How does one start to review a set of carbon aero wheels? I have no gadgets, devices or other tools to measure any benefits of my wheels - and that assumes there are benefits.
Before I do start, I think it is important to say that I have no link or tie to Parcours. My review is just based on my experience. I bought their wheels based on my own research and some good reviews in 220. Ok, I admit....I did get a free pair of brake blocks a good number of months after I bought my wheels (you will read that below) but that in no way influenced what I wrote below.
Before I do start, I think it is important to say that I have no link or tie to Parcours. My review is just based on my experience. I bought their wheels based on my own research and some good reviews in 220. Ok, I admit....I did get a free pair of brake blocks a good number of months after I bought my wheels (you will read that below) but that in no way influenced what I wrote below.
I've read reviews before on wheels and they delve into wind tunnel results and 'yaw' angles, high inertia, weight, what materials are used etc. I couldn't really begin to go into that much detail on a set of wheels and give a scientific and technical review. Also, when I was looking to buy a pair of wheels, a lot of this stuff didn't really register, what did it all mean? I was reading it and if I'm honest, most of it went over my head. And regardless of which manufacturer you read up on, they all fairly much claim the same results/benefits.
So I got to thinking, I want to write something and provide a review, so why not just give a summary of the process of selecting and buying, budget, pre and post sales support and then give the best assessment/review of how different the bike rides with the wheels on and whether or not they 'feel' faster, or you see any vast differences in average speeds when riding/racing them.
I made an early decision to have only one bike that would cover both racing and training as I couldn't really justify the expense of a training bike and a TT machine. The more races I went to though, the more I found myself craving a TT machine just for the way they looked, not to mention any overall time gains that were there for the taking. The more I read up on TT machines, the more I realised there were plenty of benefits to be had - but, I had made my decision and I was sticking with it. However, what was to stop me taking my training bike, which already had some decent aero features and trying to make it as close to a TT machine as I could, specifically for races? I could then remove all the added bits and put the bike to 'standard' for winter and off-season training.
So, the search started, for a set of aero wheels. Of course, like everyone, I know 'you can't buy speed', but these wheels must give some benefits given the amount of research that goes into them and the number of pro's that use them. I started to research lots of different wheels from different manufacturers and was immediately put off by the extravagant costs - in some cases, more than I'd paid for my whole bike !
Sub-consciously I'd decided that to get the 'head of finance' approval I needed, getting a set of wheels for under a thousand pounds was key. I think there is something about that magical point, well at least to me there is.....£900 just sounds a lot less that £1000...maybe that's just me who see's things that way !
So, one day, flicking through the latest 220 mag, there was an aero wheel review. Ideal I thought....but I was soon depressed, most of the wheels being reviewed (Zipp, Enve etc.) were in that mega bucks category. On turning the page, my mood changed. Hang on, there's a set here, for less than a grand, made by a UK firm and rated by 220 as 'best buy'. with a summary that read "Screamingly fast, stable and brilliant value. Revelatory and revolutionary - 94%"
Lots of boxes ticked here, so off I went to research further.
The wheels in question were made by 'Parcours' and the model tested by 220 was the 'Chrono'. I researched the wheels via the Parcous site ( see here - Parcours) and was convinced these were the ones to get. I liked the background story of the firm (you can read all that yourself rather than me writing it all again here) and the idea that they were helping more people to get access to the benefits of aero wheels at a reasonable price. I started an email conversation with one of the guys there and chatted about compatibility (I'd heard that some rims, when a tyre was added, could rub) and other general questions I had (cleaning, storage when off the bike, what brake blocks to use, best tyre size to run etc.). I was also advised of the recommended length valve extenders I'd need to use.
Even at 900 quid or so, this was still a substantial investment so I wanted to be sure it was money well spent. What impressed me at this stage was how helpful Parcours were. I'd not spent any cash yet, but they were super helpful and happy to provide answers to all my questions, adding expert views/opinions along the way. So, after much deliberation and getting the all important 'head of finance' approval, I placed my order. I was desperate to get my wheels before my first half iron man race. Due to some of the imported components getting held up at customs, there was a delay, but Parcous kept me up to date and said they would do their best to get the wheels to me before my race. They even offered to send a 'test' set for me to use in my race if mine were not ready - again, I was impressed by the generous offer and help they provided.
As it was, my wheels arrived in good time, perfectly packaged and protected. The 'reveal' soon made me forget the price tag.....they looked absolutely awesome ! The inclusion of a cool pair of Parcours sunglasses was a nice touch ! I'd already ordered a new rear cassette in advance and found a helpful mate who had the tools and know-how to fit that for me. I'd also ordered my valve extenders and new tyres.
So, all I had to do now was fit tyres and tubes and I would be ready for the first 'test' ride - how difficult could that be. Well, it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated.....so much so that I was even double checking tyre and tube sizes assuming that I surely must have the wrong ones. At one stage, with the tyre half on the rim and the tube inside and partly inflated I had a huge excess of tube that wouldn't fit anywhere. I didn't get it....I've changed countless tyres and tubes, it didn't make sense. So it was that I reverted to trusty you tube videos to figure out what I was doing wrong. Suggestions were to not partly inflate the tube, like I'd always done with 'normal' rims to avoid pinching the tube.
I was worried about fitting a tube without partly inflating it but it seemed to work ok in the end. Getting the tyres on was a faff as well, there was hardly any space to use tyre levels (Parcours helped me there with a pointer to a guide on fitting tyres (Fitting troublesome tyres). They also suggested that to ensure the tyre seats properly on the rim, to inflate the tyre above the pressure I ride at (say 120psi) and then let the tyre down to whatever pressure I ride at (any 'pinging' noise when doing this is perfectly normal)
I'd already purchased a pair of tyres for the bike and as always, I'd gone for 23mm. I was always of the view the narrower the better. However, after chatting with Parcours, they recommended 25mm for two reasons, one being better rolling resistance (I thought a narrower tyre would have less, but that proves how much I know!) and the other being better comfort. Oh well, 23mm it was, as that's what I had (and I'd bought tyres with red sidewalls to match my bike !).
Anyhow, this was meant to be a 'review', so here goes. First ride. Well, for sure, Parcours were right about the comfort of a 23mm tyre. I had them inflated at 100 psi and it surely made for a 'harsh' ride, but as I've always ridden 23mm tyres at that pressure, I wasn't overly concerned by that. First impressions were that, the wheels made a lot more 'noise' than my standard rims, they seemed to creak a bit on acceleration out of the saddle and there was definitely some rubbing when you come out of the saddle on climbs. Hitting pot holes also resulted in some louder noises than I'd been used too off my standard rims. Even with a 23mm tyre I still had to open up the brake adjuster fully on the front wheel to get the brake blocks clear of the rims. I had to do the same at the rear, albeit less.
But, that aside, the bike seemed to accelerate quicker on these rims. Of course, I have no numbers to prove that, just something I sensed. Once up to speed, I was convinced that I could hold a better constant speed (on the flat) without putting in much additional effort. Again, no stats or hard numbers to prove that, just a perception.
On some longer rides, on a long flat stretch, I was easily able to ride at 23/24 mph whereas on the same stretch on my standard rims, this sort of speed was harder to maintain. By 'easy' I mean it felt like my legs were spinning, rather than actually pushing hard to maintain a speed. This was on TT bars with a much more forward saddle though, so I'm sure that had a bearing on my ability to maintain a better speed.
Braking (in the dry) was a massive improvement over my standard rims. I've not ridden the wheels in the wet, so can't comment on braking efficiency in the wet. During my research I had read a fair bit about brake 'squeal' on carbon rims that have a carbon braking surface (like the Parcours rims). I have only experienced this once, during a race and this was during some rather anxious braking as I tried to slow for a corner that I wasn't expecting ! As I hit the brakes hard, I was thinking 'what is that awful noise...?' As soon as I realised I was the only rider around, it dawned on me that it was actually my brakes making that noise ! That said, that is the only time is has happened and I've never experienced any nasty noises under braking since.
So back to the speed aspect of the wheels. After all, aside from the looks, this was the main reason for my investment....would they make me faster? Clearly, there is no substitution for training and I'm sure a well trained athlete on a set of standard rims would be faster than a poorly trained person on a fancy set of aero rims. Without tests and numbers, clearly I can't prove anything, but I am convinced on the right courses/roads, I can hold a higher speed on these wheels than I can on standard rims. In my first half iron race, the bike course (laps) was one of two halves, with the 'out' aspect being rolling and with some uphill sections, at the turn point, coming back, there were a lot more long flat sections. On those long flats, I was finding it easy to sit at 20/21 mph or more. As I said before, my definition of 'easy' here is that my legs were turning with the pedals, I wasn't pumping the pedals madly to maintain the speed at all. It felt like once you had momentum and speed, it was easy to maintain it. This was in conjunction with TT bars though and a more aggressive saddle position. I felt I could have held a higher speed on these sections, but given this was my first outing at half iron man, I'd already told myself that to get a good bike leg I didn't need to be riding more than 20 mph (even if I felt I could), in order to pace myself and try and save myself for the run (if you've read my post on my first half iron, you'll know that plan didn't really work !). I'm convinced once you have gathered speed, all else being equal, it seems easier to maintain it compared to standard rims.
To counter that, I have noticed lately when I've ridden the wheels in training rides, some days I'm finding it harder to get up hills that I don't often struggle with on my standard rims. It's fair to say that the carbon set up does weight a bit more but I sense (again, no numbers to prove it) that if I struggle to maintain momentum, I slow down quicker than I usually would and end up seeming to have to push harder to keep forward motion.
What about riding the wheels in wind/breeze? I have to admit, this has been a real eye-opener. With hindsight, I realise I didn't really research rim depth too much before I bought. Given I was only going to buy once, I went for the deepest set there was (Chrono are 86mm deep !) assuming these would give me the best return on my investment in terms of any speed and/or aero benefit.
Even when you think there isn't that much wind around, these rims can seem to find it. This does impact the handling of the bike and you have to be switched on to making corrections if you get into a breeze or a gust of wind. Where I've noticed it quite a lot is where I've been riding on a sheltered stretch and then suddenly I come into the open (for example a country lane hedged on both sides that suddenly takes you over an open motorway bridge) and get buffeted by a side wind. This can often result in steering off a straight line. Now that I expect it to happen in certain places, where I can, I try to anticipate it more, maybe by coming off the TT bars momentarily or trying to grip the bars more tightly for a few seconds. Having had the rims for over a year now, I'm a lot more confident riding them than I was when I first encountered some side winds.
My worst experience to-date was in Cornwall. I was on holiday and had taken my bike, complete with carbon rims, to get in some training rides while there. One day I was re-tracing a route I had driven earlier with the family which took us to a lovely beach. The wind had picked up, or at least was more noticeable on the bike. The scenario I talked about above, coming from a sheltered stretch into the open, nearly had me off. I got hit by a blast of side wind and the bars nearly came out of my hands. In fact, I'm sure the front wheel even left the road briefly. It got my heart racing for sure ! As I got closer to the coast, the stronger the wind got. As I rode alongside the beach the gusts were seriously strong.
I would often find myself nearing the middle of the road, totally out of my own control, as side winds took over steering for me! At one point, I actually stopped riding as I felt I had no control of the bike, it was that bad. I should add that the wind was particularly strong and any sensible person, before setting off, might have swapped to a set of standard rims - but I didn't have that option. Clearly, if come race day, there was strong winds, or they were forecast, you'd probably think more carefully about your choice of rim.
That said, when the wind was in my favour and caught the rims at the right angle, I'm convinced there is 'free' speed to be had, you can feel the bike surge forward slightly at times.
So overall, how do I rate the wheels? I love them. I'm convinced they make a difference in the right conditions (low wind, flat road), helping me hold a higher top/average speed without much additional effort. With an 86mm depth, you do have to be wary of strong side winds for sure - as I have found through experience. For future races, I will be taking my standard front wheel with me, to give me the option to swap if weather conditions make that a sensible choice on the day.
If I were starting out again, I think I would give more consideration to a set with a shallower depth, giving a compromise between the aero/speed benefits and ride-ability. Even better, if it were an option, maybe a shallower rim up front and a deeper one for the rear.
Another aspect I learned through experience (and talking to my local bike shop), is that aero wheels tend to have deeper hubs than standard rims and this can have a tendency to impact the indexing of your gears. I noticed this on my first race when I was having trouble selecting some ratios. I assumed it was something that had just come out of alignment and that I could adjust via the rear derailleur cable. I tried, but couldn't make any difference. Luckily it didn't impact my race. When I sent my bike for its next service, I sent it with both the standard and aero rear wheels and asked if they could try their best to get perfect indexing with both wheels. This is when they told me it wasn't alwayspossible with the aero wheel. I can still select all ratios on the aero wheel, it just takes some more effort.
Even if you don't buy into the science of the aero wheel and think some of the unscientific benefits I've covered above don't wash, well, there is always the looks to fall back on. I love the way my bike looks with them on ! See the pictures below and judge for yourself.
Something I alluded to earlier was the service given by my eventual choice of supplier. I can't fault Parcours at all and highly recommend you consider them if you are thinking of a wheel upgrade. Not only are they making this sort of upgrade and aero technology accessible to a much wider market, their service is first class - and that is important. Before I had even decided on buying their wheels, they were super helpful, providing me answers to questions I had and plenty of advice and expertise. After I had bought the wheels, again, they were always on-hand to answer my follow up questions and give advice. I had a question about brake blocks and got a great detailed reply to an email I sent.
At the time, Parcours were in the process of developing their own brake blocks and they promised me a set - for free, when they were available ! True to their word, they duly arrived not long after. Little things like this make a big difference in my view. I'm really glad I chose to buy my wheels from them.
On the subject of brake blocks, another useful tip (from Parcours). In order to protect the braking surface of your carbon rims, you shouldn't use brake blocks that you have used on any wheels with non carbon braking surfaces. On a standard alloy type braking surface, brake blocks can pick up tiny pieces of alloy, which in turn could damage your carbon rims. So come the summer, when I put the carbon rims on, I make sure I'm either fitting brand new blocks, or re-using some that have only been used on the carbon wheels.
So, there you have it, my 'review'. I love the wheels, I think they make a difference to my riding speed and Parcours are super helpful before and after purchase. If you are in the market for a whee upgrade and have limited funds, or just don't want to spend a fortune, these guys should definitely be on your short list.
So I got to thinking, I want to write something and provide a review, so why not just give a summary of the process of selecting and buying, budget, pre and post sales support and then give the best assessment/review of how different the bike rides with the wheels on and whether or not they 'feel' faster, or you see any vast differences in average speeds when riding/racing them.
I made an early decision to have only one bike that would cover both racing and training as I couldn't really justify the expense of a training bike and a TT machine. The more races I went to though, the more I found myself craving a TT machine just for the way they looked, not to mention any overall time gains that were there for the taking. The more I read up on TT machines, the more I realised there were plenty of benefits to be had - but, I had made my decision and I was sticking with it. However, what was to stop me taking my training bike, which already had some decent aero features and trying to make it as close to a TT machine as I could, specifically for races? I could then remove all the added bits and put the bike to 'standard' for winter and off-season training.
So, the search started, for a set of aero wheels. Of course, like everyone, I know 'you can't buy speed', but these wheels must give some benefits given the amount of research that goes into them and the number of pro's that use them. I started to research lots of different wheels from different manufacturers and was immediately put off by the extravagant costs - in some cases, more than I'd paid for my whole bike !
Sub-consciously I'd decided that to get the 'head of finance' approval I needed, getting a set of wheels for under a thousand pounds was key. I think there is something about that magical point, well at least to me there is.....£900 just sounds a lot less that £1000...maybe that's just me who see's things that way !
So, one day, flicking through the latest 220 mag, there was an aero wheel review. Ideal I thought....but I was soon depressed, most of the wheels being reviewed (Zipp, Enve etc.) were in that mega bucks category. On turning the page, my mood changed. Hang on, there's a set here, for less than a grand, made by a UK firm and rated by 220 as 'best buy'. with a summary that read "Screamingly fast, stable and brilliant value. Revelatory and revolutionary - 94%"
Lots of boxes ticked here, so off I went to research further.
The wheels in question were made by 'Parcours' and the model tested by 220 was the 'Chrono'. I researched the wheels via the Parcous site ( see here - Parcours) and was convinced these were the ones to get. I liked the background story of the firm (you can read all that yourself rather than me writing it all again here) and the idea that they were helping more people to get access to the benefits of aero wheels at a reasonable price. I started an email conversation with one of the guys there and chatted about compatibility (I'd heard that some rims, when a tyre was added, could rub) and other general questions I had (cleaning, storage when off the bike, what brake blocks to use, best tyre size to run etc.). I was also advised of the recommended length valve extenders I'd need to use.
Even at 900 quid or so, this was still a substantial investment so I wanted to be sure it was money well spent. What impressed me at this stage was how helpful Parcours were. I'd not spent any cash yet, but they were super helpful and happy to provide answers to all my questions, adding expert views/opinions along the way. So, after much deliberation and getting the all important 'head of finance' approval, I placed my order. I was desperate to get my wheels before my first half iron man race. Due to some of the imported components getting held up at customs, there was a delay, but Parcous kept me up to date and said they would do their best to get the wheels to me before my race. They even offered to send a 'test' set for me to use in my race if mine were not ready - again, I was impressed by the generous offer and help they provided.
As it was, my wheels arrived in good time, perfectly packaged and protected. The 'reveal' soon made me forget the price tag.....they looked absolutely awesome ! The inclusion of a cool pair of Parcours sunglasses was a nice touch ! I'd already ordered a new rear cassette in advance and found a helpful mate who had the tools and know-how to fit that for me. I'd also ordered my valve extenders and new tyres.
So, all I had to do now was fit tyres and tubes and I would be ready for the first 'test' ride - how difficult could that be. Well, it was a lot more difficult than I anticipated.....so much so that I was even double checking tyre and tube sizes assuming that I surely must have the wrong ones. At one stage, with the tyre half on the rim and the tube inside and partly inflated I had a huge excess of tube that wouldn't fit anywhere. I didn't get it....I've changed countless tyres and tubes, it didn't make sense. So it was that I reverted to trusty you tube videos to figure out what I was doing wrong. Suggestions were to not partly inflate the tube, like I'd always done with 'normal' rims to avoid pinching the tube.
I was worried about fitting a tube without partly inflating it but it seemed to work ok in the end. Getting the tyres on was a faff as well, there was hardly any space to use tyre levels (Parcours helped me there with a pointer to a guide on fitting tyres (Fitting troublesome tyres). They also suggested that to ensure the tyre seats properly on the rim, to inflate the tyre above the pressure I ride at (say 120psi) and then let the tyre down to whatever pressure I ride at (any 'pinging' noise when doing this is perfectly normal)
I'd already purchased a pair of tyres for the bike and as always, I'd gone for 23mm. I was always of the view the narrower the better. However, after chatting with Parcours, they recommended 25mm for two reasons, one being better rolling resistance (I thought a narrower tyre would have less, but that proves how much I know!) and the other being better comfort. Oh well, 23mm it was, as that's what I had (and I'd bought tyres with red sidewalls to match my bike !).
Anyhow, this was meant to be a 'review', so here goes. First ride. Well, for sure, Parcours were right about the comfort of a 23mm tyre. I had them inflated at 100 psi and it surely made for a 'harsh' ride, but as I've always ridden 23mm tyres at that pressure, I wasn't overly concerned by that. First impressions were that, the wheels made a lot more 'noise' than my standard rims, they seemed to creak a bit on acceleration out of the saddle and there was definitely some rubbing when you come out of the saddle on climbs. Hitting pot holes also resulted in some louder noises than I'd been used too off my standard rims. Even with a 23mm tyre I still had to open up the brake adjuster fully on the front wheel to get the brake blocks clear of the rims. I had to do the same at the rear, albeit less.
But, that aside, the bike seemed to accelerate quicker on these rims. Of course, I have no numbers to prove that, just something I sensed. Once up to speed, I was convinced that I could hold a better constant speed (on the flat) without putting in much additional effort. Again, no stats or hard numbers to prove that, just a perception.
On some longer rides, on a long flat stretch, I was easily able to ride at 23/24 mph whereas on the same stretch on my standard rims, this sort of speed was harder to maintain. By 'easy' I mean it felt like my legs were spinning, rather than actually pushing hard to maintain a speed. This was on TT bars with a much more forward saddle though, so I'm sure that had a bearing on my ability to maintain a better speed.
Braking (in the dry) was a massive improvement over my standard rims. I've not ridden the wheels in the wet, so can't comment on braking efficiency in the wet. During my research I had read a fair bit about brake 'squeal' on carbon rims that have a carbon braking surface (like the Parcours rims). I have only experienced this once, during a race and this was during some rather anxious braking as I tried to slow for a corner that I wasn't expecting ! As I hit the brakes hard, I was thinking 'what is that awful noise...?' As soon as I realised I was the only rider around, it dawned on me that it was actually my brakes making that noise ! That said, that is the only time is has happened and I've never experienced any nasty noises under braking since.
So back to the speed aspect of the wheels. After all, aside from the looks, this was the main reason for my investment....would they make me faster? Clearly, there is no substitution for training and I'm sure a well trained athlete on a set of standard rims would be faster than a poorly trained person on a fancy set of aero rims. Without tests and numbers, clearly I can't prove anything, but I am convinced on the right courses/roads, I can hold a higher speed on these wheels than I can on standard rims. In my first half iron race, the bike course (laps) was one of two halves, with the 'out' aspect being rolling and with some uphill sections, at the turn point, coming back, there were a lot more long flat sections. On those long flats, I was finding it easy to sit at 20/21 mph or more. As I said before, my definition of 'easy' here is that my legs were turning with the pedals, I wasn't pumping the pedals madly to maintain the speed at all. It felt like once you had momentum and speed, it was easy to maintain it. This was in conjunction with TT bars though and a more aggressive saddle position. I felt I could have held a higher speed on these sections, but given this was my first outing at half iron man, I'd already told myself that to get a good bike leg I didn't need to be riding more than 20 mph (even if I felt I could), in order to pace myself and try and save myself for the run (if you've read my post on my first half iron, you'll know that plan didn't really work !). I'm convinced once you have gathered speed, all else being equal, it seems easier to maintain it compared to standard rims.
To counter that, I have noticed lately when I've ridden the wheels in training rides, some days I'm finding it harder to get up hills that I don't often struggle with on my standard rims. It's fair to say that the carbon set up does weight a bit more but I sense (again, no numbers to prove it) that if I struggle to maintain momentum, I slow down quicker than I usually would and end up seeming to have to push harder to keep forward motion.
What about riding the wheels in wind/breeze? I have to admit, this has been a real eye-opener. With hindsight, I realise I didn't really research rim depth too much before I bought. Given I was only going to buy once, I went for the deepest set there was (Chrono are 86mm deep !) assuming these would give me the best return on my investment in terms of any speed and/or aero benefit.
Even when you think there isn't that much wind around, these rims can seem to find it. This does impact the handling of the bike and you have to be switched on to making corrections if you get into a breeze or a gust of wind. Where I've noticed it quite a lot is where I've been riding on a sheltered stretch and then suddenly I come into the open (for example a country lane hedged on both sides that suddenly takes you over an open motorway bridge) and get buffeted by a side wind. This can often result in steering off a straight line. Now that I expect it to happen in certain places, where I can, I try to anticipate it more, maybe by coming off the TT bars momentarily or trying to grip the bars more tightly for a few seconds. Having had the rims for over a year now, I'm a lot more confident riding them than I was when I first encountered some side winds.
My worst experience to-date was in Cornwall. I was on holiday and had taken my bike, complete with carbon rims, to get in some training rides while there. One day I was re-tracing a route I had driven earlier with the family which took us to a lovely beach. The wind had picked up, or at least was more noticeable on the bike. The scenario I talked about above, coming from a sheltered stretch into the open, nearly had me off. I got hit by a blast of side wind and the bars nearly came out of my hands. In fact, I'm sure the front wheel even left the road briefly. It got my heart racing for sure ! As I got closer to the coast, the stronger the wind got. As I rode alongside the beach the gusts were seriously strong.
I would often find myself nearing the middle of the road, totally out of my own control, as side winds took over steering for me! At one point, I actually stopped riding as I felt I had no control of the bike, it was that bad. I should add that the wind was particularly strong and any sensible person, before setting off, might have swapped to a set of standard rims - but I didn't have that option. Clearly, if come race day, there was strong winds, or they were forecast, you'd probably think more carefully about your choice of rim.
That said, when the wind was in my favour and caught the rims at the right angle, I'm convinced there is 'free' speed to be had, you can feel the bike surge forward slightly at times.
So overall, how do I rate the wheels? I love them. I'm convinced they make a difference in the right conditions (low wind, flat road), helping me hold a higher top/average speed without much additional effort. With an 86mm depth, you do have to be wary of strong side winds for sure - as I have found through experience. For future races, I will be taking my standard front wheel with me, to give me the option to swap if weather conditions make that a sensible choice on the day.
If I were starting out again, I think I would give more consideration to a set with a shallower depth, giving a compromise between the aero/speed benefits and ride-ability. Even better, if it were an option, maybe a shallower rim up front and a deeper one for the rear.
Another aspect I learned through experience (and talking to my local bike shop), is that aero wheels tend to have deeper hubs than standard rims and this can have a tendency to impact the indexing of your gears. I noticed this on my first race when I was having trouble selecting some ratios. I assumed it was something that had just come out of alignment and that I could adjust via the rear derailleur cable. I tried, but couldn't make any difference. Luckily it didn't impact my race. When I sent my bike for its next service, I sent it with both the standard and aero rear wheels and asked if they could try their best to get perfect indexing with both wheels. This is when they told me it wasn't alwayspossible with the aero wheel. I can still select all ratios on the aero wheel, it just takes some more effort.
Even if you don't buy into the science of the aero wheel and think some of the unscientific benefits I've covered above don't wash, well, there is always the looks to fall back on. I love the way my bike looks with them on ! See the pictures below and judge for yourself.
 |
| Tyres in red to match the frame....all show and no go ! |
 |
| With TT Bars and Tri Saddle I'm certain the wheels are effective |
Something I alluded to earlier was the service given by my eventual choice of supplier. I can't fault Parcours at all and highly recommend you consider them if you are thinking of a wheel upgrade. Not only are they making this sort of upgrade and aero technology accessible to a much wider market, their service is first class - and that is important. Before I had even decided on buying their wheels, they were super helpful, providing me answers to questions I had and plenty of advice and expertise. After I had bought the wheels, again, they were always on-hand to answer my follow up questions and give advice. I had a question about brake blocks and got a great detailed reply to an email I sent.
At the time, Parcours were in the process of developing their own brake blocks and they promised me a set - for free, when they were available ! True to their word, they duly arrived not long after. Little things like this make a big difference in my view. I'm really glad I chose to buy my wheels from them.
On the subject of brake blocks, another useful tip (from Parcours). In order to protect the braking surface of your carbon rims, you shouldn't use brake blocks that you have used on any wheels with non carbon braking surfaces. On a standard alloy type braking surface, brake blocks can pick up tiny pieces of alloy, which in turn could damage your carbon rims. So come the summer, when I put the carbon rims on, I make sure I'm either fitting brand new blocks, or re-using some that have only been used on the carbon wheels.
So, there you have it, my 'review'. I love the wheels, I think they make a difference to my riding speed and Parcours are super helpful before and after purchase. If you are in the market for a whee upgrade and have limited funds, or just don't want to spend a fortune, these guys should definitely be on your short list.
Thanks for excellent review without baffling us with science. My mate is selling a pair for £250 so may well go for them now having read your review.
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