Announcing My New Wheel Sponsor: Gray Wheels!

I am proud to announce that I will be riding Gray wheels for the 2010 race season, and running their 9.5 carbon clinchers for both my front and rear, with a Powertap SLC+ on the rear wheel (when I'm not using a disc).

Am I excited about this? You bet!

Pictured above: The 9.5 full Carbon Clincher front is a 700c wheel and is developed mainly for serious time trail racers and triathletes, who know what they are doing! The 9.5 is a 95mm deep section rim that offers the ultimate aerodynamics in the right conditions. If you are racing in light to no wind, this is the perfect wheel to use!

Here's the low-down on these awesome wheels, straight from Gray's website, which you can visit by clicking here:

Gray wheels are handmade from high modulus carbon. The rims are designed for maximum aerodynamics, minimum weight, while retaining incredible structural strength. In fact, structural strength is the area our engineers have made our primary focus. It has allowed us to produce an extremely solid, strong and stiff rim that can handle a rider up to 240 lbs, while still maintaining extremely light weight.

We offer 8 specific wheel models. Each model is designed to optimize specific riding conditions. The 40mm Full Carbon Clincher is designed as a great training, criterium and climbing wheel. The 50mm Full Carbon Clincher is designed as a versatile training and racing wheel that offers the greatest all around aero dynamics when including all riding and weather conditions. The deep 95mm rim is optimized for maximum aerodynamics at 43 km per hour (26.7 mph). The 95mm depth and rim design is proven to be the most aerodynamic at this speed over all other depths, Going deeper only ads more weight and does not reduce more drag, unless it is a full disc. We collaborate with Zipp on the disc wheel, since the version we use is not only the lightest disc ever made (945 grams), it is also the most aerodynamic.

The bicycle wheel industry is rather small, so most of us know each other very well and collaborate on testing, design and aero dynamic testing, so do not be surprised to find Gray design features in other high end wheel brands.

Ever since triathlons inception, there has been a discussion on what the most aerodynamic and effective wheel combination is. There has been lots of misinformation in this area, so here is bottom line:

In flat, non windy conditions, a 95mm front and a disc rear is the fastest combination.

In slightly windy conditions, a 50mm or 95mm and 95mm rear is the fastest combination.

In more windy and /or hilly conditions, a 50mm front and disc or 95mm rear is the fastest combination.

In hilly and non windy conditions, the 40mm front and rear is a preferred wheel.

In conditions that are both windy and hilly, the 50mm front and rear is the preferred option.

We also offer two new race wheel options: The SLX and the CSX. The SLX is our new sub 1100 gram wheel set designed for lighter, professional riders. The CSX is a carbon spoked version of the SLX that can handle more weight, yet yields the same ultra low drag.

Features:

Full High Modulus Carbon Fully UCI tested and approved Available for Campagnolo, SRAM or Shimano Super high impact-resistant moulded rim 20 Spoke Front / 24 Spoke Rear Single billet CNC machined hub Four fully sealed EZO bearings / Hybrid Ceramics 5/5 Stainless bladed spokes Integrated internal nipples Carbon/Ti skewers or Alu with solid axle Basalt breaking surface Specialty breaking pads included Spoke tool included Tubular and Carbon Clincher Super-engineered structural strength Optimized Aerodynamic design Road or Track setup (disc only) Hand built

Of course, as with most of my sponsors, Pacific Elite Athletes and Rock Star Triathlete Academy members can get good deals on these wheels, so drop me a line if you want me to hook you up with the folks at Gray!