Reynolds RZR 46T... The future of race wheels??

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

While I'm all for the advancement of tech in our beloved sport, and making available to the public all the latest, but..... does a $6,000 wheel set really make any sense? http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/on-show-eurobike-2009-part-4

With all the carbon failures (namely rims and hubs) happening in the pro peloton, makes me wonder how far we're willing to push the boundaries of weight vs. durability.

Even if I had the money, I'd never buy them... You?

 

[elapid]

Hey, what's going on here? I did not post this as a new thread and nor did I chose the title of the thread. I posted the first post in this thread as a tongue-in-cheek post in the build-the-bike thread (because for those involved we are in the process of selecting a wheelset). Who is creating threads using my posts and under my username and naming these threads under mu username without my permission? I have no problem if someone wants to start a thread on this topic, but not using my username without permission.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

That was me. I created this thread and moved the posts cuz that wheel building thread is dead.

To be honest with you i'd just had enough of this wheelset thread and was just trying to move it along before it died. Each thread in this gamewas supposed to run for about a week but this one is in it's third. Sorry if it seemed like i ignored your idea but i didnt want to do more research.

 

[taiwan]

I'll buy a set for anyone who knows what a swirl lip generator is, but not really, though.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

That much dough, and no ceramic bearings even???!!?!?!? What a ripoff!

 

[taiwan]

A pro team probably couldn't afford to spec these on their bikes. Reynolds probably couldn't afford to supply anyone with these as a sponsor. Good showpiece for Eurobike, though, they'll sell a very few to lightweight fetishists, and can use the technology in more practical wheelsets in the future.

 

[taiwan]

That much dough, and no ceramic bearings even???!!?!?!? What a ripoff!

Ah, you'll want the premium model.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Could never ride them anyway, I'm at the weight limit, and my daily training routes are littered with Vitamin G (gravel). They'd never hold up.

 

[taiwan]

I'll never see those things in real life anyhow, so I'll leave this subject, but here's a precedent:

http://www.cycleco.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=426

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Never see anyone on Lightweights either. Less than a handful of PROs, even when they were somewhat popular.

Must be a reason for that.

 

[Bala Verde]

I am waiting for a company to charge a premium price for bartape. Obviously extremely lightweight and backed by pseudo scientific evidence about its ergonomic and aero advantages. Looks like Wall street derivatives lined less pockets.

Marketing: the art of selling turds or creating a need that previously didn't exist. Marx wasn't entirely wrong...

Rdv, Is "magnetic" your company?

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Bala!!! Dude, you're too funny!!

Rdv, Is "magnetic" your company?

Yep, I finally got the guts to branch off on my own. Magnetic was created out of necessity for decent hand built everyday wheels. NO Asian parts whatsoever!!!! The official debut isn't until next spring, but will be available for purchase in the next month or so. I'll let everyone know when the site goes live.

 

[elapid]

Never see anyone on Lightweights either. Less than a handful of PROs, even when they were somewhat popular.

Must be a reason for that.

I forget which TdF and which rider, but I distinctly remember seeing a rider hit a dog in the TdF and their Lightweight wheel just crumpled. The dog ran away, the cyclist was somewhat injured, and the $3000 wheel was completely trashed.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Yeah, the dog. I vaguely remember that too.

Maybe if someone invents a carbon fiber cage that goes around the front of the bike to deflect animals and unruly spectators away from ultra fragile components. You could model it after those cow catchers on the front of older trains.

 

[Bala Verde]

Yep, I finally got the guts to branch off on my own. Magnetic was created out of necessity for decent hand built everyday wheels. NO Asian parts whatsoever!!!! The official debut isn't until next spring, but will be available for purchase in the next month or so. I'll let everyone know when the site goes live.

Good to see that some are brave, stubborn and dedicated enough to enter the wheels market as a passionate and skilled wheelbuilder.

Hoping the best for you and your endeavor. Keep me/us updated.

I forget which TdF and which rider, but I distinctly remember seeing a rider hit a dog in the TdF and their Lightweight wheel just crumpled. The dog ran away, the cyclist was somewhat injured, and the $3000 wheel was completely trashed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0dzMp61G5w

Burghardt?

 

[titan_90]

Yep, I finally got the guts to branch off on my own. Magnetic was created out of necessity for decent hand built everyday wheels. NO Asian parts whatsoever!!!! The official debut isn't until next spring, but will be available for purchase in the next month or so. I'll let everyone know when the site goes live.

Good luck, I wish you success
Already bookmarked your site

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Nice! Thanks for the support guys, it means a lot.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Back to the topic at hand. What % of the general cycling population is going to buy into an all carbon wheel? I'm going to guess around 1%, and that's a stretch. So.... what's the point? Dreaming of emulating your favorite rider like Burghardt? Every dog has it's day.

Roger de Vlaeminck could still put the hurt on you riding his old Brooklyn team issue Gios with 36 hole wheels, even at the age of 62!!! It's not the arrow, it's the Indian!!!!

 

[the vagabond]

Don't know if these wheels will catch on, but I do know this: they have a better chance than the new Dura Ace electronic shifting, despite a greater price premium.

Anybody who thinks electronic shifting will ever catch on doesn't really understand bike racing.

 

[Bala Verde]

I think there are - simplified - 2 types of cycling enthusiast. The traditionalist and the techy.

The first ones wet dreams are epic cycling moments from the distant past. Grainy images of dirty mineworkers faces battling the conditions, only to return home with a small premium to support their families.

The other ones achieve vertical compliance through space engineered aerobikes made from graphite reinforced polymers weighing as much or little as a pencil. Money is no issue, hence a $6000 wheelset.

In a way, these two seem incompatible. Poverty, toiling, traditionalism versus riches, convenience, speed and progress. Intrinsically interwoven as well as its binary opposites, they are identical to Coppi and Bartali, Fignon and Lemond, Poulidor and Anquetil, Merckx and de Vlaeminck. United and diverse through the totality of cycling.

 

[elapid]

Don't know if these wheels will catch on, but I do know this: they have a better chance than the new Dura Ace electronic shifting, despite a greater price premium.

Anybody who thinks electronic shifting will ever catch on doesn't really understand bike racing.

Actually, I'm going to disagree with you there. While I am not going to get the Di2, I think electronic shifting may well be something we see more commonly in the future and the possible benefits outweigh those of a $6000 wheelset. Again, on the recreational side, it will be for those that wish to splash some cash, but they will still be more common than uber-expensive wheelsets IMO.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I second what elapid said. Though I have my doubts when it comes to the highest of the high tech. Electronic shifting doesn't have the greatest pedigree...yet. Electronic shifting is about 15 years old now, I give it another few when and if it becomes mainstream for racing.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I think there are - simplified - 2 types of cycling enthusiast. The traditionalist and the techy.

The first ones wet dreams are epic cycling moments from the distant past. Grainy images of dirty mineworkers faces battling the conditions, only to return home with a small premium to support their families.

The other ones achieve vertical compliance through space engineered aerobikes made from graphite reinforced polymers weighing as much or little as a pencil. Money is no issue, hence a $6000 wheelset.

In a way, these two seem incompatible. Poverty, toiling, traditionalism versus riches, convenience, speed and progress. Intrinsically interwoven as well as its binary opposites, they are identical to Coppi and Bartali, Fignon and Lemond, Poulidor and Anquetil, Merckx and de Vlaeminck. United and diverse through the totality of cycling.

I immediately thought of the 'black and white cookie' when I 1st read this.

But you're right.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

How do you true these new Reynolds wheels anyway? Or do you have to send them back to the factory?

Back in the day I put one of those Spinergy Rev X wheels back in true by clamping it in my woodworking vice, and hitting it with a rubber mallet.

Remember that BS? This is the wheel that sliced off Michele Bartoli's knee cap!

 

[badboyberty]

How do you true these new Reynolds wheels anyway? Or do you have to send them back to the factory?

Like this...