Road Bike Wheels : The Best Upgrade for Your Bike

Buying a new bike frame is often not considered a an upgrade. The frame defines the bike’s geometry, fit, and overall ride characteristics. Replacing it changes the bike’s fundamental nature, whereas upgrading components improves or enhances specific aspects without altering the bike’s core identity. Aside from the frame, what is the most efficient upgrade that can enhance your performance the most? The answer is upgrading your road bike wheels / wheelset.

As a single upgrade, compared to upgrading your drivetrain, shifting system, braking system, a lighter handlebar, a new stem, or a lighter seat post, upgrading your wheelset will undoubtedly most effectively enhance your cycling performance. Simply put, a better wheelset can prevent more power loss.

The Original Wheelset Is Usually Not Good Enough

The wheelset, besides the frame and drivetrain, is one of the most expensive parts of a bicycle. The frame is the main source of a bike model’s character and forms the basis of the bike’s pricing. The drivetrain is the most important component of a bicycle. Bicycle brands usually do not cut costs on the frame and drivetrain. However, to accommodate the overall budget of the bike, brands typically do not equip their bikes with high-quality wheelsets when they leave the factory. This is a fact.

Carbon Fiber VS Aluminum Alloy Road Bike Wheels

In bike parts upgrades, Lightweight wheelsets can reduce the burden of climbing, while high-strength wheelsets are more suitable for rough terrains. In road cycling, riders strive for extreme lightweight, and the most mentioned concept is carbon fiber wheelsets. Wheelsets made of carbon fiber are lighter than aluminum alloy wheelsets, and they also improve rolling efficiency to the next level.

Aerodynamic Performance of Road Bike Wheels

The aerodynamic performance of the wheelset affects the rider’s speed and stability on flat roads. Among carbon fiber wheelsets, we usually call those with a rim depth of less than 40 mm climbing wheelsets because they are light enough, but they offer almost no aerodynamic advantage. Wheelsets with a rim depth of more than 60 mm are usually referred to as aero-wheelsets, as they provide excellent aerodynamic benefits, though they tend to be heavier and less stable in crosswinds. Wheelsets with a rim depth between 40-60 mm are called all-round wheelsets. You need to choose the right wheelset based on your goals and your role within the team.

Aero Wheelset With 60 mm Rim Depth Is Unnecessarily Heavy

Aero-wheelsets only show their advantages at speeds above 45km/h. You might be using a wheelset with the wrong rim depth. Generally speaking, wheelsets with a 40mm rim depth can be used for climbing, those with a 50mm rim depth are suitable for “all-around road riding,” and those with a 60mm rim depth are best suited for flat road riding. This is common sense. However, you must consider your riding speed. If you think you don’t plan to climb and therefore choose a wheelset with a 60mm rim depth, this might be completely wrong. Usually, a higher rim depth means a heavier wheelset, which means you need more energy and power output to increase your speed. If you don’t have enough average speed to support it, please don’t buy a 60mm rim depth aero-wheelset.

Three Aspects to Consider When Upgrading Your Wheelset

When you are considering replacing a wheelset, the three most important aspects to consider are (1)the weight of the wheelset, (2)the aerodynamic design, and (3)the rolling resistance. Of course, different types of spokes are also something to consider, but they are not that critical though.

The Weight Of The Wheelset Is The Most Important Factor

 If you are using a very lightweight wheelset, you can clearly feel that starting is very easy. There is almost no time delay between when you output power to the pedals and when the bike actually starts moving forward. Greater weight brings greater inertia, and you need more power output to get heavier wheels spinning. However, if you are cruising, a wheelset with some weight can help save power by making it easier to maintain speed.

Suggestion For Choosing The New Road Bike Wheels

(1) High-Speed Cruising: If you want to maintain speed more easily at 45 km/h and above during high-speed cruising, a wheelset with a 55-60 mm rim depth would be a good choice.

(2) Frequent Acceleration and Climbing: If you find yourself needing to accelerate frequently to overtake opponents or face a lot of climbing sections, a wheelset with a 35-40 mm rim depth would be more suitable.

By the way, SUMLON has been manufacturing bicycle parts for over 15 years. Contact us if you are looking for a bike parts factory or a one-stop wholesaler. Peace