Rolf Sestriere

Price Paid:  $700.00 at PerformanceBike.com

Favorite Ride:
eastern sierra double century

Bike Setup:
Serotta Legend Ti, with Record 10

Summary:
Very strong light weight rims. The factory original spokes were too light and I broke several in the first year. Had the wheels restrung with double butted spokes and have put about 10,000 miles on these wheels. The rims are crazy strong, I crossed wheels and snapped off 5 spokes and the rim stayed true!

Strengths:
Strong rim, light weight.

Weaknesses:
original spokes too light for the task

Price Paid:  $500.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Any ride

Bike Setup:
Klein Quantum Race, with quite a few upgrades.

Summary:
Bought these wheels 8 years ago. Raced them for 5, now I do my weekend warrior rides on them. Have used them for climbs, crits, TT's. Can't say enough good about them. Best wheel I have ever purchased. Have never broken a spoke, and only minimal tuning in 8 years.

Strengths:
light, fast, strong! Excellent all around wheel.

Weaknesses:
Might as well tape a poker card to the rear wheel, cause that's what they sound like. LOUD!

Price Paid:  $260.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Olde Stage to Jamestown

Bike Setup:
2000 Schwinn Fastback Limited, Full DA, Deda Newton OS bar & stem, sub-16 lbs. naked

Summary:
So I read all the reviews here on RBR.com and thought I would give the Sestrieres a try. I watched ebay for a few weeks and tracked what a good set was going for and then bought a set. I paid $235 for the pair with an extra r hub and ti skewers. They were listed to have under 1,500 miles on them. Once received, I check them over in detail.....they looked great, clean, hubs rolled very smoothly, true as an arrow, and light! I have ridden them for another 1k in the last 8 months and have had very little issue. The rear rim became alittle rough in the brake track from using worn brake pads. After a call to Trek to see about a replacement rim and finding they no longer carry this rim and have no suggestion for replacement, I cleaned the brake track and replaced the brake pads and all has been well since. Overall, I love these wheels for the low weight, smoothness, have been very durable, and have yet to go out of any sort of true!

Strengths:
Light, smooth, durable, common spokes

Weaknesses:
no part support from Trek or Rolf

Similar Products Used:
Helium, Velomax Circuit, Ultegra/Open Pro,

Price Paid:  $400.00 at Don't remember anymo

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ridge Parkway

Bike Setup:
- Kestrel Talon SL, Ultegra triple, DA shifters, Chorus titanium seatpost, Terry Fly saddle, Reynolds Ouzo Aero fork.

Summary:
In 2002 I was trying to put together a super climbing machine, so I bought the Trek 5900, equiped with a triple, and a set of Rolff Sestriere wheels. I loved my Vector Pros so I figured these should be good too, and at 300 grams lighter.
I can't say they are lousy wheels but I'm sure glad I didn't pay a full $750 for them. The rear hub is always having problems. It's very noisy and just doesn't sound very...sound. I've had it overhauled about three times and I still hear metal against metal when I ride. I noticed I always got more flats on these than on my Vector Pros. Last year I discovered a sharp ridge on the rear rim which was, over time, cutting my clincher at the bead. I filed it down. Also, the rear freehub body must be made of a soft material, because it has so many gashes from the cassette, I have to pry the cassette off even after loosening it.
Perhaps it's because they are so light, but they have never felt very solid. The constant loud noise from the rear hub, and the metal sound make me want to ride with my Vector Pros. I think the Vector Pros absorb shock better too. Don't ask me how but they just seem to, and they seem much better planted.
I think I'd just rather have some good 32 spoke wheels with Dura Ace hubs and Mavic Open Pro rims.

Strengths:
- Light Weight

Weaknesses:
- High Maintenance rear hub
- Rim has sharp edge which punctured tires
- Soft freehub body makes cassette changing difficult
- Feel cheap

Similar Products Used:
- Rolf Vector Pros

Price Paid:  $600.00 at Local Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
anything uphill and long

Summary:
Have used the Rolf wheels for over 2 years as a race wheel. They have held up extremely well over rough road surfaces. Also really light on the climbs. Look quite aero but I never noticed them to be so. The bearings are really good. The only problem with these wheels is that they go out of true quite often. Love riding them though. I highly reccommend them.

Strengths:
Light, durable, quite cheap.

Weaknesses:
Go out of true often