Wheels with Power Tap advice

[Ben Knapp]

I am looking at upgrading my riding (training) with the use of power measurement. I am not much of a bike geek so might need some help, appreciate there may be some discussions of this in previous posts so apologise.

I have a Garmin 800 so already have the computer I just need an Ant+ hub. I race with Ksyrium SLs and I like them even though they aren't carbon or tubs. If I switch to a power hub wheel set I would want to retain clinchers (the roads in London and the Lanes are just to bad for Tubs IMHO although I know there are clear benefits) and I don't want a pair of high end race wheels as it is more important to be training with power than racing (I'd have thought).

I was thinking of getting a good wheel builder to make me a pair of 35mm or 50mm Carbon Clinchers (i.e. Planet X types) and building with a power hub for summer use and race use.

Anyone done something similar or have a better idea? I don't want to to go crazy £ wise and I want to make sure they can be re-spoked easy or switched over if I crash in a Race or something.

Had advice from a few guys that race Hog Hill but thought I'd throw it wider.

Anyone want to recommend a wheel builder local to London?

Thanks to anyoen that responds.

[Jeremy Beswick]

Hi Ben,

I highly recommend fellow club-member Pete Owen:

[e-mail]

who built some wheels for me in February. We had several conversations about components, and he took into account my weight and riding intentions, etc, before we agreed on the rims, spokes and hubs. Once that was decided, it took him only three days to source the components, build the wheels and deliver them to my front door. I've ridden >2000kms on these wheels since then on all sorts of ropey roads, and they're still as true as new.
Pete owns RatRace Cycles and has built >1000 road wheels so his knowledge and experience is pretty deep.

@pete - am I going to get any commission for this endorsement?!

Just kidding.

Jeremy

[Deleted]

Have you thought about a Quarq crankset Ben? Links wirelessly to your Garmin and from the sound of your build not that much more expensive once you've factored in buying a carbon rim, spokes and the build costs. It'll be lighter and you're not tied to a single wheelset. Rhys has one. www.cyclingtips.com.au/2011/02/quarq-versus-powertap-powermeter-review/

[david emery]

take a look at these www.power2max.de/

[Ben Knapp]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I had considered power cranks but I thought that, as I have a winter bike, I wouldn't be using it as much in training particularly in the months that matter, Jan --> March for base training. I figured a set of wheels would be easier to switch between bikes dependent on the weather. I may now have to reconsider. I'll give Pete an email and see what he comes up with re:price and then try and make an educated decision after talking to more of you about it.

I am only upgrading if I get to Cat 2. Trouble is if I by a Quarq I will have to buy wheels as well!

(Fortunately the wife has okay'd it!)

Thanks again for the comments.

[Deleted]

Ben - are you going to use your new wheels as both a winter/summer training and racing set? Do guys generally race with power taps as I imagine they weigh quite a lot?

[Deleted]

PS - I also have the Ksyrium SLs. Really nice wheels.

[Alex Ioannides]

I race with a PowerTap built into HED Ardennes wheels. Race data is the best you'll get with respect to analysing performance, etc. I use a PowerTap built into Mavic rims for training on (CXP22 rims I think, as PowerTap hubs work better with a deeper section rim).

[Deleted]

Why do you have to buy wheels if you buy a Quarq? You can simply swap the crankset between bikes no? You wouldn't want to have to do it every week but you could transfer the cranks to the winter bike for the off season and to your race bike for summer. Of course that means training on your race bike in the summer but you do that already on the Cannondale don't you?

[Alex Ioannides]

In this day and age, swapping chainsets is a job for a bike shop. From my point of view (that of a power data addict), this is an enormous hassle.

And given the current 'Summer' we're having, the training bike is still getting more of a look-in than the race bike (thanks to the mudguards...).

[Ben Knapp]

Thanks for all the views and thoughts. Wiggle had a 15% off sale so I have grabbed a G3 at £720 and will look to get Pat to build on Strada A23s.

I still like the flexibility of switching wheels between bikes and the weight is not an issue for racing, I will use it to reduce my race weight a little bit (less chocolate).

I have the "bible" on training with a power meter btu may come back for some other pointers once I get bedded in.

Thanks again.

[Ben Knapp]

So these should be being built next week. As an FYI for others assessing a similar approach these are the costs:



- 2x Strada Velocity A23 RIms @ £45 each (Rat Race Cycles) = £90.00
- 56 x Sapim CX-Ray (BLACK) @£1.50 extra each (Rat Race Cycles) = £84.00
- build cost (Rat Race Cycles) = £80.00
- Cyclops G3 Power Tap (Wiggle) = £730.00
- Chris King R45 Front Hub (TotalCycling.com) = £130.00
Total = £1114.00

I have gone for 28 spoked front and back tangentially laced so they are bomb proof, the black Sapim CX-Ray spokes are at a higher premium and I am going all black with black nipples etc etc.

I will weigh them when I get them but I think they will be very close to my Ksyrium SLs, either way I do not think the weight difference will be noticeable. They should role as good as the HED Ardennes Alex has as both wheels get rated equally well with the A23's slightly cheaper.

I will post pictures as well just so there is a reference to others going through the same kind of purchase decisions.

[Deleted]

Ben - that sounds good. Handbuilt wheels is at a whole different level, but I guess you'll have no choice if sticking a powertap in there.

[Ben Knapp]

These arrive tomorrow for me so I won't ride them until after I get back from holiday but Pete has advuised the weigths are:

720gm for the front
955gm for the rear
total 1675gm

90gms heavier than my Ksyrium SLs on my race bike now but the weight is primarily in the rear hub so will feel like less of a weight gain I think.

So my holiday reading is "how to train with a power meter" and then I need to have dinner with my Turbo before starting a winter relationship with it.

I will post pics and actual weights in due course.