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I have gotten some e-mail this last week about the review I did on my Rolf Echelon wheels.  In one of those conversations a reader said they were planning on buying the Rolf wheels and using them for racing and training.  These were going to be his only wheels for his road bike.  I recommended that he pick up a second set of wheels.  Here is a little guide I put together about this.

Wheels for Training and Racing

You could perhaps get by on one set of wheels for racing and training.  The wheels you race on should be every bit as durable as any other wheel you put on your bike.  I prefer to have 2 sets of wheels though.

I use one set of wheels for training and another set for racing.  I do this for several reasons like limiting the wear and tare on my more expensive racing wheels and my training wheels are heavier so they act as a training aid by increasing resistance. 

Wheel Pits and Neutral Support

The other main reason and probably the most important reason for having at least one spare set of wheels is to be sure you have a spare set in the pits at a race.

Some races do have neutral support, meaning that if you have a flat tire or some other problem with your wheels you can pull into the pit and they will switch out your problem wheel with one from the pool.  After the race you give the support wheel back and you get your wheel back.

Most of the time though, there is no neutral support.  There is simply a wheels in/wheels out pit or vehicle depending on the race format (criterium or road race).  This means you have to put your own spares in the pit labeled with your name and racing number for that race.  If you have a problem you get to switch out your bad wheel with your own spare wheel. 

The issue here is that if you do not have a spare set of wheels to put in the pit you cannot use someone else’s spare wheels.  If they have a mechanical they might need their own wheels.  If you don’t put wheels in and you have a problem you simply have to drop out of the race and take a DNF.

Spare Wheels Don’t Have to be the Same as Race Wheels

Your spare wheels don’t have to be the same as your race wheels.  My spare wheels cost considerably less than my race wheels.  They are heavier and are not as stiff but they are good enough. 

I ride on my spares on every ride except during a race.  I start each race on my race wheels and if I have a problem I can switch to the spares.

If your spare wheels are not as light and fast as your race wheels, don’t worry about it.  Don’t worry about the slight weight difference.  Unless you are Dave Zabriskie going for a Time Trial win at the Tour de France, the slight decrease in performance won’t be enough to cause you to loose a race.

You need 2 sets of wheels

So its my opinion and conclusion that you should have two sets of wheels.  You need one set of wheels to race on and another set to train on and to use as racing spares.

That leads to the question of, should I use different tires for training and racing?  I’ll get to that in the next post.

Does your kid have a bicycle on their Christmas list? If they do, here are some tips to help you pick a bicycle gift for your kids this Christmas that will be fun, safe, and will last at least until they out grow it or maybe just till next Christmas.

How to choose a children’s bicycle

Whether you’re getting your kid a tricycle, a push bike, or a kids full carbon road bike, the most important thing is that it fits them. For younger kids that may mean that they need to be able to put their feet down when seated. It is important that they feel confidant on the bike, especially for first time riders. It is ok to get a bike for your child that is maybe just a bit big as long as the handlebars and seat can be adjusted down enough to allow them to ride it with ease. You also want to make sure they aren’t reaching to touch the pedals.

Retail Store vs. Local Bike Shop

Even though I have advised against it on my post about not buying bikes from Wal-Mart, I think getting a younger kid a Wal-Mart bike is OK as long as you really go over it and make sure it is assembled properly and doesn’t have any defective parts.

Kids grow fast, especially the younger ones. For some it may be difficult to justify buying a more expensive kids bike from a bicycle shop unless your kid races BMX, Junior Road, or Mountain Bikes.

One thing you should consider is that if you have more than one kid or you have more kids in your extended family you may be able to give, sell, or hand down that bike to another kid because it may last longer if taken care of.

Assemble it your self vs. Have a shop build it up

I would be wiling to bet that most people buy bikes that are already assembled. The only thing you have to be concerned with if the bike is all ready built up is if it is assembled properly. This is also true if you get an unassembled bike. If you are getting a push bike, a tricycle, or a BMX style bike with a coaster break, I think with a little mechanical ability you would be able to assemble the bike as long as you follow the instructions.

That being said, I can not make an argument against having a shop build up the bike for you. They are going to have more experience building bikes. If you are getting a mountain bike or road bike for an older kid that his shifters, gears, and hand brakes, it may be better to avoid the headache and lost time to just have a shop do it. I would even recommend taking the pre-assembled bike to a shop and have them give it a good once over just to be sure. How much is you kids safety worth?

If you haven’t been on a bike in years or maybe you haven’t ever been on a bike then there are some things you should know.

Everyone always says you never forget how to ride a bike and that’s true, sort of. You may never forget the mechanics of actually riding a bicycle but you can forget about what makes you good at riding a bike.

Most of us had riding a bike down without training wheels by the time we were 6 or 7. If you were 13 the last time you were on a bike or you have never ridden before you are pretty even.

When you are just getting started again as an adult there a few things that will help you out the most. You need balance, confidence, and a properly adjusted bicycle that fits.

Properly Adjusted Bicycle

A properly adjusted and fitting bicycle is the foundation that you can build your cycling skills on. If your bike fits you well it will be easier to master all of the other skills of cycling. If the bike is adjusted and fits your correctly your leg should have a roughly 10% or slightly less bend in the knee when the pedal is all the way down. Your hands shouldn’t be too far out in front. Unless you you are riding a cruiser style bike, you shouldn’t be able to touch the ground while seated.

Balance

When you first get moving you will be wobbly, and it can be hard to ride in a straight line. To help you straighten out and keep moving where you want to go, look farther ahead. If you are riding on a trail like the Katy Trail that is long and fairly straight you should look 60 or 70 feet ahead. Looking farther ahead naturally helps you ride straight. Speed is also your friend. It is easier to stay balanced when you are not dragging the brakes or riding too slowly.

Confidence

If your bike fits and you start getting the hang of riding, your balance will improve quickly. You can help build your confidence by simply riding more. As you encounter different situations on the road or on the trail you will learn how to deal with them and your confidence will grow.

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