Both are carbon fiber.

The 5-spoke is heavier, but stronger. $500 for the set

http://aerospoke.com/uploads/pics/newproducts.jpg

Weight:

front- 1274g

rear- 1440g




The 3-spoke is lighter and more aero-dynamic: $990 for the set

http://www.hedcycling.com/images/products/hed3.jpg

These are the same ones that Lance Armstrong used for the time trials at Tour de France.

Weight:

Front Clincher 820g
Rear Clincher 1030g

I would get the 3-spoke.

You have an FD and you ride a bike....interesting.

I personally like the looks of the 5-spoke better...

If money were no object, and I was competitive, and there was little chance of me personally breaking a wheel, I'd go with the 3 spoke...

however, I'm none of those, so 5 spoke for me! :) (that's assuming that I biked enough to care to spend that kind of $$ on it... a good ol' Schwinn would do it...)

rotational weight is EVERYTHING on a bicycle. If you could find the one that has a lighter "RIM" that would be my choice. Trying to get an ounce on the outer rim to roll "Feels" like a pound on the frame.

That being said trying to find the outer rim wieght from the manufacturers is nearly impossible.

Also, whne you case a rim, usually the outer aluminum hoop is what gets damaged and it is irreplaceable. Very rarely will you crack the carbon fiber and the hubs these days are damn near bullet proof. You need to decide if the lightest equipment is best for you.....based on your wieght, strength, riding ability and last......Budget. Do you have the funds to replace the entire wheel???

Spoked wheels have their advantage to the daily rider. You are going to loose the smoother ride of a spoked wheel. CF wheels are like jumping on a Hardtail Harley. There is no give and you're body adsorbs all the jolts from the road.

If you have any seed money, I have a revolutionary design for wheels in my head that I never told to anybody but would blow the other types of wheels away.

Me??? I spent almost 30 years racing bicycles. Worked for GT, Redline...few others and my own manufacturing/distributing company.....back in the day.

You have an FD and you ride a bike....interesting.

I'm just getting back in to biking.

Working on losing a few lbs before I head off to China so when I get tailored suits I'll be as close to my ideal build as possible.

Also, biking > Running/jogging anyday.

I'd get the 3 spoke,due to rotational weight

Depends what you're lookin for. The 5'spoke look pimp. However, everybody makes sense when it comes to the 3 spoke. So, base your decision on this.

I'm not that hard core of a bike.

Do about 30 - 40 miles on the weekends and 20 during the weekdays.

Most of what I encounter are leveled ground on expressways.

The bike is a softride, not the lightest bike, but one of the most aerodynamic bike out there.

So far I am leaning towards the Aerospoke since the price is almost half of the HED and it's suppose to be stronger (probably why it weighs more).

I'm not that hard core of a bike.

Do about 30 - 40 miles on the weekends and 20 during the weekdays.

Most of what I encounter are leveled ground on expressways.

The bike is a softride, not the lightest bike, but one of the most aerodynamic bike out there.

So far I am leaning towards the Aerospoke since the price is almost half of the HED and it's suppose to be stronger (probably why it weighs more).

off topic: got pics of your bike?

http://www.softride.com/images/product/large/20-N0002.jpg

It's pulled apart for powder coating.

The bike will be all yellow, including the wheels.

^ after looking at that I think (eventhough the second is lighter and more aerodynamic) it looks like it'll match the bike.

Damn that is one Buck Rodgers looking bike. My last bike was a vega mountain bike.

Now, imagine that everything on that bike is yellow, including the rims.

jhammons01, I'm thinking about getting 12-27 shimano 9-speed with the wheels to help make up for the weight and increased rolling resistence.

Any thoughts?

You're upgrading to the 9 speed??? Meaning more weight? I wouldn't worry so much about frame weight. Rolloing weight is everthing. Anything you can do to shave weight off the outside will net you gains. Frame weight or body weight as long as it is within' reasonable weight is OK. You'll get better gains out fo doing more or Harder miles and building the msucle endurance.

Tinker Jaurez passed me twice at Big Bear on the uphill. Meaning, He climped up the hill across the ridge down the other side and then back to the uphill...caught and passed me again....shit, more work need on.....me. No equipment was going to change that.

Funny, just yesterday I was running threw my mind about people trying to build the fastest car. There is alway somebody that is faster than you....with cars.

With bikes that is not true. You can just work harder and you'll be one of the fastest around. Money has little to do with it. Mostly rider skill and conditioning Tinker Juarez was a poor kid from Anaheim that became fast as shit on a BMX bike that led to a "pretty" good career that lasted about 30 years. Not sure what he is doing now. has to be about 45 years old...at least

The rest of the components are 9-speed.

I'm still not following you. What are you saying?? You are getting the 9 speed hub for a system that is already 9 speed? I'm confused.

it already has 9 speed, but i didn't get the rims yet.

NO cassettes yet.

hence i was looking at the 12-27.

Are you asking about the Spread??? The spread is useless as you are a human. You can adjust to an RPM or you become adjusted to an RPM dependant on your conditioning and how you feel that day vs the grade/wind. The only probs ever expereinced is when you hae too big a gap between two gears and one gear is too easy and the next is too hard. That is the alure to the multiple clusters. Having a 9 speed you'll probably not experience that too often. Just slow long as you have the 12 and the 27 the spread in the middle is whatever factor. I actually never changed a rear cluster in my life. What ever was on there is what I rode with. The only times I remember worring about multi gears was when MTBs first came around and they did not have the third (or smallest ring) on them yet. Or when they came they all had a 28t on there and I wanted 26t or 24t for really low gearing.

One thing that you have not mentioned was your Crank length

DAK, You stay out of this part of the discussion.......

A crank lenght that too long will have a bad effect on your pedaling. On a road bike a 172.5 or 170s would be preferrable. If you are shorter and stocky a 167.5 may be in order. Large cranks are mistakes that can lead to discomfort. Speed, RPM is the key with Road Bikes. So a short stroke with High RPMs is the key. The say Spin to win.

dunno where to look for in crank length.

got an illustration?

It is stamped on the inside of the ring....er....ah The inside/backside of the crank. It'll just say the three digits i.e."170"

This is pretty much what the bike will look like, but with the 5 spoke wheels.

http://i8.ebayimg.com/01/i/04/ac/4b/68_1_b.JPG

This is getting serious. Just go to Target and get one. LOL

26" 140 fan spoke chrome front wheel

http://www.bicycledesigner.com/parts/546302.jpg


You'd be ballin' out of control

26" 140 fan spoke chrome front wheel

http://www.bicycledesigner.com/parts/546302.jpg


You'd be ballin' out of control

OH HELZ YEAH..........................WIT DA SPINNA

One thing that you have not mentioned was your Crank length

DAK, You stay out of this part of the discussion.......

A crank lenght that too long will have a bad effect on your pedaling. On a road bike a 172.5 or 170s would be preferrable. If you are shorter and stocky a 167.5 may be in order. Large cranks are mistakes that can lead to discomfort. Speed, RPM is the key with Road Bikes. So a short stroke with High RPMs is the key. The say Spin to win.


I have a 172.5

Sorry to get back to u this late............ I glanced at it as I was dropping off the parts to get powder coated yellow.

The bike will look sick.

go chromin yo or 3 spoke! i hope you hit a pothole and fall on your ass. LOL talking of bike wheels. i blew my tires on my bike 14 miles from my house w/o a cell phone or quarters for pay phone...