Easton EA90 SLX

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Lyons to ????

Bike Setup:
Fuji SL1, Full DA, all carbon WCS

Summary:
Very impressive wheels! I have riden a number of Easton / Velomax wheels and the SLX are by far the nicest looking and riding set. For a low spoke count wheelset, they seem pretty strong and are wicked light.

Strengths:
Light, look fresh and clean, great adjustable hubs with nice bearings, Sapim spokes, easy to mount Michelin Pro 3 tires by hand

Weaknesses:
break track slightly narrow compared to Ksyriums (all Mavic rims)
Eastons customer service is sub-par

Similar Products Used:
Velomax / Easton Circuit, Orion, Tempest
Ksyrium SSC, Ksyrium SL, Rolf Sestrieres, a number of differect Open Pro wheelsets

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Price Paid:  $750.00

Bike Setup:
Cecil Walker

Summary:
These wheels are amazingly smooth to ride on. Rolling resistance is non existent. Not only are they light for going uphill but the profile and double gauge spokes (not bladed or oval) seem to have less resistance so going downhill and flat riding are also easier. This may have something to do with the Attack/force tyre setup aswell.
These aren't the lightest wheels out there but they are probably the smoothest.
The wheels feel quite stiff considering their lack of spokes, mind you I am not really a sprinting beast and I weigh less than 80kg. Bigger riders should probably look at the EA90 SL for extra strength.

Strengths:
Light
Strong
Unbelievably smooth!
Low side profile so ideal for crosswind time trials.

Weaknesses:
Not suited to heavy riders.

Similar Products Used:
Cheap shimano rims.
Campag.
Mavic.

Price Paid:  $500.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
whatever had hills in it

Bike Setup:
Trek Madone 5.9 with full Dura-Ace + SRAM Force Carbon crank

Summary:
what can I say - I was eager to test the wheels as I got them installed so I got out late for an hour and a half.
My first impression from this short ride is very good and i can say I am shocked i have been riding the 'race lite' till now.
first things you notice:
1) acceleration from standing is MUCH faster.
2) you don't feel bumps in the road as much.
3) you know the feeling that you get to a hill and the bike starts slowing? this moment comes much later into the hill.
4) you can get up in the middle of the hill and give a few good pushes and the wheels react instantly.
5) I did a new route and I was working pretty hard - it didn't seem like a big uphill but i was going at a decent pace. only once I turned around i realized i was climbing steadily all the way (I don't have the data as my memory filled on the Polar) but on the way down i was flying.
6) and then came the most major shock - I got to the flats and I could really go much faster easily. so I thought 'Oh yeah you probably have the wind in your back' so I tried all 4 directions - same thing - there was no wind and I was easily going quite faste than the usual. And the fun part is that every light after coming to a stop, accelerating again to that speed was so quick.

I still don't have a reference to a ride that I already did but I will have on Monday once I go to work. anyways in general my first ride was very cool and i was wondering if i got into such shape so fast or is it the wheels (or is it all in my head...).
one note - it all wasn't that easy - i got to some climbs where i was struggling but that's because I'm not in shape yet. but even on those climbs getting up and pressing hard got results i couldn't get from the 'race lite'.

Strengths:
1) very fast acceleration.
2) very quick reactions.
3) very light for an aluminuim clincher.
4) roll very fast.

Weaknesses:
I didn't find any yet but I have only ridden it once :-)
I will give it a couple of weeks now and put some more into the review.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race Lite, Rolf Vector Pro

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