Campagnolo Neutron Ultra

Price Paid:  $600.00 at via E-bay

Favorite Ride:
The Bluegrass

Bike Setup:
Fondriest TF1 (Top Carbon), 11-speed Campagnolo Super Record groupo , MOst Bar & Stem, Time RXS Carbon Ti pedals

Summary:
I have used a plethora of wheelsets. There are a lot of them out there, and as said by another reviewer, we're all looking for our own wants and needs.
These have become my main wheels, after put aside my DT Swiss Mon Chasseral (a little too delicate)

Without question these wheels are a great wheelset. Strong, reasonably light, spin up well and quite aero. They ride a lot quicker than you'd think. A great partner to my Fulcrum Racing Light tubulars.

The nipples are under the rim, which is both a blessing and a curse, but they are so well built that I can't imagine having to do too much truing. Nice carbon bodied hubs.

Nice strong wheels with an understated 'bling' factor.

Strengths:
Well built, strong, no wasted energy, aero spokes, nice bearings. Stiff!

Weaknesses:
Other than internal nipples and, expensive!

Similar Products Used:
DT Swiss Mon Chasseral, DT Swiss 1450's, Fulcrum Racing Lights (tubs), Mavic Ksyriums, Campagnolo Protons, Mavic Open Pro's

Price Paid:  $900.00

Bike Setup:
Lynskey 09' R330. Full Record, FSA cockpit, 3T post, Selle Italia team seat.

Summary:
I've used their Neutron 2 years ago (for a short period of time)and have forgotten how GOOD they are!

The new Neutron Ultra is harder than it looks... you just can't imagine with such low spoke count the wheels can be made that hard. I have another set of wheels set up recently... it's old skool style; Mavic Reflex Ceramic rims (yeah, they are antiques), Sapim CX ray spokes laced to Tune Mig & Mag hubs. With 32 spoke counts i thought they were hard but when i put on these Neutron Ultra... the meaning of hard just went onto a whole new level. I can imagine it would be quite punishing if you have them on a very hard carbon frame like a Scott Addict SL or BMC SLC01... the saving grace for me is the Lynskey R330 soaks up bumps and road vibs so the Neutron Ultra works great... each paddle strokes propels you forward with shocking acceleration.

Most folks would argue that these wheels were made for climbing but like the review below, they are fast on flats too... of course it takes a bit more effort than a mid or high profile wheel to maintain high speeds. IMHO, they make a good crit race wheels other than scaling hills. The start/stop condition of a crit race requires the wheels to spin up fast and these Neutrons do.

Last but not least... they are by far one of the smoothes wheels in the market. They cost forever and the rear free wheels is completely silent! Yes there is still some whining sound but VERY soft, you'd have to be very close to hear it so on open roads, the noise polution will drown it, making you invisible when you sneak up on your mate before over taking them! :D

P.S: The Carbon hubs are bling!

Strengths:
Solid, smooth, Italian quality.

Weaknesses:
Purdy' expensive. Ugly skewer design... wish they made them more low profile instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.

Similar Products Used:
CP Neutron 07'.

Price Paid:  $739.00 at Texas Cyclesport (Su

Favorite Ride:
Any where I'm off the front

Bike Setup:
Pegoretti Marcelo w/Record;

Also, Eddy Merckx Premium w/Chorus; Pinarello Stelvio & Casati Gold Line w/Chorus; Olmo Gara Pista w/miche.

Summary:
Everyone has a different standard for wheels and is seeking exactly what they like. So, my opinions reflect the fact that I want a relatively light, hassle-free, stiff, smooth rolling wheel that works with my 250 pound body when I'm running up rolling hills, or stroking along with my riding crew when the pace kicks up high and steady. It would be nice if they were good sprinting wheels as well, but in reality, I no longer do much sprinting, and when I do, it is for bragging rights...not points or a prime.

That said, the Nuetron Ultra's fit the bill. They definitely pass the big boy/clydesdale test. At 250, I've wasted money on plenty of wheels that simply are not for me (Kysriums, Zonda's, American Classic, Easton).

The Nuetron Ultras are stiff. when my tongue is hanging out and I'm all over the bike trying to hang on to a wheel, the Ultras are there for me. I can throw my weight around on these and they never yield. They climb really well, maintain high speed good, accelerate fast, and will work with you when the pack settles into 'go fast' mode for long stretches.

These wheels combine the best attributes of a strong, well-handling box rim and a slipperry aero rim. I find them to be great climbers, and you don't have to sacrifice aero performance on the flats. I'm certain that truly aero wheels may be more slippery than these, but just the really hi-end, pure, racing wheels, and even then, not by all that much.

Also, the hubs on these wheels are absolutely great. They are about as smooth as the non-sponsored rider can expect to get without obliterating their cycling allowance.

That said, the Nuetrons are not cheap. In fact, they are the highest caliber wheel that I've ridden in my 20 years of cycling. Therfore, I'd really be peeved if they did not meet my expectations.

However, you should also know that I don't give favorable reviews to products just to make myself feel better about the money I spend on an item, and I'm not easily impressed.

More than anything, you should feel confident that if you value the same attributes in a wheel that I do, you won't be upset about spending your hard-earned duckets on these wheels.

If weight is the primary standard by which you judge, then there are probably better choices at this price point. If you are a lighter rider (170 lbs or less), you may find them too stiff.

The only other things that I would see as potential negatives would be spoke replacement if damaged (their spokes are not easy to come by, but it is a very stout and durable wheel so that should not be a problem unless something freaky happens). It is a pain to change tires on them. However, this might be once a year for me so I don't really care about that too much.

I train on them regularly, but would not feel that they were a disadvantage for races. Heck, the pros have even been known to use them for hilly/climby stages. In fact, Campy positions them as a climbing wheel. Maybe I'm just an unsophisticated cyclist, but I think that is selling their flatland performanec short. They are all-around wheels that excel at climbing and are more than credible on the flats for all but cat 1 racers, those who are really into top shelf wheels, and people who've just got lots of money to put into cycling equipment.

Strengths:
I think I just covered their strengths.

Weaknesses:
I think I also covered their weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:
Campy Proton (really, really nice for me, but somewhat harsh and crude compared to the Ultras. Until I made peace with spending on the Ultra's, these were the cats meow for me); Campy Zonda (fast as hell, but the G3 spoking was way too flexible for me and they only distinguished themselves at speed. I'd call them a heart rate zone 4 and 5 wheel for spinners or lighter weight riders); Ksyriums, If you must. Nothing really wrong with them, but nothing particularly right with them either; Fulcrum 5, nice for training and centuries, but they are in a different and lesser class than the Ultras; Mavic Open Pros, the 90's were great; Easton, Please! stick to their seatposts.

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Totalcycling.com

Favorite Ride:
Alpine Classic

Bike Setup:
Look595. Campagnolo Record throughout. Keywin Ti pedals. Michelin ProRace2

Summary:
Highly recommended! Remember when Magnus Backstedt rode the origin Neutrons without modifications to win Paris-Roubaix! How heavy was he again?...

Strengths:
1) Unbelievable rolling - I thought about putting in ceramic bearings but they roll just as well if not better than my ceramic bearing-containing Ksyrium SL; 2) spins up very quickly - small guys like me (62kg) don't really benefit from high profile rims; 3) very comfortable for long rides; 4) complements the Look 595 nicely.

Weaknesses:
Extremely tight rim tolerance - I gave up after 1 hour trying to fit my favourite Veloflex tyres. Less problems with Michelin Pro Race 2

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL, Elites set up on Seven Alta Ti bike with full Campagnolo Record