Mavic Aksium

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Came with Bike

Favorite Ride:
PCH to Tops

Bike Setup:
Orbea Orca with SRAM Rival

Summary:
Heavy wheel set that spin slow. You must apply a lot of effort to keep these wheels moving. On the plus side they are bomb proof. Which would explain the weight. They will add a good couple of pounds to your bike and make it feel like you are riding through mud at times. Like I said, bomb proof.

Strengths:
Hasn't gone out of alignment after all the potholes. Strong wheel set.

Weaknesses:
Heavy, really heavy. Spin up real slow.

Similar Products Used:
Fulcrum Race 5's
Fulcrum Race Zeros

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
08 Rival
08 Aksiums
03 Bianchi Carbon XL

Summary:
Coming from riding (suprisingly) a heavier wheelset, the first thing I noticed was how stiff the bike was. The bike didn't seem to ride as softly, but the wheels did seem to spin up a bit faster. The bladed spokes are a pain for crosswinds and I don't think they give a huge advantage aerodynamically. The spokes are also a pain to true

Strengths:
Value.
Inexpensive
Mavic Quality
High quality look

Weaknesses:
weight
truing bladed spokes

Similar Products Used:
105 hubs laced to CXP 33's

Price Paid:  $40.00 at REI

Bike Setup:
52 cm chromoly frame, salsa chainring 48T, Euro-Asia Import cog 19T, swift arriv rear wheel, avid fr-5 front brake, MKS gr-9 pedals and clips, ale leather toe straps, Hutchison equinox front tire, Maxxis fuse rear tire, generic saddle and stem, easton ea-50 monkey bar.

Summary:
I sold my car in March 2009. I have a fixie with the Mavic front wheel and a low end swift arriv rear wheel. Bladed spokes are great and I jump small curbs and do a little bit of harsh riding with it. Although I'm not a racer I usually ride at least 5 miles a day to get to/from school and then go for 15-20 mile rides about 3x week with top speeds at about 30mph (on a fixie 48/19 gear ratio). I love this front wheel! Got a great buy at REI, looks good in silver, light, great hub, never had any problems with it. Still runs true.

Strengths:
Looks good, great bargain, bombproof.

Weaknesses:
none. I wish they made a rear wheel for a fixed gear.

Similar Products Used:
2nd road bike, don't remember wheelset on first??

Price Paid:  $200.00 at GET A GRIP - CHICAGO

Favorite Ride:
BOSTON TO CAPE COD

Bike Setup:
2006 Custom Waterford Sport Touring Series 22. Campi Centaur.

Summary:
I've had these on my Waterford since 2006. They were in the build kit. I'm a clydesdale rider at 235LBS and I mostly ride on terrible Chicagoland roads. These are bomb proof and I've never had a lick of trouble. I wish I could understand some of the reviews here because these wheels are so dependable that I fear to upgrade lest I become dissapointed.

Strengths:
Strong, fast straight and true. Good looking and reliable.

Weaknesses:
Heavier that some want I guess.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
George Hincapie

Bike Setup:
2008 Cannondale Synapse Ultegra Group
2005 Trek 1200 Tiagra/105s group. VERY CRAPPY. Frame work of the bike just sucks butt, it has ALOT of laterally movement when I rid it on a trainer.

Summary:
Looks like many people have has so many problems with the spokes. Seems like it just a hit or miss wheelset. I've been quite impressed with the spokes that they are aero. Mine are still is great condition, but it just make me want to get rid of them as soon as possible because of so many problems i heard of.

I think I will just get rid of them and get Kysriums.

Strengths:
Aero Rims

Weaknesses:
A bit heavy. Don't quite like the treading in the break surface. Shows alot of wear if you want to sell it over time.

Similar Products Used:
Hmmm.