rims/tyres which will make a difference.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Being marginally faster does not make for a happier rider. Why not spend the money on a nice cycling holiday or tour instead?

 

[Ian H]

I thought id update as an interesting find. After getting the bike during covid I decided to take the plunge.

My question was would wheels actually make a difference on my 2018 bike.

I saw that carbon wheels range from low hundreds to thousands. I didn't have a need for the high end range but wondered if I should spend the money.

Previous setup: DT Swiss alloy r470 wheelset with Schwalbe Durano Plus tyres 28mm, running inner tubes.

New setup: Hunt 50 carbon wheelset (bought on sale) fitted with Continental GP5000 tyres 30mm, (could've fitted 32mm) running standard inner tubes. I like for like replaced the discs, installed a new cassette, adjusted the callipers, cleaned and used fresh chain lube and cleaned pedals, and used recommended pressure from silca.

Im a hobbyist who enjoys cycling, but by no means anything to write home about having had many injuries over the years.

wanted to share that, I did find a noticeable difference, the bike felt more responsive, rolled better and interestingly, almost 3kph faster than on the same route, effort and conditions as a ride last week.

On a separate ride, I did push it on Friday alot. For much more effort on my last set up, it was only 2.1kph slower.

(Only kept an eye on cadence and not speed as I always do). I spent below £900 in total. It's alot of money but cheaper than a new bike and more higher end equipment.

It's only one ride, but, the aim was, give the bike a new feeling, and while I did quite a lot of research and delayed for years, im pleased with the result.

Just about all of your improvement will be due to the change of tyres.

 

[derrick]

If it makes you feel good do it.The feel good factor makes a difference.

 

[wafter]

Cool - the outright speed is probably down to a combination of the deeper, more aero rims and lower rolling resistance of the tyres (which is probably significant as GP5000s are well-regarded as high-end racing rubber, the Duranos more tough dailies).

The responsiveness will be from the lower inertia of the lighter rims.

Glad you seem happy with the outcome

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Stick the old duranos on the new wheels and do the circuit again in same conditions.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Surprised you haven't gone tubeless, or installed latex tubes, for lower rolling resistance.

If you're capable of holding ~18mph+, the wheel and tyre upgrade ought to make a real world different, enjoy!

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Cool - the outright speed is probably down to a combination of the deeper, more aero rims and lower rolling resistance of the tyres (which is probably significant as GP5000s are well-regarded as high-end racing rubber, the Duranos more tough dailies).

The responsiveness will be from the lower inertia of the lighter rims.

Glad you seem happy with the outcome

I think it is pretty generally accepted now that aerodynamics are the biggest factor in increased speed and the Hunt over the old DT's will be a significant improvement. Lower RR, as you say, will also play a part. As will the potential for the deeper rim being a stiffer wheel allowing for better power transfer.

One thing people overlook is that, in my experience at least, a stiffer and deeper carbon rim with the right tire and pressure seems to be a better ride feel and comfort over an old alloy rim with a narrow tire. Generally I find them just a bit more pleasant to ride.

 

[Happy_Days]

I did find a noticeable difference, the bike felt more responsive, rolled better and interestingly, almost 3kph faster than on the same route, effort and conditions as a ride last week.

3kph is a big difference.

 

[wafter]

I think it is pretty generally accepted now that aerodynamics are the biggest factor in increased speed and the Hunt over the old DT's will be a significant improvement. Lower RR, as you say, will also play a part. As will the potential for the deeper rim being a stiffer wheel allowing for better power transfer.

One thing people overlook is that, in my experience at least, a stiffer and deeper carbon rim with the right tire and pressure seems to be a better ride feel and comfort over an old alloy rim with a narrow tire. Generally I find them just a bit more pleasant to ride.

I think the aero v. RR things depends heavily on your power output since aero drag scales with the square of the change in speed while the RR will scale linearly with speed; so the faster you are the more the aero matters.

Granted those willing to drop a grand plus on wheels are likely to be pretty serious so the aero is likely of more significance to them.

I can certainly see the advantages to performance and comfort of properly designed and made composite wheels (and frames) and the one CFRP road bike I owned (a Boardman Team Carbon) was significantly more comfortable and damped than the ally boneshaker it replaced... I just can't square the material's less desirable properties with my anxiety, while the format of that particular bike was increasingly at odds from what I wanted from a bike (load-bearing and off-road capability) so it was an easy choice to move it on and replace it with steel.

I must admit I am still intrigued by some of the high-end CFRP wheelsets coming out of China though; I imagine moving from boggo alloy rims to some composite hoops that weight getting on for half as much must feel pretty special

 

[PaulSB]

I think the aero v. RR things depends heavily on your power output since aero drag scales with the square of the change in speed while the RR will scale linearly with speed; so the faster you are the more the aero matters.

Granted those willing to drop a grand plus on wheels are likely to be pretty serious so the aero is likely of more significance to them.

I can certainly see the advantages to performance and comfort of properly designed and made composite wheels (and frames) and the one CFRP road bike I owned (a Boardman Team Carbon) was significantly more comfortable and damped than the ally boneshaker it replaced... I just can't square the material's less desirable properties with my anxiety, while the format of that particular bike was increasingly at odds from what I wanted from a bike (load-bearing and off-road capability) so it was an easy choice to move it on and replace it with steel.

I must admit I am still intrigued by some of the high-end CFRP wheelsets coming out of China though; I imagine moving from boggo alloy rims to some composite hoops that weight getting on for half as much must feel pretty special

This, I feel, is where you've hit the nail on the head.......very firmly. While I appreciate there is a difference between buying a new bike and new wheels the OP's experience mirrors mine on two separate ocassions.

Some years ago I put my first set of carbon wheels on my Cervelo C3. I instantly gained 2mph in most situations.

Three weeks ago I took delivery of a Cervelo Caledonia 5 to replace the C3 as my summer bike. The difference is absolutely astonishing. I'm struggling to believe the difference the advances over the past 10 years make.

It really does feel very special. At 71 I'm amazed at how this new bike makes me feel. That the OP has experienced similar with new wheels doesn't surprise me one bit.

 

[Jameshow]

This, I feel, is where you've hit the nail on the head.......very firmly. While I appreciate there is a difference between buying a new bike and new wheels the OP's experience mirrors mine on two separate ocassions.

Some years ago I put my first set of carbon wheels on my Cervelo C3. I instantly gained 2mph in most situations.

Three weeks ago I took delivery of a Cervelo Caledonia 5 to replace the C3 as my summer bike. The difference is absolutely astonishing. I'm struggling to believe the difference the advances over the past 10 years make.

It really does feel very special. At 71 I'm amazed at how this new bike makes me feel. That the OP has experienced similar with new wheels doesn't surprise me one bit.

I what way is the Caledonian better than the c3. Given that it's a gravel bike Vs an endurance bike?

 

[PaulSB]

I what way is the Caledonian better than the c3. Given that it's a gravel bike Vs an endurance bike?

I think you may have these bikes confused with something else, neither is a gravel bike, both are very much road bikes, fast road bikes. Granted the C3 can take 32mm tyres but that hardly makes it a gravel bike. The Caledonia takes 36mm, again that doesn't make it a gravel bike.

 

[Punkawallah]

I think you may have these bikes confused with something else, neither is a gravel bike, both are very much road bikes, fast road bikes. Granted the C3 can take 32mm tyres but that hardly makes it a gravel bike. The Caledonia takes 36mm, again that doesn't make it a gravel bike.

My Galaxy runs on 32mm tyres and does ‘gravel’ routes, so it’s a ‘gravel’ bike. It also does road routes, so it’s a ‘road’ bike. It also carries the shopping, so it’s a ‘shopper’ bike.
Fun fact. The first ‘mountain’ bikes were ‘cruiser’ bikes people rode(and pushed’ over a mountain.