Thanks very much for the recon. IHMO, politely I'd disagree with disc wheels. You're coasting down. The first sprint can be won by getting a gap and attacking the short spikey climb before it tips down then using the anvil and hanging on. The first KOM before the sprint will go super hard, because if you're dropped, there's no chance of extra points and by getting away you will guarantee yourself points on the sprints. I think it depends on which Cat you're in. If you are in A, then that hill is going at 6w/kg or more to hang on and there will be several splits. You can go seriously hard to start with because there's a ton of recovery afterwards. If 20 have gone up there faster and you're dropped beyond that, FAL is over with. For this reason, you don't want a disc wheel unless you are one of the very best climbers in the field and know that you will survive. There is a relatively big diffference in climbing when you compare discs to 7.8s and that's where most of the effort will come in this race. Climbing is more important as there is low draft. Bike choices make less difference between efforts recovering in draft than they do on the hills. Even Millentsteins would be advisable to some riders if you do think you'll struggle to stay with the front on the first climb; because unless you do, the sprint points for the race are over and your position at the end will be worse if you lose a group. That's my 2 Cents. Best of luck!
Hi there Ben! Thanks for your opinion and I love talking bikes and wheel choice. I think that you're right about wanting lighter weight wheels for the climbs. From CAT A's perspective, you gain 2-3 seconds on the climbs with 7.8s if you're going up the KOMs putting out the same wattage and being the same weight. On the other side of things, in CAT D, you could lose up to 5-6 seconds on the KOMs. The thing that matters most in this race is the ability to recover and to gear up for the Sprints or KOM. With lighter wheels, I truly believe you lose the ability to recover enough for this race. Especially on the first sprint. While you'll have a great start to the race, the 0.5kg you save from the wheel choice isn't strong enough for me to recommend it. I mean either way, wheel choice doesn't make THAT much of a difference either way. (Unless you're racing After Party races or only doing KOM hunting) Somewhat of a mind game IMO. Again love the opinion and appreciate you for watching! If you decide you run the 7.8s, let me know how you do!!!!
@@CasualCreationsjr Thanks for taking the time to reply! I guess we can agree on that. It really depends! There's likely someone in my race that will go off at 6.5 with a hard effort at the peak before going over the top, so I'll need the small margins to try to hang on!
@@benfinesilver2250 There's always someone to push me past what I can do lol. Good luck in your race and if you do go 7.8s or an all around bike choice, let me know how your race goes!!
Totally agree. This race will be won by riders who get away on the climbs. Sprint points on the flat are secondary as most won’t be there to contend them.
Thanks for watching Phil! I believe the disc wheels will help you more over the course of the race than just the hills. While heavier riders may have issues with staying with the group on climbs, the issue of not wasting watts on the flats and being ready for sprint points is crucial. If you only care about finishing points, 7.8s might be more your speed, but be ready for decents. There's a good chance you may need to burn some extra watts. The NYC KOMs (Both of them) are one of the trickiest KOMs to recommend wheels. Something like Box hill or climbs longer than 6 minutes I would typically recommend all around bikes+Wheel combo. These have crazy peaks, but have some flats throughout that also help with Disc wheels. Higher FTP riders (A) (B) will find that there is less than 3 seconds to gain with 7.8s vs Disc. For (C) (D) there is a but more flexibility but 5-6s faster isn't huge with a dangerous decent right after the climb. I always encourage people to do what they feel is fastest and I always appreciate them coming back to tell me if I was wrong as well!
great recon! Thank you! Looking forward to this one, while I am not a climber - yet...
Just eat several bagels throughout the day and you'll do great!
Nice
Thanks
Thanks very much for the recon. IHMO, politely I'd disagree with disc wheels. You're coasting down. The first sprint can be won by getting a gap and attacking the short spikey climb before it tips down then using the anvil and hanging on. The first KOM before the sprint will go super hard, because if you're dropped, there's no chance of extra points and by getting away you will guarantee yourself points on the sprints. I think it depends on which Cat you're in. If you are in A, then that hill is going at 6w/kg or more to hang on and there will be several splits. You can go seriously hard to start with because there's a ton of recovery afterwards. If 20 have gone up there faster and you're dropped beyond that, FAL is over with. For this reason, you don't want a disc wheel unless you are one of the very best climbers in the field and know that you will survive. There is a relatively big diffference in climbing when you compare discs to 7.8s and that's where most of the effort will come in this race. Climbing is more important as there is low draft. Bike choices make less difference between efforts recovering in draft than they do on the hills. Even Millentsteins would be advisable to some riders if you do think you'll struggle to stay with the front on the first climb; because unless you do, the sprint points for the race are over and your position at the end will be worse if you lose a group. That's my 2 Cents. Best of luck!
Hi there Ben! Thanks for your opinion and I love talking bikes and wheel choice.
I think that you're right about wanting lighter weight wheels for the climbs. From CAT A's perspective, you gain 2-3 seconds on the climbs with 7.8s if you're going up the KOMs putting out the same wattage and being the same weight. On the other side of things, in CAT D, you could lose up to 5-6 seconds on the KOMs. The thing that matters most in this race is the ability to recover and to gear up for the Sprints or KOM.
With lighter wheels, I truly believe you lose the ability to recover enough for this race. Especially on the first sprint. While you'll have a great start to the race, the 0.5kg you save from the wheel choice isn't strong enough for me to recommend it.
I mean either way, wheel choice doesn't make THAT much of a difference either way. (Unless you're racing After Party races or only doing KOM hunting) Somewhat of a mind game IMO.
Again love the opinion and appreciate you for watching! If you decide you run the 7.8s, let me know how you do!!!!
@@CasualCreationsjr Thanks for taking the time to reply! I guess we can agree on that. It really depends! There's likely someone in my race that will go off at 6.5 with a hard effort at the peak before going over the top, so I'll need the small margins to try to hang on!
@@benfinesilver2250 There's always someone to push me past what I can do lol. Good luck in your race and if you do go 7.8s or an all around bike choice, let me know how your race goes!!
Totally agree. This race will be won by riders who get away on the climbs. Sprint points on the flat are secondary as most won’t be there to contend them.
Good recon but Bro you sure about those disk wheels? (I hope my opponents are on the disk wheels)
Thanks for watching Phil!
I believe the disc wheels will help you more over the course of the race than just the hills. While heavier riders may have issues with staying with the group on climbs, the issue of not wasting watts on the flats and being ready for sprint points is crucial.
If you only care about finishing points, 7.8s might be more your speed, but be ready for decents. There's a good chance you may need to burn some extra watts.
The NYC KOMs (Both of them) are one of the trickiest KOMs to recommend wheels. Something like Box hill or climbs longer than 6 minutes I would typically recommend all around bikes+Wheel combo. These have crazy peaks, but have some flats throughout that also help with Disc wheels.
Higher FTP riders (A) (B) will find that there is less than 3 seconds to gain with 7.8s vs Disc. For (C) (D) there is a but more flexibility but 5-6s faster isn't huge with a dangerous decent right after the climb.
I always encourage people to do what they feel is fastest and I always appreciate them coming back to tell me if I was wrong as well!