Rider Profile
Name : Jennifer
Origin : Canada
Riding Type : Group rides with three different local clubs and amateur time trials
Specifications
Bike
Frameset : Cervelo P5
Crankset : Shimano Ultegra
Wheels
Rims : Light Bicycle AR55 Disc Flyweight Hook UD Paintless
Hubs : Light Bicycle Pace-Hub
Spokes : Sapim CX Ray
Tires : Vittoria Corsa Speed 25mm with Challenge Latex
Ordering Experience
I recently became the proud new owner of a Cervelo P5! The wheels that came on it were heavy aluminum wheels, and thus began my journey for a new set of wheels. I initially thought that the best combination for my time trial bike would be a regular front wheel and a disc rear wheel, and I put my data in Best Bike Split to compare the times with and without the disc rear wheel. Shockingly, the software indicated that the 300-400 gram weight penalty of the disc wheel would result in it being slower than without! I knew from this moment on that weight would be one of the most important factors in selecting a wheelset.
Initially, I didn't know much about the technical stuff related to wheels. I didn't even know about the different brands and models of hubs and spokes! Thankfully, the website is designed to be as friendly as possible, and there are tons of helpful articles to help me learn more. Being a somewhat "light" rider, like many female riders, I had awful experiences on other aero wheels. I would end up fully focused on keeping the bike in the lane, and not on actually pedalling, because of how difficult the wheel was to handle in the wind. I thought the 88mm TT wheels offered by Light Bicycle would be too much for me to handle, so I chose the AR55 Disc, which also paired nicely with the Vittoria Corsa Speed 25mm tires I picked.
The Light Bicycle customer service team responded quickly to my many questions. After a couple of emails, I felt happy with my build and placed an order! I had thought that it would be a nervous experience waiting for weeks before the wheels finally arrived, but the Light Bicycle website has an obsessively detailed work-in-progress page. Every person involved at each step was shown as well, which gave a more personal feel. After all these wheels didn't appear magically in boxes, they were a product of a highly experienced team!
One of my wheels actually went back a step in the process, and that is incredibly impressive to me. I have complete confidence in my wheels and my safety riding them, because Light Bicycle is a company that will do things right, even if it takes more time and effort. Too many companies will rush to ship products even if they are not up to high standards of quality.
Product Unboxing & Wheel Building Review
My wheels arrived in a sturdy box, and the wheels themselves were in individual bags. I have to note that the bags they were shipped in were quite nice! I kept them for storing or travelling with my wheels. A card was also included with the specifications and signatures of both the wheel builder and wheel inspector. I had ordered the paintless finish, which is beautiful and shimmery. The Light Bicycle team is clearly proud of their quality, as there is no paint to hide defects here. The laser engravings are artsy and modern, far more tasteful than the giant brand logos that are popular.
My Experience & Tips about Riding a Popular Cycling Route
I chose to go with much shallower wheels than others for time trialling because quite a few courses in my area have steep hills. I was worried about building a time trial bike that felt sluggish and unresponsive up hills, where the races were won or lost. The first ride on my Cervelo P5 with the AR55 Disc wheels impressed me, as it felt no slower uphill than my usual road bike! At 55mm deep, these wheels cut the wind with an audible sound that makes one feel like they're going quite fast.
My wheels have the new PACE hubs from Light Bicycle. The PACE makes a quiet, solid, reassuring, and engaging sound. Many of the hubs on my other wheels are a bit noisy and "metallic" when shifting (as the hub re-engages). I was, in fact, shocked once I went back to my other set of wheels with DT180 hubs, as they sounded a bit weird to my ears! The freewheeling sound made by the PACE wasn't too loud, which came as a relief since some fellow riders are bothered by excessively loud hubs.
Unforgettable Riding Experience
Initially terrified of being blown around on deep aero wheels, I decided to test my new AR55 Disc in the worst riding conditions imaginable. There was a severe winds warning, with recorded data indicating a shocking 51 kph wind speed and 75 kph gusts! I suppose I should add to perhaps not try this at home... (hehe!). The solo ride at a moderate zone 2/3 pace still averaged 25 kph despite fighting gale-force winds. In these wind conditions, the bike could not be controlled on the base bar, and I rode almost all of it on the aerobars to keep the front wheel planted. After the ride, my initial fears were dispelled completely! I became completely confident in racing these wheels regardless of the wind conditions.
My Love of a Specific Cycling Discipline & Why
Time trialling, to me, was the one discipline that really stood out for two reasons. Being a solo event, I feel quite safe participating in a fun challenge: I'm averse to the high risk of road races such as criteriums. I've also noticed that my strengths lie in a longer, steady effort, and I struggle with the surging and sprints in typical group riding and racing. We all love to do what we're good at!
How Cycling Has Changed My Life
Cycling has given me the opportunity to travel all over the province, to places I would never have seen had I chosen a different hobby or sport. There's something about the speed of a bike that is fast enough to cover large distances easily, yet slow enough to truly appreciate the beauty of our surroundings.
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July 1st, 2025 | Light Bicycle
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