Training On Carbon Wheels – Smart or Low IQ?

We’ve all heard it—the half-baked advice to not train on your race wheels. Apparently, it’ll ruin them.

It’s one of those rules people love to repeat, like “don’t ride in the rain” or “only wear black socks.” But, like a dog chasing its tail, no one ever stops to ask: Why?

I’ve been riding bikes long enough to know that the world of cycling advice is full of myths, half-truths, and stories that somehow always start with “When I was young…”

I’m not here to hold your hand or tell you what you should do. You’ve got your own brain, you can use it.

But when it comes to carbon wheels, there’s more to the story than just “don’t ride them.”

Let’s break it down—7 points, sharp as a tack.

1. The Old Myth: “Don’t Ride Race Wheels”

This one’s been around for a while, and for good reason. Early carbon wheels were fragile—thin, light, and prone to cracking under pressure. You’d see folks spending big bucks on race-day wheels and then carefully placing them in bubble wrap after the race was done.

Why? Well, back in the day, carbon was about as tough as a wet noodle. If you crashed, or rode over rough terrain, those wheels could snap like a twig under the weight of a disappointed parent.

But we’re not living in the past. Modern carbon wheels are tough. Heck, some of them have lifetime warranties.

Take Zipp 303 Firecrests, for example. I’ve beaten those things into gravel and cobblestones, ridden them loaded with gear across mountains, and they’re still as true as the day I first put them on. So why not train on them?

2. Rim Brakes vs. Disc Brakes

Ah, the rim brake era, where you would wear out your brake tracks faster than a crack addict looking for their next hit.

If you’re still rocking rim brakes, yeah—maybe you don’t want to throw your carbon wheels into the mix every day.

The brake track wears out, the wheels get toasted.

But, disc brakes? Please. If you’re on discs, it’s a whole new ballgame. No need to pamper your wheels. Ride them, abuse them, clean them, and repeat. They’re built to handle it.

3. Psychological Boost

Here’s the thing: cyclists are a special breed. We’re all a bit superstitious. There’s a weird, almost religious, connection between us and our gear.

You’ve seen it before. A fresh set of carbon wheels gets put on and suddenly you’re 10% faster.

Sure, it’s in your head. But hey, if it gets you to push harder, more power to you. Maybe it’s mental, but if you feel faster, you probably are.

4. You Paid for Them—Use Them

This is where the “smart or low IQ” debate comes into play. You spent big money on these carbon beauties—are you really going to let them sit in your garage collecting dust?

We don’t buy Ferrari wheels and then leave them in the driveway, do we? If you’re not racing professionally, and you’re not worried about snapping a wheel mid-ride, then why not train on them?

5. The Cost of Replacement

People will tell you that if you crash on your carbon wheels, you’ll be out a chunk of change. Well, guess what? Most modern wheel companies offer crash replacement policies.

You break them, they swap them out for you. It’s not like the old days when carbon was delicate. You can ride these things, fall off a curb, and still come out ahead. Who said biking wasn’t a high-stakes sport?

6. Bearings and Wear

Let’s talk about the mechanical side of things. Carbon wheels often come with fancy ceramic bearings that spin smoother than a greased weasel.

But these bearings can wear out faster than the steel ones found in cheaper wheels. That’s something to consider, especially if you’re training through the winter. Salt, grime, and slush will eat them alive if you’re not careful.

7. Training on What You’ll Race On

Let’s get real for a second. The “train on heavy wheels so race day feels light” myth is about as effective as training with ankle weights.

Your body doesn’t care about the weight of your wheels—what it cares about is the power you’re pushing.

If you train on your carbon wheels, you’re training the exact way you’ll race, and you’ll have no surprises when the rubber meets the road on race day.

Summary Table:

Point	Reasoning	Impact
1. The Old Myth	Early carbon wheels were fragile	Modern wheels are much more durable
2. Rim Brakes vs. Disc Brakes	Rim brakes wear out the brake track	Disc brakes make it irrelevant, so ride carbon wheels all the time
3. Psychological Boost	Fresh carbon wheels can make you feel faster	Mental boost can lead to better performance
4. You Paid for Them	Why let your expensive wheels gather dust?	Get your money’s worth, ride your carbon wheels
5. The Cost of Replacement	Crash replacement policies exist	Carbon wheels can be replaced at a reasonable cost
6. Bearings and Wear	Carbon wheels have fancy bearings that wear faster	Be mindful of winter riding and bearing care
7. Training on What You’ll Race On	Training on the same wheels as race day	No surprises on race day and better overall performance

The Conclusion (and the Surprise)

So here we are. You’ve read through it all. Training on carbon wheels—smart or low IQ?

Let’s be real, it’s not about being smart or dumb. It’s about using what you’ve got. Carbon wheels aren’t some fragile artifact from the gods of cycling.

They’re tools—tools meant for riding. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Now go out there. Ride your damn wheels, crash them, break them, get them replaced, and ride some more. Because, in the end, life’s too short to let your fancy wheels gather dust.