Strengths: very fast. no one else has got them (i have never seen another black pair anywhere including ebay and all the races i have been to. 250 is very cheap compared to 1000 for zipp
Weaknesses: heavier than ksyriums
Bottom Line:
I've been a keen amatuer timetrialist for over 15 years and nothing has made more difference to my times than these wheels. they are certainly faster than all the other aero wheels i have had. 2 years and they havent needed any servicing/truing. i cant recomend these wheels enough, just a damn pity they stopped making them in 02.
Similar Products Used: ksyriums, giant composite, spinnergy rev-x.
Bike Setup: raleigh special products prototype titanium with record chorus carbon mix with carbon and titanium pheripherals
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Art S.
a Recreational Rider
from Mayfield, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2001
Strengths: None
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Just a follow-up from my review below of last year:
After using the Shamal tubular version for several thousand miles over the course of more than a year, I can say they're my absolute favorite road wheels. I liked them better than my Nucleon sew-up's, so I sold the Nuke's and have kept the Shamal's. And they're definitely a better wheel than any custom-built wheel I've owned.
The Shamal's pedal easier than their weight or design might suggest - the overall response of these wheels belie the fact that they're 'aero' wheels, not specifically 'climbing' wheels. They certainly seem to move faster with equal or less effort than the Nuke's, and those are top end wheels as well. Has to be the concept that once you get them moving, they want to keep on spinning with minimal effort (think Issac Newton), and having only 14F and 16R spokes doesn't hurt, either! Also, they handle superbly.
Yes, I climb hills with the Shamal's, but the extra weight of the 'aero' rim over a rim like the Nucleon's seems to be strangely not noticable - it didn't bother me a bit to switch to the Shamal's from my usual "lightweight" climber's, but they're FASTER than climbing wheels! And as far as reliability, I've not had one problem with them so far, not even needing a truing. They're a very strong design. For that matter, I never had any problems with the Nuke's either (I weigh between about 193-198 lbs.). There is no doubt in my mind that Campy makes great wheels.
I think the Shamal is sort of an "inside secret" or "cult classic" of some kind, because I don't see many guys riding them, and those that do love 'em and seldom ride anything else.
If you're in the market for a new high-end road wheel, you're nuts if you don't try these beauties from Italy. Excellent wheels!
Strengths: These are my favorite racing wheels, that seem to have been through everything imaginable, and held up just fine. They are super stiff, and accelerate like demons.
Weaknesses: The Al seems a bit soft, I have dented mine 3 times now, all during crits in the NEast, where the roads are crap. The good things is all 34 hits dented the sidewalls outward, so I just beat them back flat with a hammer, and they have never given another problem.
Bottom Line:
These were my absolute, hands down, all time favorite racing wheels ever, and then I bought my new Zipps (303's). The Shamals are still my favorites, but now only for nostalgia and longeveity reasons, but if I had to pay for them my opinion might be a little different, and now that I have a real job (accept reality) I would definitely own another set, but PAYING might be painful. Campy quality and finish are hard to beat, but you DEFINITELY pay for it.
Real road racers who want durability, and excellent handling would like these, but if you live in your car and travel all year, they might be hard to pay for.
i have the older rear fron 98. i got a flat and road about 15 miles to work. i was late so i did not go slow. the rim stayed true and held up. i love it
Submitted by
Art S.
a Recreational Rider
from Mayfield, NY
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2000
Strengths: •Strong. •Fast. •Lighter in tubular than clincher (as usual).
Weaknesses: •None that I'm aware of.
Bottom Line:
Welp, here's yet ANOTHER Campagnolo product that is destined to become a classic, if it isn't already.
Although some will say the ideal aerodynamic ratio on a rim is 2.5:1, which you'll find on Lew's, Velomax (their Ascent Pro uses a Lew CF rim) and maybe some Zipp's, etc., Campy seems to have figured out something else that works. The Shamal's ratio is only 1.9:1, but the Shamal's have some of the best aero number's in the wheel world. Part of that may also be due to the lower spoke count of the Shamal's than what the standard Lew or Zipp has. How can a wheel be considered an "aero" design if it has more than 24 spokes?
I considered the other high-priced CF wheels, and even had a pair of Lew Race Light's on order (BTW, get ready for about a 2 month wait for the Lew's!). But I couldn't justify the cost/weight ratio for my riding needs; when for less money and just a bit more weight, you can have a wheel that will be more durable in the long run, and is just as fast - if not faster.
There is the hype, and then there is the reality...Shamal's are FAST -- and very few others' can catch them. THAT'S the REAL bottom line.
If you want a lighter aero wheel, by all means get one of the carbon fiber offerings out there. But you'll pay much more than the price of the Shamal's. And what happen's if/when you damage that pretty CF rim? MORE big bucks down the tubes!
These guys deserve a 5 star rating, if anything ever did.
