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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

997.0. "advice on Disk wheels" by MEMORY::GOODWIN (in a spasm of lucidity...) Tue Feb 14 1989 12:42

    I've been thinking about a disk wheel for my new bike. Does anyone
    have any experience with disks? If so which ones? The HED disk looks
    pretty good for the cost.
    
    	Paul
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997.1wheel covers are much cheaperEUCLID::PAULHUSChris @ MLO6B-2/T13 dtn 223-6871Wed Feb 15 1989 11:178
    	Now that USCF has made wheel covers legal for racing, I'm amazed
    that anyone would consider a 10 X as expensive solid disk wheel.
    The $35 or so covers from air-Uni (or whatever they are called)
    are as good aerodynamicly as a solid disk wheel and allow you the
    choice of rims, spoking patterns, etc that conventional wheels do.
    	My advise: save your $$ and get a wheel cover!  - Chris
    (I have air-Uni covers on the back wheels of two bikes - I cut a
    small hole in the freewheel side of each for valve access.)
997.2Uni wheel cover SSDEVO::HOFFMANBrian HoffmanMon May 01 1989 16:417
    	I recently installed the Uni on a 32 spoke wheel, and couldn't
    get the instruction about putting the right facing clip on the
    left side spoke to work.  This was supposed to make the thing fit
    tighter against the rim.  Anyone else hit this problem?
    	I don't know about that advertising claim of a 3MPH boost --
    if its true, then I must have lost a lot more than usual over the
    winter.
997.3Speed increase depends on the courseNAC::KLASMANTue May 02 1989 08:5918
< Note 997.2 by SSDEVO::HOFFMAN "Brian Hoffman" >
                             -< Uni wheel cover  >-

I can't comment about the clip question, tho when I installed mine I don't 
remember having any real trouble following the directions.

As far as the speed boost goes, a lot depends on the course.  You may actually 
hurt your performance on a hilly course due to the added weight, and a rolling 
course with lots of tempo changes may be even worse.  The heavier wheel is 
much harder to accelerate.  On a flat course, however, you can really feel the 
difference.  The disk (any disk) really smoothes out the ride, and the heavier 
wheel actually is a benefit due to the flywheel effect.

The 3mph improvement the company talks about was demontrated on a trainer, not 
on the roads, tho they have testimonials stating the rider can use 1 higher 
gear than normal.  This seems true to me, IF I'm on the right course.

Kevin