Submitted by
Jonathan Bisek
a Racer
from Plzen, Czech Republc
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2008
Strengths: Super strong. Good aerodynamics.
Weaknesses: Too narrow to accept TUFO "tubular clinchers". Skewers tend to make creaking noises if not opened and closed in a new position every once in a while. Need to have a special tool to check spoke tension, I believe...
Bottom Line:
Great wheels for fast training. I weigh 90 kilos, have had major crashes (broke my hip in Prague on the cobbles), ridden literally thousands and thousands of kilometers AND HAVE NEVER TRUED THESE WHEELS. No joke. Good maintenance of the bearings is all you need.
Bike Setup: 2000 Trek OCLV Postal with mix of Ultegra, Dura Ace and other choise tidbits...
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Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Alameda, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 16, 2005
Strengths: Looks great, feels great
Bottom Line:
I raced a triathlon and blew out the rear tire. Rode on rocky pavement/concrete/bricks for 2-3 miles on just the rear rim. Wheel only needed minor truing, and came out with a small ding on the rim. While all of the other wheels became out of true by riding off a curb or sliding into a pothole, this set is a performer!
Similar Products Used: Bontrager, Suntour; both mountain & road wheels.
Bike Setup: Specialized Allez Epic carbon fiber, aluminum fork Ultegra 10 shifters, brakes, rear & front der. Campy Veloce crank.
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Submitted by
Anthony Castellanos
a Cross Country Rider
from Isla Verde, Puerto Rico USA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2005
Strengths: light stiff fast never had to true them low mant. and deep dish rim.
Weaknesses: if your lbs doesnt have bearings it can be a while before rolf gets them to you. Creaking was caused by crappy rolf skewers i put my torrelli skewers in solved the problem .Also the decals are ugly PEEL EM OFF!!
Bottom Line:
these wheels are awesome if you dont want to spend the money on rolf vigors and if you commute like i do they are a bomb proof wheelset no problems and for everyone with the creaking problem get new skewers!! i love these wheels kick mavic ksyriums ass but the open pro is still the commuter king!
Weaknesses: well well well, if ur a strong sprinter, ie can win on a track there not up 2 the jub of sprinting
Bottom Line:
these things are ok but there not really strong enough to race on. admitidly i am a sprinter so the problem may not apply to every one but they colapsed on the 1st proper spring i put through them. the back rim folded in and the hub twisted round taking most the spokes out with it, it locked the back wheel in between the frame and nearly lost me the race. the front also creaks. im only 72kg so i dnt really think this should be happening. i got a replacment but sold it on ebay. however i could of just had a duff pair caus i know of quite a few others that are fine. bottom line however dont follow a pair of thses in a race
Similar Products Used: vector pros, spinergy x aeros, spinergy rev x, many built ups
Bike Setup: mercury titanium, durace, itm milenium finishing kit, variety of wheels
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Submitted by
Anton Sella
a Weekend Warrior
from Menomonee Falls/La Crosse WI
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2003
Strengths: light, strong, areodynamic, great hubs, very attractive
Weaknesses: Little more surface area for cross winds to pick up on
Bottom Line:
First road bike I have ever owned and it came with these rims, I am the envy of my friends in the bluffs of La Crosse as these babies love to coast, have a hard time staying in a draft line for that reason. i noticed the creaking when i first bought the bike but i got a new stem and have not heard anything coming from the front since, which changed my mind on where the noise was coming from, maybe the wheels are wrongfully accused on this one
Submitted by
Scott Overfield
a Weekend Warrior
from Pulaski, VA USA
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2002
Strengths: seem bombproof after 8000 miles or so.
Weaknesses: creaking when climbing. You need to lube the skewer. Easy fix. Mine started after 1 years use. I have since read about this-can't remember where.
Bottom Line:
I can often coast faster downhill than many who are pedaling. This usually means I have to sit upright or get out of a draft or run into the rider in front.
Strengths: super strong,aerodynamic, almost never needs truing
Weaknesses: crosswinds really affect ride
Bottom Line:
this rim rules. propably the strongest rims i've ever had. not super light but not too heavy either. These may not be the best racing rims, but for the money they make great training or weekend warrior rims. I havn't had any of the creaking problems most people complain of.
Bike Setup: trek 2300 full ultegra, michelin axial pro tires
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Submitted by
Nikos Hollis
a Weekend Warrior
from Durango, CO
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002
Strengths: Incredibly reliable, fast, light, style up the wazoo!
Weaknesses: Aero rims and bladed spokes catch sideways gusts a little too well.
Bottom Line:
I'm not sure what these cost aftermarket as mine came on the bike, but they are definitely a smart long-term nvestment. These babies are super-stiff, making acceleration a breeze, but I'd avoid using them on a bottom-bashing superlight aluminum vibration hog if you want to be able to walk after your rides. Saying that, on carbon they're great. I notice the aero effects on fast downhills when I pull ahead of my friends, plus the chicks love the style. I plan on using mine for years to come.
Submitted by
Mike Schmidt
a Cross Country Rider
from Spring Green, WI USA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2001
Strengths: I'm careful, but I've hit some potholes and they seem to take them well.
Weaknesses: After reading other reviews, I think I've located the source of the "creaking." I thought it was my headset, but now I'm thinking it might be the wheels. In my case, it creaks when I'm sitting and NOT standing.
Bottom Line:
Overall, I like them. I've had a few problems with spokes loosening up, though. Also, no one told me I'd have to get special inner tubes with longer valve stems. That could've hurt.
They came on the bike, so I don't know what they cost me, but I've seen them for over $400.00 at the shop - without rubber.
Similar Products Used: None. Old Matrix on an older Trek 2300. Not even close.
Bike Setup: 2001 Trek 2300
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Submitted by
eric tiongson
a Weekend Warrior
from daly city
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001
Strengths: Reliability, looks, price. Having 3000 miles on these wheels, I only had to do a very minor truing job at my favorite bike shop (Bike Route)in San Bruno. And this was because I successfuly went over a couple of deep pot holes. Inspite of the mishap, the wheels held up well. These wheels are sharp looking. Specially on my Kestrel. Good aerodynamics due to bladed spokes.
Weaknesses: I'd like to say weight but for the price I really can't complain. The "creaking" noise mentioned in previous reviews was also evident when my bike was new. After approx. 200 miles or so, the noise was gone.
Bottom Line:
These wheels are bombproof. I was 205 lbs when I first got on these wheels and they held up pretty well. Great for overall riding.
Bike Setup: Kestrel 200SCI, deda 215 bar, zero stem, Ulegra guppo
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Submitted by
William
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2001
Strengths: light, stiff, smooth hubs, look great
Weaknesses: affected by cross winds, creaking when riding out of the saddle
Bottom Line:
Great riding wheels. They also look great. (Mine are blue, matching my Lemond Zurich bike.) But, as others have experienced, after about 400 miles of use my front wheel started to creak badly when I stand to climb. I find it quite irritating.
I like them a lot otherwise, especially when moving fast on flat terrain or descending. The hubs also seem super smooth and light. The wheels themselves are stiff and precise. Because of their semi-aero rims and bladed spokes, however, a powerful side wind can cause some sudden bike movement.
Strengths: Red look is trick, stiff, never had them trued
Weaknesses: could be creaking...
Bottom Line:
If looks are important - and lets face it, who wants to look like the dogs been chewing on them - then these wheels should be on your list. The red finish has been attacked with all kinds of degreaser and not faded yet - which I thought it would.
The wheels are very stiff, which I personally like. Riding other wheelsets I'm often checking to see if I've got a slow puncture... They seem pretty bombproof, I ride this bike daily, enjoy hopping stuff and jumping speed bumps so would have expected a rebuild by now, but not even a true up! Hubs still feel great as well, and in the UK we get some wet, salty winters.
There is a regular click from the front end when going hard but no other creaks.
Similar Products Used: Coda wheelsets, Mavic Ksyrium
Bike Setup: Klein Quantum Race
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Submitted by
Michael Siegel
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2001
Strengths: Look great, nice ride, I think, compared with Mavics @ similar price. No truing so far and I have ridden on a fair bit of packed dirt and washboard pavement (unavoidable section of a favorite downhill).
Weaknesses: Once a week, for the past two months, I have to locate and redo a spoke nipple that I was thought was cool pre-ride. Lots of flats, for unclear reasons, beofre i caught on to this. Cross-winds pick up on these babies.
Weaknesses: CREAKING FRONT WHEEL. CAN'T STOP THE MADNESS
Bottom Line:
FIRST ROAD BIKE AND FIRST SET OF ROAD WHEELS. WHEN I SAW SOMEONE WAS HAVING A CREAKING ISSUE I DECIDED TO SUBMIT. ALL AND ALL THEY STAY TRUE BUT NEED EXTRA TLC.
These things are mad fast. They are a bit rough to start riding on but eventually your hind quarters gets used to it. I primarily use these wheels for century rides 2 times a week. Only thing i need to say about these wheels is if you are going to dump this amount of money, it will pay of in the long haul if you know what i mean.
