Description The EC70 SL combines the weight and stiffness benefits of carbon with the durability and convenience of an aluminum clincher to create one of the most versatile wheel sets in our line. The EC70 SL is ...
Bike Setup: 08 pinarello Paris Carbon, 11 Spd Campy Super record
Summary: Im also a heavy rider and one of the basis of choosing this wheel is the hubs. I previously owned an EA70 and hubs are like butterry smooth. At first,I thought these wheels had problems with climbing. However, it was just the crosswinds that prevented me to climb. The next time I did the same climb, the wheels just worked perfectly.
This wheel is perfect in flats since momentum, and acceleration is achieved in a short period of time.
Strengths: Fast Acceleration, Hybrid bearings, No weight limit
Weaknesses: Heavier than most wheels, No wheel bag
Similar Products Used: EA70
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Bike Setup: Trek Madone 4.5, Easton carbon bars, Bontrager inform fit seat, Ulterga setup.
Summary: I am 6'4 210 pounds and a very strong rider with some serious power transfer to wheels. I looked at Easton simply because they don't have any weight restricts on there wheels. This is confirmed directly from Easton and the Easton rep I met in MN. The cost of there wheels are great and his backed up with service and warranty.
The wheelset arrived in a box without any plastic surroundings on the hubs or wheels. No wheel bag either. The beauty that grabbed my eye was speechless. The wheels were checked for balance and were very true with high tension on the spokes. The wheel is slightly heavier then I excepted, but given what I was riding there is no comparsion. 100% handbuilt hubs, rims, and nipples. If you watch Easton's video on wheel making you will notice that the spoke tension is very high and more responsive to power and quick acceleration.
Put a new Sram cassette on the rear wheel, just grease up the hub like the directions say. The hub is loud like the Chris King hubs---buzz, but not an issue. The first ride was fast and just by having these wheels on I noticed an increase of speed, and power when power is needed. Great for drafting and turn on a dime. The wheels are sentitive and react fast. When I was riding with them someone asked me a question, "You must have paid a couple of thousand for those wheels." I just smiled.
The carbon can be found on the upper part of the rim next to the spokes/nipples. It is weaved into the aluminum. If you brake a spoke a local bike shop should be able to fix them. If you brake more then one spoke you will need to ship them to Easton for repair. Easton will repair the spoke and if the wheel is out of true or unpairable, they will send out a new one.
These wheels are stiff, fast and light with incredible hand-built quality at a price that is marked right.
Strengths: Fast, weight, hand-built. Priced right for a carbon-aluminum clincher. Good customer service, warranty. Great research and development.
Weaknesses: Wheel bag, and maybe the down time to send the wheel back for repair.
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Summary: I've put around 200 miles on this wheelset and have had no issues so far. I'm a big guy (225lbs) and create a huge amount of torque so it will be interesting to see how these stay true in the next 1000 miles. They seem to absorb road vibrations very well but are also very straight and true. I have not done much climbing in these yet so I can't respond on them about that yet. They seem well put together though and smooth as silk. If you like Chris Kings buzzing noise well these do the same.
Strengths: - Solid build, high quality, soaks up some road vibration, aero dynamic, Chris King like buzzing hubs.
Weaknesses: - Kind of heavy, spokes are a special size, Chris King like buzzing hubs.
Similar Products Used: Mavic Ksyrium (junk), Velocity, Ritchey.
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Bike Setup: Size 59 BMC SLC01, Easton EC90 SLX fork, Easton EC70 post, Campy Record 10, FSA OS-110 stem, FSA Energy compact bar, Look Keo carbon pedals
Summary: I've been using these wheels as daily trainers for a little over three months now so it seems a good time for a review. For the record, I'm 5'11, 215 lbs, ride for fun and do about 60-100 miles a week.
The Easton EC70 SL wheels where shipped in a traditional cardboard box but interestingly were not bagged in plastic like other wheels I've purchased. They were quite dusty (perhaps Easton was rushing to get these to me before Christmas?) and they left grease on the rims. A simple wipe with a shop towel cleaned them up in a jiff, but I expected better presentation for wheels that cost over a grand. Once cleaned up and out of the box, these wheels are drop-dead gorgeous. Way better than the photos would indicate. The skewers have a long "throw" and are very nice too. Aside from the Easton labels, each wheel also has a label indicating the height of the rim profile--38mm. The side of the rims are solid matte black with no weave visible. If you don't look carefully, you'd think they're aluminum. Not to worry though, because the weave pattern is exposed in between the spokes on the "arch" of the rim. The subtle effect is really, really cool.
Easton skewers were included but, as I soon discovered, no cassette lock ring or wheel bags. I can understand about the lock ring but wheel bags would have been nice touch to protect these carbon wheels.
The wheels were round and true from the factory and very well balanced, spinning perfectly in place with no shaking or shimmy while in the stand. Out on the road the wheels felt great. I'm a big guy, and was a little nervous about this when I bought them but all fears have been relieved. I don't feel these wheels flex at all even while stomping up steep hill climbs. I I thought the road feel might be harsh, but was pleasantly surprised by how nice these soaked up small bumps and road vibration without losing a "feel" for the road. I'm using Conti GP4000 tires front and rear pumped to 110psi. These were way more comfortable than I anticipated.
For the weight weenies out there, Easton indicates the nominal weight for the set is 1590 grams. Not even close. Using a hanging Ultimate Alpine digital scale, the front weighed in at 770g and the rear at 990g for a total of 1760 grams not including the front skewer (57g) and the rear skewer (60g).
The new R4 hubs look great in black They use press-fit sealed bearings so there's not much you need to do but ride them. Initially they sealed bearings felt a bit stiff, but I figured they'd loosen up over time. Not so. After three months they still seem to have a lot of drag on them. I'm now looking for a ceramic upgrade.
The round spokes on the EC70s are silver and made by Sapim. They're not traditional J-bend like I expected. Instead, the spoke end that fits into the hub looks like a flathead nail. The other end features a traditional thread that fits into the spoke nipple. If you blow out a spoke, you'll need a new one from Easton or send your wheel back to the factory. The front wheel and non-drive side of the rear wheel feature black alloy nipples while the rear drive side are silver and presumably nickel-plated brass for strength.
The rim sidewalls are nicely machined and since the braking surface is aluminum, these wheels feel just like traditional alloy wheels when braking and the brake pads grip nicely without squeeling. Some newer wheelsets have small "divots" or wear indicators to let you know when the rim has been worn down by braking and need to be replaced. These don't. I've never had wheels long enough to wear them out this way but I thought I'd mention it for those who might be concerned. Also, you'll need 50mm valves on your tubes or use valve extenders. Without them, I couldn't get my Silca floor pump to bite in order to pump them up.
Bottom line: Very good wheels but not great. Needs better bearings and a 200g diet.
Strengths: Stunningly beautiful, 38mm aero rim profile, stiff, strong, comfortable. Nice price for carbon wheelset
Weaknesses: Bearing drag. Custom spokes. Heavier than advertised.
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