Price Paid:  $250.00 at Lussatti Figline Val

Favorite Ride:
Reggello - Valombrosa Tuscany

Bike Setup:
LUSSATTI custom made frame, full campy chorus

Summary:
I bought the first generation Protons 6 years ago and one week ago the first spoke broke, before that NO PROBLEMS whatsoever! I need to add that i am 6'4", used to way 200lbs raising (due to grad school) to 230lbs and i put on this wheelset over 50.000km with Potholes, jumping curbs until last week the first spoke broke. I am building up a new bike and guess what, it will be again a full campy with a proton wheelset!

Strengths:
Stiff and light. If you are heavy and still want a wheelset, that is light and stiff and can deal with your power go with the protons. If you are a light rider you probably can ride them until you feel you need to tune up your bike with some new rims.

Weaknesses:
If you need to true them you need to take of the tire, however, so far (6 years and 50 000km ) i had not to do anything to the wheelset except replacing the casette.

Similar Products Used:
Maviv Krysium, HED Alps

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Jenson USA

Favorite Ride:
Roller road in the woods

Bike Setup:
Look KG361 with Chorus/Centaur 10 speed mix. USE Carbon Alien post (a masterpiece of engineering), Richie Comp bar and stem.

Summary:
This is an update. 2008 will be my forth year on my Protons. I'm 171 pounds and even after 10K+ miles, these wheels HAVE NOT changed from the first time I rode them. They're straight, round and quick to react to climbs and accelerations. They also still provide a menacing appearance with my matte black Look frame. One of the truely great purchases in 35 years of cycling. Protons are the definition of "bang for the buck".

Strengths:
Put them on and go ride...for years.

Weaknesses:
Have reservations about using them in cold weather as fixing a flat with cold hands would not be fun. Tire changes are bad enough in my basement.

Similar Products Used:
Velocity Aeroheads on Record 8 speed hubs which I still have on my "week long beer and food ride" steel Bianchi. 10 years old and have been trued only once. Its all about who build the wheel.

Price Paid:  $250.00

Favorite Ride:
anywhere with a tail wind

Bike Setup:
Tifosi frame/Record groupset

Summary:
I've done 4 seasons on these Protons. They are still as true as the day I bought them. They've been used for summer training and road races, hit plenty of potholes but they shrug it all off. Looking a bit tatty now - might try the Neutrons as a replacement.

Strengths:
Take a beating and still come out true

Weaknesses:
4 years on they are a little heavy comepare to some of the alternatives.
The stickers are a bit cheap, and soon look tatty.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Open Pro/chorus
Campag Omega V/chorus

Price Paid:  $330.00 at somewhere online

Favorite Ride:
The one I just finished

Bike Setup:
Viner Team Pro with Campy Record 10; Masi Gran Corsa with Campy Record Ultra 10

Summary:
After thousands upon thousands of miles, I gotta say these are the best bargain of a wheelset out there. They spin up fast, climb well, they're dead solid in the fastest of corners (and with the low profile, solid in crosswinds too) and you get undeniable Campagnolo quality.

Bombproof enough for curb jumping (I'm 150 pounds) with just enough "roadfeel" to give you confidence under any situation. Every time I think I want to upgrade, I just come back and re-read the reviews that got me rolling on them in the first place.

Sure, maybe they're 80 to 100 grams heavier than other similar options, but that's a small price to pay for a top shelf do-it-all wheelset.

Strengths:
See above's love fest ;)

Weaknesses:
None...even the dreaded tire change is easy enough once you get over the part about how you look like a monkey trying to open a coconut.

Price Paid:  $325.00 at North of the Border

Favorite Ride:
Each ride is my favorite

Bike Setup:
GT Team Lotto with Campagnolo Daytona gruppo

Summary:
I've put 3000 miles on these wheels and absolutely love them. I weigh in at 185. I'm not gentle with these wheels, and roads around here are pretty rough. The Protons haven't required me to true them once! No joke! If you're thinking about buying them, stop thinking and just buy 'em!