Bontrager Race

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Jax Bicycles

Bike Setup:
Trek 2.3

Summary:
These came stock on my Trek 2.3 and I rode them for a couple years before upgrading to Race X-Lites. While I do notice a difference with the X-Lites, it's not huge. I think these are fine entry level training wheels. Mine have never had a problem, and have always stayed true. Just as a note, I'm a big guy (>180lbs) and these wheels held up just fine under my weight.

Strengths:
Sturdy

Weaknesses:
Heavy

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race X-Lites

Price Paid:  $0.00 at stock on my bike

Favorite Ride:
rolling hills, with little traffic!

Bike Setup:
Trek 2100, with OEM equipment except cranks/bottom bracket (swapped out stock for shorter (170 mm) Ultegra cranks) and pedals (swapped out SPD 520 pedals with Ultegra SPD-SL pedals). Recently replaced wheels with Mavic Ksyrium Elites.

Summary:
These wheels were OEM on my 2005 Trek 2100. While they are extremely heavy (about 1900 grams for the pair), they have also been fairly tough wheels.

I have riden them for 4 years and some 7000-8000 km, and (until recently) they have generally remained true. At most, minor adjustments once or twice a year (I only weigh 62 kg, though).

Despite their weight, I was pretty happy with these wheels until one day a very large wobble developed in my rear wheel.

Didn't think much of it - first time I need to really make any significant trueing efforts, but I did discover some cracks around the spoke holes. They weren't very big, and I though they were just cracks in the surface coating of the rim (the wheels were more than four years old).

However, after just a couple of rides, the cracks had propegated significantly (and the wheel needed truing after each ride). In addition, some spokes couldn't take any tension.

When I pulled the rim strip off to replace what I though were stripped spokes, I discovered that the cracks were actually in the rim. When I made a detailed inspection of the front wheel, I also discovered some (much smaller) cracks around the spoke holes of this wheel.

I was going to buy new Bontrager wheels, but my LBS told me this was a recurring problem for Trek. Moreover, they didn't believe that wheels that are properly maintained should crack as badly as mine did, especially given my weight (I'm certainly no clydesdale!), even after four years.

After checking out the reviews on this site, I bought a set of Mavic Krysrium Elite wheels instead.

Strengths:
Durable, at least for a while

Weaknesses:
Rims are apparently prone to cracking, and once they do, they detoriate fairly rapidly

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Askium, and now Mavic Krysrium Elites

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at Parkersburg Bicycle

Favorite Ride:
yes please

Summary:
This wheelset came on my 2007 Lemond Chambery. To be honest, I've yet to find anything to complain about. At 210 pounds I would have expected a failure by now based on the poor reviews of this wheel, but mine are as true as the day they were new despite the many hundreds of miles I put on them in a 6 month period.

Strengths:
Good looks. Hold-up well to my 210# body. Hubs spin freely.

Weaknesses:
If anything, weight. But it's not like they're made of lead.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at neworld cycle

Favorite Ride:
Round the bay

Bike Setup:
Trek 5000 with 105/Ultegra

Summary:
These came with my Trek 5000. I owned an earlier version. The hubs get rough very quickly, and the rims have a hard time holding true. The spokes loosen easily, making the wheels woobly in corners. Mavic Aksiums are a much better wheel at the same price point.

Strengths:
Low cost.

Weaknesses:
Not durable.
Do nothing well

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Aksiums, Other mavics

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Any route that includes some climbing

Bike Setup:
Trek Madone 5.0 (2007). Ultegra groupset, Bontrager components and either Mavic Cosmic Carbon SL wheels or Bontrager Race (soon to be replaced by R-Sys).

Summary:
After having read all the reviews of the Bontrager Race wheel, I just wanted to counter all the negative experiences with some positive ones. I have used this wheel set for 1 season as they are standard on the Trek Madone 5.0 (2007) that I bought this spring. Being a recreational rider doing 100 km a week and the occasional competitive race, I have to say I have no negative things to say about the wheel. It's true that they are not very light, but I find climbing with this bike (and wheels) quite a nice experience. Also, I am happy with the way they roll and unlike many others I have not encountered any problems with the spokes or the rims. Being a 115 lbs guy may of course come into play here. When I now replace these wheels for a set of Mavic R-Sys it's not because I diskile them, rather because I got the Mavics for USD 850, which is at least according to Norwegian standards quite competitive. Perhaps after I have tested the Mavics I may be more conscious about the weaknesses of Bontrager Race - but until then I think they're worth their price.

Strengths:
Good alround wheel that is well suited to rough Norwegian roads, comfortable and with adequate rolling abilities

Weaknesses:
I have not really detected any as yet - although they are relatively heavy

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Select