This is an interesting topic, and I'll mention that we should not
forget marketing in this equation. In the last year, I've had
discussions with folks at two major rim/wheel manufacturers regarding
this very subject. There is test data to show an aero advantage of
lower spoke count wheels, but it begins to show at around 22mph, and
the price paid is the weight required in the mass of material at the
rim to make the wheel reliably strong. Not many folks can go out and
ride consistently at over 22mph, especially if there are hills present,
and rotating mass to get going if stop and go riding is in your loop.
After much discussion about inertia, acceleration, windup, aerodynamics
and ride comfort, all agreed that a set of GEL330 rims on Mavic or
similar hubs at 32 hole were both comfortable and very fast wheels. And
for most riders, reliable if built properly. This brings me to my
favorite part of the conversation, as stated with a smile by the person
who works for the most popular rim and wheel brand: (paraphrasing)
[We're seeing a slowdown in demand for the heavier, aero style wheels
and believe they've played out their popularity. Look for lighter and
more traditional rim profiles and a lot of marketing of low weight,
fast and comfortable wheelsets soon.]
Dig out those "obsolete" traditional and lightweight wheels y'all!
Greg "it's all marketing" Overton
near Salt Lake City
Quoting Julian Shapiro <julians@optonline.net>:
> Paraphrasing something I read a long time ago:
>
> It's important if you're losing major time trials by seconds.
> Otherwise don't worry about it.
>
> Julian Shapiro
> Sag Harbor, NY
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bianca Pratorius"
> <biankita@earthlink.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 4:17 PM
> Subject: [CR]Are classic wheels somehow slower or substantially slower?
>
>
>> A riding buddy has a modern aluminum road bike. I have five complete
>> classic bikes. We are often evenly matched, but we wonder how
>> classic components hinder or maybe even help my performance. He has
>> recently purchased a new set of Neuvation high tech wheels. Upon
>> weighing his old modern wheels and my classic wheels... surprise
>> surprise, mine weigh exactly what his weigh when using a baby scale.
>> As has been discussed recently, mine weigh what his weigh even
>> though mine have 32 spokes and his have 20. The difference, of
>> course, is that his rims are heavier but he makes it up with fewer
>> spokes. I wouldn't imagine that all this new technology is for
>> naught, so aero rims and less spoke count must count for some
>> advantages. However classic light rims make for other advantages.
>> When all is said and done, if one wanted nothing more than fast runs
>> in competitive group rides, would one be faster with the modern rims
>> that have more weight at the circumference or classic rims that have
>> less at the outer edges but more wind turbulence at the spokes? My
>> instinct is that all this modern technology is faster on some
>> measurable level, but when push comes to shove, short of an aero
>> helmet, a skin suit, tri-bars, and disk wheels the pay off is tiny
>> for mild aero section wheels, sleek brake levers. aero brake levers
>> and blade like seat posts. Also, those clunky aero wheels end up
>> looking slower visually.
>>
>> Garth Libre in Miami Fl.