Best upgrade?

Wheels, I doubt anyone will say different......

Wheels

Both chosen will save roughly .6 of a pound. Both will happen in the future. When I finally do the crank are the ceramic bearings worth it?

Ceramic crank bearings are WAY over-rated. Rotational weight is something like 2x that of static weight, you have way more rotational weight with the wheels. IMO, go with the wheels and then a full force group, red is also WAY over-rated, just my opinion.

Wheels, no doubt about it.

Nah i reckon completely different... get wheels. [IMG]/img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]

Get the wheels, bud. Also, look at Mavic Ksyrium Equipe. A little bit more in cost, but the reviews are a little better too. I am ordering myself a set next week on payday.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by bgoetz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Ceramic crank bearings are WAY over-rated. Rotational weight is something like 2x that of static weight, you have way more rotational weight with the wheels. IMO, go with the wheels and then a full force group, red is also WAY over-rated, just my opinion.

No. The weight of a wheel is the same whether it's spinning or being carried in a handbag across a room. However, the force required to accelerate a wheel is approximately (to first order) twice the force required to equally accelerate a non-spinning but equal mass. With that said, a new set of wheels seems to brighten everyone's day. Aksiums are serviceable and are generally well regarded, but you might also want to consider having a custom set built. Custom wheels might cost $0, $200, or more extra, but they allow you to get a wheel built for your specific needs and/or tastes.

^^^Yeah I figured it would be easier to just say that rotational wheel weight nets you twice the weight savings (not literally, but with physics applied), without going into the details..........

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by bgoetz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

^^^Yeah I figured it would be easier to just say that rotational wheel weight nets you twice the weight savings (not literally, but with physics applied), without going into the details..........

To see just how small the acceleration changes are with wheels of different mass and moments of inertia, see Mark McM's post at this link:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6394&start=52

Note the equation given in that post is valid whether climbing or pedaling on flats and can also be used to calculate power curves and force curves. It's a full functioning equation of motion (in a plane, so don't use it for calculating dynamic parameters for turns).

alienator said:

No.  The weight of a wheel is the same whether it's spinning or being carried in a handbag across a room.  However, the force required to accelerate a wheel is approximately (to first order) twice the force required to equally accelerate a non-spinning but equal mass.  With that said, a new set of wheels seems to brighten everyone's day.  Aksiums are serviceable and are generally well regarded, but you might also want to consider having a custom set built.  Custom wheels might cost $0, $200, or more extra, but they allow you to get a wheel built for your specific needs and/or tastes.
 

Surprised to see. As usual an accurate succinct post. G'day Alien, it's good to have you back! Where the hell you been? Trust you are well.