Are Climbing Wheels Funner to Ride?
#51
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You're welcome! A tip: I started by trying to shove it in from the front...but it seems to work better if you insert it from the back of the caliper. Get each side pinched tightly against the rim sidewall, then turn the wheel forward until the tool's blades are fully in-between the brake pads and the rim sidewalls. Then torque down the caliper.
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Huh. I've never had the business card trick fail to yield rub-free caliper alignment. And since I have nearly 500 obsolete business cards, I'm gonna stick with that. Looks like a slick tool, though!!
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Since my rides are not like walking to and from school back in the day -- you know, uphill both ways -- I ordered the deeper Roval Rapide CL II. I am really looking forward to upping my cruising speed from 16.8 mph to 17.3 mph.
$1,349 + tax with free shipping for these wheels is not bad, even though I had to order each wheel separately from a different store.
$1,349 + tax with free shipping for these wheels is not bad, even though I had to order each wheel separately from a different store.
#56
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Indeed!
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The business card trick works better with clean, cut up credit cards or airline mileage ID cards, one strip on either side of the rotor. Just don't use the sections with embossed text. The additional thickness forces the pads back into the caliper like a brake pad spreader.
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Mine are unembossed, thick business cards. I fold one over, remove the wheel, put the card over it - no cutting - and put it the wheel back into the dropouts/roto back between the pads. Loosen the bolts, squeeze the lever and while holding it, tighten the bolts so the caliper won't move. Then release the lever, torque the bolts down, remove the wheel, remove the card, replace the wheel. Works (for me) everytime.
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I'd only lose it and have to order another one, which would lead to me finding it again the day the package arrived.
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Sorry... you lost me with the Specialized on Cannondale thing from the get-go.
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Climbing wheels can definitely add a fun element to your ride, especially if you enjoy tackling challenging terrain or climbing hills. These specialized wheels are designed to be lightweight and aerodynamic, making it easier to ascend steep gradients with less effort. The feeling of conquering a tough climb with climbing wheels can be incredibly satisfying and rewarding, which adds to the enjoyment of your ride. Additionally, the reduced weight and improved aerodynamics can also enhance your overall performance and speed, making for a more exhilarating cycling experience. So yes, for many cyclists, climbing wheels can indeed be "funner" to ride!
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I wouldn't worry till an AI starts arguing and can't stop responding. Then we'll never know it from one of us.
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#65
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#66
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In case anyone else is shopping for wheels ...
Reserve 34|37 (DT 240 EXP) are on sale at Excel Sports for $1,479. I came close to ordering these when Maelochs suggested mid-depth wheels, but DT 240 EXP freehub makes such a racket. If Reserve 40|44 (DT 240 EXP) were on sale for the same price, then it would have been a difficult call.
Roval Alpinists are on sale at Excel Sports for $568 (F) + $792 (R) = $1,360.
Roval Rapide (rear only) is on sale at Excel Sports for $769 (25% off MSRP), but I must have ordered one of the last two, because it now shows out of stock, ETA 4/30. The front is not on sale anywhere but I managed to find a 20% off online code at Brands Cycle.
Roval Alpinists are on sale at Excel Sports for $568 (F) + $792 (R) = $1,360.
Roval Rapide (rear only) is on sale at Excel Sports for $769 (25% off MSRP), but I must have ordered one of the last two, because it now shows out of stock, ETA 4/30. The front is not on sale anywhere but I managed to find a 20% off online code at Brands Cycle.
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 04-21-24 at 08:20 PM.
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The shallow rim wheel will likely be lighter than the deep-profile race wheels, but less aerodynamic. But the advantage of aerodynamics falls off with reduced speed, while the advantage of light weight is the same regardless of speed. So, which is better depends on the riding you do.
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For me, light wheels are always more fun to ride. They are often shallower, which makes them feel lively and "springy" which I really find makes riding more fun. Stiff deep wheels feel dead to me. Light are much nicer on climbs since they spin up fast and don't get buffeted around as much as deeper wheels on the windy mountain passes. Mostly though, they just feel nicer to ride. One thing about Specialized wheels- I find a lot of them pretty stiff. ZIPP 303 FCs have that springy light feel. The somewhat similar ENVE Foundation 45s (I sold mine due to this) feels stiff and dead but the ENVE 3.4 feels nicer (not as nice as the ZIPPs). I have not ridden the super light Specialized climbing wheels yet. They look and sound awesome though. You should get them.
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I really only have problems with on wheel one one bike (can't remember back or front) and I suspect it's something about the caliper mount, but don't ask me for a detailed theory of how. The pads also wear asymmetrically. Fortunately, I don't switch wheels that often.
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The shallow rim wheel will likely be lighter than the deep-profile race wheels, but less aerodynamic. But the advantage of aerodynamics falls off with reduced speed, while the advantage of light weight is the same regardless of speed. So, which is better depends on the riding you do.
For me, light wheels are always more fun to ride. They are often shallower, which makes them feel lively and "springy" which I really find makes riding more fun. Stiff deep wheels feel dead to me. Light are much nicer on climbs since they spin up fast and don't get buffeted around as much as deeper wheels on the windy mountain passes. Mostly though, they just feel nicer to ride. One thing about Specialized wheels- I find a lot of them pretty stiff. ZIPP 303 FCs have that springy light feel. The somewhat similar ENVE Foundation 45s (I sold mine due to this) feels stiff and dead but the ENVE 3.4 feels nicer (not as nice as the ZIPPs). I have not ridden the super light Specialized climbing wheels yet. They look and sound awesome though. You should get them.
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 04-11-24 at 01:35 PM.
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Whenever I read reviews about wheels spinning up much faster I imagine them detached from the rest of the bike and rider. In this case 200g of wheel mass represents around 0.4% of the total mass being accelerated (I’ve even doubled it for rotating mass). So any feeling of faster wheel spin up is imaginary. Lighter wheels might “feel” different but they don’t spin up appreciably faster. Not within the range of weights being discussed in this thread.
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Whenever I read reviews about wheels spinning up much faster I imagine them detached from the rest of the bike and rider. In this case 200g of wheel mass represents around 0.4% of the total mass being accelerated (I’ve even doubled it for rotating mass). So any feeling of faster wheel spin up is imaginary. Lighter wheels might “feel” different but they don’t spin up appreciably faster. Not within the range of weights being discussed in this thread.
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