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Submitted by
field3
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: September 28, 2010
Strengths: Lightweight. Trueness. Price point.Weaknesses: Slightly flexy.Bottom Line: This wheelset came with a bike I bought on clearance at Bikesdirect online. At the time I weighed about 165 and have since brought myself down to about 158. Throughout this time frame I've used these wheels for training rides, criteriums and cyclocross.
As I'm currently using them for cyclocross I have never encountered any issues with them such as spoke breakage. I've been fairly happy with them and their weight. If there are concerns about spokes on any wheel set I recommend having them checked out for trueness and tension.
If I were to claim any weakness on these wheels, it would be the feeling of power transfer. It feels like that the spokes could be a bit more rigid.
Purchased At: Bikesdirect
Similar Products Used: Easton, Mavic Krysium (Trainers)
Bike Setup: Kestrel Evoke SL
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Submitted by
wbush
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: May 22, 2009
Strengths: zero dish
stable - stay true
reliable
track well at high speed (49mph highest so far)Weaknesses: Have the sense that the flat spokes catch a cross-wind more - but that's anecdotal at bestBottom Line: These Ritchey WCS Zero Dish Protocols (20/24) came equipped on a Kestrel RT-700 from bikes direct. I'm 155lb and on a 20 mile/1000ft ride average 18-21mph depending on wind and 100 to 150 miles per week. Roads are generally smooth with occasional good pounding when crossing railroad tracks, etc. These are the only wheels I've had on this bike - which is much faster than my other cyclo bike - so I don't have a good point of comparison as to performance. But as to reliability, I've had no problems. No broken spokes, no cracking, no hub problems. After my initial setup, I've never had to re-true. And I'm not an easy-going rider. I jump curbs and stay aggressive on rough roads. Can't say why others have had problems - maybe a batch of bad components or maybe after >1000 miles mine are still yet to show up...but so far I'm pleased.
Favorite Ride: 30-50 miles
Purchased At: bikesdirect
Similar Products Used: None on this bike
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Submitted by
hockey@youskate.com
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: May 6, 2008
Strengths: Seem light and fast. I like the concept of the design.Weaknesses: uhm, the spokes break. Unreliable.Bottom Line: I'm training for the California deathride and I bought the Immortal Spirit Carbon from BikesDirect.com - great price, great bike. Ironically, after reading several worrying reviews about spoke problems with these wheels, I had a spoke blow out on me this morning. I don't know if it's the nipple or what, but I only had 140 miles on the rear wheel. I'm 185pounds, but I don't think that should matter. I can't afford a questionable wheel set now. I'm hoping Ritchey will warranty it.
Favorite Ride: GGBridge->Marin Headlands
Price Paid:
$400.00
Purchased At: (came with bikes dir
Bike Setup: Carbon FSA crank, dura-ace mix.
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Submitted by
Bevan
a Recreational RiderDate Reviewed: October 16, 2007
Strengths: Light and stiff. Pretty.Weaknesses: Long term durability is direBottom Line: This review is for the Ritchey WCS Protocol clincher wheelset.
Wheels came with a Bikes Direct bike. They performed well initially, light but reasonably stiff and stayed true over some big bumps. After 3mo/1500miles I lost my first spoke on the rear, basically the nipple cracked, spoke was fine. Replaced and retrued -all was well. Happened 3 more times, always broken nipple, never the spoke head breaking, last time the spoke got chewed up in the driveline. On taking off the cassette to replace the spoke found the freehub body to be chewed up, either the metal was too soft or cassette not tight, but I had a heck of a job unseating the casette so I think too soft.
Anyway, rebuilt&retrued I was off again when the rear bearing essentially failed, very stiff with graunching noises. Not user serviceable as far as I could see.
At this point contacted ritchey for warranty service, they responded that wheels bought mail order were not covered by them, so I was essentially SOL.
I wasnt going to put any more into paid rebuilds in order to continue with the regular broken spokes, so wheels done within 9mo 4000miles.
Favorite Ride: NorthShoreCentury
Purchased At: BikesDirect!
Similar Products Used: Replaced with Mavic Aksium as a stopgap thats turned into a longer term thing. More durable by far.
Bike Setup: Mercier Serpens with columbus zonal, ultegra, richey wcs (the bars&stems are great)
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Submitted by
gs
a Road RacerDate Reviewed: June 22, 2007
Strengths: Light, stiff, aero.Weaknesses: They break far too easily.Bottom Line: I purchased these wheels purely for racing, and if I were to be honest beacuse the Ksyrium SL's were so expensive but seemed the same weight. These wheels are very stiff, but don't seem to make a great contact with the road in rough condition ie they tend to skip around a fair bit. After only about 2 000 km of use I was shocked to see that virtually every rear spoke hole and several front spoke holes had multiple cracks. They basically then had to be thrown in the bin.
Favorite Ride: karana
Price Paid:
$700.00
Purchased At: lifecycle
Similar Products Used: Mavic Ksyrium SL, equipes.
Bike Setup: Tarmac Pro, 10 speed Dura ace
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