My husband and brother-in-law have both rented wheels for IMs, and felt it was a good way to get upgraded wheels for an A race while not having to commit and spend the $ for the wheels long term. My brother-in-law (a good cyclist) was so impressed after renting them that he ended up buying some after his IM. My husband a mid-pack cyclist felt that for him there were little to no benefits to renting them. However, both felt that it wasn't necessary for the races and they would have been fine racing with their standard gear. If you rent be sure to check the tires for any unusual wear, nicks, etc. My brother-in-law had race day wheels replace one tire that looked, even to my untrained eye, pretty worn.
I plan on just using my standard gear for my IM, but then again I am a creature of habit (and also a slow poke on the bike so I think there would be fewer benefits for me).
Dottie, I don't know if you are training with power or not, but the decision to rent a race wheel if you are using a powertap as your PM adds a whole other level of issues to consider. Read these threads for a little more insight:
Goodness, I'm not ready for such language-CT and the PT and wheel covers and this and that. No, I'm not using a PT and I don't have a tri bike. I'm doing my first IM the Old skool way and then maybe will treat myself to some new equipment for my second! I have been training with HR since joining EN instead of all pace at least
(and also a slow poke on the bike so I think there would be fewer benefits for me).
Nicole
I'd argue the opposite. We can quibble over the science and physics of it all but aerodynamics still apply to everyone. Slower folks will be out there longer and the benefits of enhanced aerodynamics would still save a whole bunch of time.
Before you rent race wheels, make sure you've first paid attention, time, and relatively small $$ to:
Proper bike fit
An aerohelmet
Bottle/tools setup on your bike.
Yep. It's amazing to see people with $8,000 bikes w/Zipp wheels, an aero helmet and then they pretty much negate those aero advantages (both for a headwind and crosswind) by putting 5 bottles and bunch of other crap sticking out all over their bike.
3X what Rich and Bob said. Make sure you have a bike fit and the needed flexibility that will allow you to stay in the drops for the complete IM bike. Sitting up the 10 % of the time will be - 10X what the race wheels will get you.
Comments
My husband and brother-in-law have both rented wheels for IMs, and felt it was a good way to get upgraded wheels for an A race while not having to commit and spend the $ for the wheels long term. My brother-in-law (a good cyclist) was so impressed after renting them that he ended up buying some after his IM. My husband a mid-pack cyclist felt that for him there were little to no benefits to renting them. However, both felt that it wasn't necessary for the races and they would have been fine racing with their standard gear. If you rent be sure to check the tires for any unusual wear, nicks, etc. My brother-in-law had race day wheels replace one tire that looked, even to my untrained eye, pretty worn.
I plan on just using my standard gear for my IM, but then again I am a creature of habit (and also a slow poke on the bike so I think there would be fewer benefits for me).
Nicole
Dottie, I don't know if you are training with power or not, but the decision to rent a race wheel if you are using a powertap as your PM adds a whole other level of issues to consider. Read these threads for a little more insight:
http://members.endurancenation.us/C...fault.aspx
http://members.endurancenation.us/C...fault.aspx
I'd argue the opposite. We can quibble over the science and physics of it all but aerodynamics still apply to everyone. Slower folks will be out there longer and the benefits of enhanced aerodynamics would still save a whole bunch of time.
Before you rent race wheels, make sure you've first paid attention, time, and relatively small $$ to:
Yep. It's amazing to see people with $8,000 bikes w/Zipp wheels, an aero helmet and then they pretty much negate those aero advantages (both for a headwind and crosswind) by putting 5 bottles and bunch of other crap sticking out all over their bike.