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Know about aero benefits have saved some pennies so will soon be in a position to pick up a disc. Are there any recommended Chinese brands that do a full carbon disc? Or any good UK deals?
Classifieds on the Timetrialling forum would be my first stop, there's always a high turnover of gear on there. I picked up a mint HED Stinger for just over £500 last year.
If on a budget I'd check out the classifieds as suggested.
Having a similar dilemma over a new front wheel. Spend the cash and get a Zipp 808 or go for something cheaper (maybe Chinese). I'm tending towards the former as at least I know it's proven and works well.
You thought about a [url= http://www.raltech.co.uk ]RalTech[/url] cover?
Have looked at covers, think that within a couple of uses i will still want to buy a disc so in effect would be a bit of a waste. There is a polish ebayer selling 'ron' discs for 300-400, cant seem to find any user feedback though.
Just spent half an hour on the tt classifields. Lots of temptation...most seem to be 10speed / tubs being off loaded
See this thread from slowtwitch about a guy building his own. Sounds fairly straightforward, I'm tempted to have a go myself.
I got a Zipp Super 9 for £1150 brand new recently. You can still find them for this amount if you're prepared to run a tubular:
[url= http://www.slanecycles.com/zipp-super-9-tubular-disc-wheel-2015-p-26110.html?language=en¤cy=GBP&delivery=222&fo_c=303&fo_k=0ac2198558b8ec230a2abb972a137570&fo_s=gplauk&gclid=CL-xnsqB0MYCFWHlwgod5VwIwg ]Zipp Super 9 - £1150 Slane Cycles[/url]
You can have a separate debate about that but for racing the convenience argument is somewhat negated. It actually comes down to the fact that a clincher is claimed to be more aerodynamic.
Just putting any old disc on isn't neccessarily going to offer a benefit. Buying something from a recognised brand, that's used by the World Tour teams has the merit of being tested and approved by people who place performance above anything else. A cheap copy will be cheap for a reason and you may find that the only benefit it confers is psychological.
You might also find that a deep section rear, like a Zipp 808 or an Enve 9 might be considerable quicker than a cheap disc (but they will also be as expensive as a good disc).
What else have you got in terms of aero benefits? It might be that there are other things you can do first. A top of the line skinsuit and aero shoe covers might cost £350 and £80 respectively but they might also offer as much benefit as the disc. Have a look at [url=www.drag2zero.co.uk]Drag2Zero[/url] and then at the following sites which are quite useful:
[url= http://cyclinguphill.com/ways-improve-aerodynamics/ ]Cycling Uphill[/url]
[url= http://cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/biggest-bang-for-your-buck-in-time-trial-equipment/ ]Biggest bang for your buck[/url]
Hope this all helps.
Links are interesting thanks, gear wise I'm pretty much sorted other than a dedicated TT bike (which will be next season if I'm still keen on pushing my times).
I've also read on a thread an 808 is actually faster than a zipp disc...according to zipps own research - seems odd to state that, but with anything on the internet, pinch of salt and all that.
The only thing I don't do, thats free, is shave my legs...the wife has veto'd it 🙂
A TT bike and running your current wheels is likely to be cheaper the a decent disc, and probably make more time difference (from a riding position point, never mind aero of the frame)
No doubt I agree a TT bike will be quicker than my roadie with clips, I'm not sure about the cheaper comment even if the TT is second hand.
Disc's seem to range from 300 - 500 for cheap / second hand which is where I was budget wise.
You also need to factor in the wife effect. I haven't earned the brownie points for another bike, another wheel however will generate a raised eyebrow rather than a divorce (well unless I bin £1.5k on a zipp..)
I've also read on a thread an 808 is actually faster than a zipp disc...according to zipps own research - seems odd to state that, but with anything on the internet, pinch of salt and all that.
Knowing where to spend your money is bloody confusing! I guess under some circumstances on certain courses at certain speeds, or at specific angles in a wind tunnel, an 808 could well be faster. I'm sort of going by the tried and tested by experienced fast guys principle, and pretty much everyone runs a disc at the back, and most seem to be Zipp.
Just booked up with the Aerocoach people though, which I suspect will probably make me a fair bit faster than a similar amount spent on kit.
The only thing I don't do, thats free, is shave my legs...the wife has veto'd it
Still having that argument here. Raced last night at an inter-club TT event and 3 seconds covered 3rd to 5th with me in 5th. I reckon that, and maybe even the 10 seconds to 2nd, would have been made up by a leg shave 🙂
No doubt I agree a TT bike will be quicker than my roadie with clips, I'm not sure about the cheaper comment even if the TT is second hand.
Can be done cheaply. Did mine on a tight budget, a 150 quid PX Stealth frame and a parts bin group set. Though has backfired somewhat as it's harder to justify a nice TT bike when you've already got one 😕
These seem to be pretty popular in the North-east events.
[url= http://www.walker-brothers.co.uk/products/4585910038 ]Brother-wheels[/url]
You also need to factor in the wife effect. I haven't earned the brownie points for another bike, another wheel however will generate a raised eyebrow rather than a divorce
Its not a bike, just a frame and some bits 😆 Its only a bike when you buy the disc next year.
Can easy pick up a s/h TT bike without wheels for less than the cost of a disc.
Interesting that the Brother wheel's disc is pretty much just a spoked deep section with a cover. Nice looking deep section wheels too, not that much of a price difference to sway me from an 808 though.
Read those walkers can be a bit noisy with the shell hitting the spokes.
Will be interested in your feedback on the aerocoach mrblobby - maybe you could do a write up with before / after photos. Real tell will be when you run the same course and PB...or not...
A disc wheel should be the last thing to buy.
Do you have a skin suit?
Do you have an aero helmet?
Do you have overshoes?
Do you have an aero front wheel?
A proper TT frame/bike will give you a lot more benefit than a disc ever will and a second hand one can be had for a lot less than a disc wheel.
Its the front end which hits the wind first, and that is where you should start first when thinking of upgrading.
Do you have a skin suit? Yes
Do you have an aero helmet? Yes
Do you have overshoes? Yes
Do you have an aero front wheel? Yes (50s)
🙂
Shave legs no
Power meter no
TT bike no
Clipons yes
aero gloves no
disc / deeper wheels no
My nominal budget was up to £500 for the wheel as I was looking at chinese imports. The cheapest I've seen TT bikes I think are half decent is around £1.5k. That planetx exocet for instance, or the dolan TT. Haven't seen many tt bikes new or second hand for the £500 mark, and I wouldn't be happy on a parts bin special it would get upgraded and cost more in the long run.
Dammit, have just succumbed to an 808 for the front 😳 I'm blaming the OP!
I'm convinced by the arguments for rear disk covers. Much cheaper, much of the same benefits (which as others have said, are not huge for a rear wheel of any type). You also retain the comfort and reliability of a spoked wheel, and can re-use the covers if you change wheel for any reason.
I think I noticed the difference when I first started using them, but that was a long time ago. In fact I just did a TT without and then the same course with and improved more than the other riders who did both events, but it's hard to factor out the pure disk effect as these were my first two TTs for many years.
Cheaper, but you do want a good one on a decent wheel. I had an aero jacket cover on a heavy old powertap wheel for a few races and it was pretty horrid compared to what I have now. Mostly down to the weight of the thing. Must have been close to 2kg for the wheel with jacket fitted. A decent carbon RalTech cover on an 80mm carbon rim however would be a very different and much nicer thing.
If you don't already have a decent wheel to put a jacket on, just get a disc.
Not a massive bargain but ProBikeKit have a Reynolds Element disc wheel on sale at £843. I think I've got a 15% introductory discount code thing somewhere too which knocks over a hundred quid off that.
My nominal budget was up to £500 for the wheel as I was looking at chinese imports. The cheapest I've seen TT bikes I think are half decent is around £1.5k.
Do you want to go faster or just look faster? a £150 TT frame, £300 (generous) on parts and finishing kit and your current 50mm wheels borrowed off the road bike for events will be quicker than a disk on your road bike.
Probably true, but it's the body position that makes you faster, the frame (especially a cheap one) is just an enabler. So really depends how decent a position he can get on his road bike with clip ons. Having said that, you will be losing seconds by not having bar end shifters.
TBH, I'd not get a cheap 150 quid TT frame (like I did!) Wish I'd pushed the budget and got a decent one to start with. If you're getting a disc I'd save the pennies and get a decent one too (SH if you can't stretch to new - though I really can't find this supposed massive market of quality used for one season second hand stuff that people are flogging for pennies as they want the latest stuff!)
That time trailing classifieds have a decent amount of kit for sale, but if it is newer it is quite expensive or it is older 10speed stuff which still isn't cheap.
I was tempted by the recent planetx Exocet deal at £1.5k, was thinking of the c2w scheme ( yes I would ride it to work as I train 3 lunch times a week). But the plan was not to invest in another bike till I finish this season and know I'm going to continue into next.
My position is ok on the road, I can hold it for a 10, start going numb anfpd pain much longer so have an adamo saddle to try out, I still drop my head when tired but I'm working on that.
That time trailing classifieds have a decent amount of kit for sale, but if it is newer it is quite expensive or it is older 10speed stuff which still isn't cheap.
Been keeping an eye on the TT forum for a while and nothing's really stood out. Anything half decent is not that much cheaper than new given some of the deals that can be had out there.
First ride out on the 808 tonight... holy mother of god it's fast! Just based on that one ride if was in the market for a disc wheel I'd be throwing my money at a Zipp one 😳
Got to love the first ride on new kit :). Did you get a decent deal on the 808?
Not too bad, just under 700 quid.
Really is a sublime ride. Quite firsky in the wind at slow speeds but when you're at 25+ mph it just flies. Not done any proper testing but it feels a lot faster than my old 50mm PX front. Did 90 mins up and down a rolling course, with about 55 mins of that at an easy z2, and still managed to average over 24mph for the ride 🙂
I have an 808 firecrest with a raltech cover taped on the rear. Its about as quick as it gets I reckon, and a relative bargain. I have an 808 firecrest for the front too which is ace, but my go to wheel at the moment is a knight composites 95mm. Proper fast 🙂 (Bought from the lovely 73 degreesbicycles in Bath)
Very nice those. Do you have to buy them as a wheel set? Can't see separates on their site.
You can buy front only no worries. You can even buy the rims, but the 240s are good value.
Interesting that they only do clinchers too.
Had tubs in the past but went for the clincher this time. Seems to be a bit of a trend. Put a Veloflex Record open tub on there with a latex tube and it feels great.
German shops have some good deals on zipp discs at the moment due to the euro being a bit weak. Picked up a zipp 900 for £820 a few weeks ago from bike24