Strengths: Ride quality, excellent feedback, not too soft or stiff, very solid feel. Good looks and matching colors spoke options
Weaknesses: Heavier than advertised (I don't care)
Non aero spokes (I'm 42 and not racing anymore...again I don't care)
Bottom Line:
These wheels rock. After two years on Stealth PBOs, I switched to the Stealth FCC. The ride quality and the overall fit and finish is excellent. I know their hubs are not on par with Dura Ace or Mavics best but I'll stay on these every day. I have a set of Dura Ace tubeless and a set of Mavic R-Sys that sit on the shelf while these wheels get ridden day after day after day. I was having problems with my back from vibration and jarring on previous wheelsets (other than the Stealth PBO) but these made all that go away.
Similar Products Used: I own: Reynolds Attacks, Dura Ace tubelss, Mavic Krysium SLs and R-Sys Premious. All excellent wheels but I still prefer the FCCs.
Bike Setup: 2008 Serotta Coeur D' Acier, Full Dura Ace and Ritchey WCS carbon in the cockpit.
Strengths: 1. Comfortable
2. Very Strong - I'm a 200 pound rider
3. Stiff - Laterally and very responsive
4. Aero - 43mm profile
5. Comfortable!!! PBO Spokes eat up almost all road vibration!
6. Predictable - because they are stiff and give good feedback
Weaknesses: They can be difficult to get tires on and off of. If trying to change tires in a super hury - well you may be out of luck!
Bottom Line:
I've riden thousands of miles on these wheels. I've gone through 7 bikes and have always stuck with my Spinergy Wheels. They are stiff, but not so stiff they come unstuck. They are supple, but not so supple you don't get road feedback re:slippage, etc. You could CX on these wheels if you wanted. They are strong, relatively light, and superior-ly comfortable! You can choose color variations to match your ride! Good looks, great performance, why wouldn't you buy these?
One problem I had with my rear wheel (bead split along the bead cap as a result of an issue with manufacturing, not a catastrophic incident and I road on it like that for weeks - the bead is 1/4" thick!) was corrected by Spinergy without cost to me outside the standard 1 year warranty policy. I feel they have superior customer service as a result. Communication and service was just amazing.
Bike Setup: Specialized Tarmac SL2 (Nude/Silver/White), Campy Super Record 11, Red Anodized Zero G - Negative G Brakes, Spinergy FCC - white PBO spokes, Pro Race 3 - White wall tires, Zipp SLC2 Bars and Stem, Toupe Saddle, somewhere between 14&15ish Lbs.
Strengths: 1. Comfortable
2. Very Strong - I'm a 200 pound rider
3. Stiff - Laterally and very responsive
4. Aero - 43mm profile
5. Comfortable!!! PBO Spokes eat up almost all road vibration!
6. Predictable - because they are stiff and give good feedback
Weaknesses: They can be difficult to get tires on and off of. If trying to change tires in a super hury - well you may be out of luck!
Bottom Line:
I've riden thousands of miles on these wheels. I've gone through 7 bikes and have always stuck with my Spinergy Wheels. They are stiff, but not so stiff they come unstuck. They are supple, but not so supple you don't get road feedback re:slippage, etc. You could CX on these wheels if you wanted. They are strong, relatively light, and superior-ly comfortable! You can choose color variations to match your ride! Good looks, great performance, why wouldn't you buy these?
One problem I had with my rear wheel (bead split along the bead cap as a result of an issue with manufacturing, not a catastrophic incident and I road on it like that for weeks - the bead is 1/4" thick!) was corrected by Spinergy without cost to me outside the standard 1 year warranty policy. I feel they have superior customer service as a result. Communication and service was just amazing.
Bike Setup: Specialized Tarmac SL2 (Nude/Silver/White), Campy Super Record 11, Red Anodized Zero G - Negative G Brakes, Spinergy FCC - white PBO spokes, Pro Race 3 - White wall tires, Zipp SLC2 Bars and Stem, Toupe Saddle, somewhere between 14&15ish Lbs.
Strengths: Smooth, fast, comfortable, flashy looks, very smooth hubs, skewers work very well (nice design), unique, attention grabbing, stay true, durable
Weaknesses: Rounded spokes not too aero, heavier than advertised, very difficult to install Michelin Pro 3 Race tires, but that may be inherent in the tire, not the wheel...have not tried to install other brand of tires.
Bottom Line:
I really like these wheels. The claims about the spokes giving a more comfortable ride really are true. I have a set of Zipp 404, and while I like them a lot, they give a noticeably harsher ride than the Spinergy. I weighed my set on a postal scale and they come in at 1615 grms...far off the 1500 gm claimed. My set has white spokes and they look really flashy with white sidewalled Michelin Pro 3 Race tires. I've been riding them for about 6 months on the VERY bumpy roads of New Orleans - I am about 200 lbs. and they are still perfectly in true. The set I have does grab a bit when braking and I have never used them in the rain, so I can't comment on braking ability in wet conditions.
Strengths: These wheels are very comfortable; the PBO spokes really takes the edge off of bumps and dampen buzz especially rough chip sealed roads. Some road imperfections are unnoticable.
These are a very tough set of carbon clinchers. I've bashed these into pot holes and ridden across numerous rail road tracks and they are as true as the day I got them.
These wheels have a good aero advantage over non deep rim wheels. I notice that they are easier to keep at speed over my Ksyrium SLs but the aero effect doesn't really kick in until speeds are over 23 mph.
The hubs spin very nice and are very quiet.
Braking power is very good for a carbon wheel. I'm using Campagnolo Bora carbon specific pads and they stop as good as my aluminum clinchers.
After one year & 2000 miles, there is no noticable wear on the braking surfaces.
Weaknesses: The big fat PBO spokes can't be as aero dynamic as skinny ovalized spokes like CX-Rays.
My wheels were 65 grams heavier than the claimed 1500 grams.
The Spinnergy skewers are very heavy.
Bottom Line:
These wheels are a very good value, tough carbon clincher that provides an unbelievably smooth ride with good aero dynamics.
I was looking for a tough carbon clincher for everyday training and a comfortable riding wheel for those epic days in the saddle. These wheels fit the requirments perfectly.
I went with the clincher version because changing flats are easier and because of the possibility of needing to borrow an inner tube especially on a epic ride.
I may still get a set of tubular wheels for event / race day but these wheels haven't given me any reason to. They feel very fast.
Hey all,
I'm looking at a pair of Spinergy Stealth full carbon clinchers. Wondering if anyone has had problems with the wheels braking on steep descents like many of the other Read More »
