Campagnolo Zonda

Price Paid:  $525.00 at internet

Favorite Ride:
any road will do

Bike Setup:
Road Bike

Summary:
After the first year they are finally coming out of true. The front is worst then the rear at this time. I have to retrue the front wheel almost weekly since I am a big sprinter (225lbs) and it flexes so much that my magnet on my spokes hits my front forks. I have to do monthly wheel maintenance on the bearings since it seems that the snap seals are no good and alloy for debris to enter more then it should, but the maintenance is very easy. I have been doing this maintenance after 3 months of use. I did upgrade to Ceramic bearings and you can feel the different on the rollout and drafting. All in all this is a decent wheel set for the money. I would recommend these to a lighter person then my self. But for someone heavier then me I would look for a custom built 32 or 36 old style wheel set. The stiffness of the 32 or 36 is better then the Zonda’s and at the same price to. Plus the coast of replacing a spoke or a rim is cheaper.

Strengths:
Easy maintenance

Weaknesses:
To much flex, Weak seals, Cost to replace spokes

Similar Products Used:
Bon-T Selects (came with bike)
Hand built Kings

Price Paid:  $366.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Echo Lake

Bike Setup:
Campy Record Look KG486, Casati Clipper Campy Chorus, Casati Challenge Centaur, Felt S25 DuraAce, DeBerardi Max Record, Cannondale S300, Iron Horse Mt bike

Summary:
Have the new and old version, (non-bladed) in black. These are the bladed in silver. I run them on my Look KG486 and Casatis...I likethe old version better as I have had to true the fronts 3 times. The old style is older and never needed any service. Also the rear needed and tweak this year for it had a little play in hub. The older ones ride smoother as well on rougher roads. I weigh 230 and race TT and Crits..when I stand I can feel the flex in the new version... I use the older ones for races..I feel more confident.

Strengths:
Roll nice, fast and quiet

Weaknesses:
front wheel needs attention, not strong for weight and price point.

Similar Products Used:
American Classic 420, Zipp 909, Spinergy PBO, Rolf Sestriere, Fir, Campy Scirocco, Mavic Open pro Powertap, Mavic CXp33, Alex

Price Paid:  $411.00 at 11-Speed

Favorite Ride:
Brisk group rides in the Sierra foothills

Bike Setup:
Custom Steve Rex steel frame, carbon fork, Campy Chorus components.

Summary:
I was the one who rated this product and trashed the quality of the front wheel, due to the spokes always working loose. I cleaned and put new loctite on all the spoke threads on the front wheel. I took it to someone who really knows how to true a low spoke count wheel. I am happy to say that after more than 2000 miles, I have had absolutely no problems with the wheel. I'm in love with my bike again. If you get a set of Zondas, and have trouble with the front spokes coming loose, take the time to loctite them all. You will end up with a very reliable wheelset.

Strengths:
Very smooth, sort of aero, faily light, and quite strong.

Weaknesses:
None noted, especially at this price.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Open Pro on Campy Record hubs, Fulcrum Racing 5, Mavic CXP 23 on Campy Record hubs

Price Paid:  $499.00 at Cbike( Ebay)

Favorite Ride:
I'm flexible

Bike Setup:
Eddy Merckx Premium

Summary:
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I have not been that impressed with the Zondas that I purchased. Ultimately, they are not bad wheels, and I have not had any mechanical issues of any kind...you can generally depend on Campy for a quality product. My issue is with the stoutness of the front wheel. In my opinion, it is just too felxible. When I stand and push up rolling hills, jump out of the saddle for the city limit sign, or start to torque the front end during long out of saddle climbs, I get brake rub.

They spin up nice, look great, hold speed well, and the rear wheel is adequate. In fact, the rear wheel might even be considered stiff by some. However, the front wheel's inherent flexibility is enough to have caused me to remount the old Campy Protons I bought the Zondas to replace.

Again, the Zonda's are not bad overall, but at their price point, one should not have to make compromises....It's not as if they're $200.00 dollar wheels. These puppies ain't cheap, and should have much more lateral stiffness up front.

Imagine going out to have a fifty dollar a plate dinner, but needing to stop and grab a BIG Mac on the way home because something about the dinner was lacking. That is kind of how I feel about the Zondas. Nice, but is that's all the stiffness that I get for the price and hype?

Strengths:
Aerodynamic
Relatively lightweight
Solid rear wheel
Great looks
Pretty Skewers

Weaknesses:
Front wheel flexibility

Similar Products Used:
Campy Protons
American Classic
Mavic Ksyrium
Spinergy

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Price Paid:  $400.00 at used on ebay

Favorite Ride:
all of them

Bike Setup:
cannondale CAAD7 R5000, compact hollowgram crankset, record groupset, specialized seatpost and saddle, control tech carbon bars

Summary:
outstanding wheelset, transformed my ride. these replaced a weak, flexy set of wheels, so i appreciate the stiffness especially laterally. these wheels improved cornering confidence 10 fold and brought out the efficiency of my frame

Strengths:
lateral stiffness, energy transfer, reasonable wt, good value, campy quality, lack of rim strips makes tires easier to mount

Weaknesses:
not as aero as some others,
weight could be less, but that's what you eurus is for

Similar Products Used:
mavic kyserium
FSA RD 600