Easton Vista SL

Price Paid:  $150.00 at one of my teammates

Favorite Ride:
Wherever I can go!

Bike Setup:
2009 Jamis Xenith SL frameset with Xenith Race gruppo (full Ultegra with a D/A r/d)

Summary:
I'm a poor college kid, and wanted an upgrade from my Shimano RS10s. A teammate got better wheels for his TT bike, so he cut me a good deal. I like Easton because they're ALL handbuilt, and these Vista SLs are bombproof!!! I raced for Texas Tech, and Lubbock roads are rather choppy/pothole/garbage. I barely untrued the rear wheel once. I'm in Austin now, and they're wonderful. They're a great training set, and since these have a slim/aero profile, they make a great poor guy's racing set, take it from me. A bit heavy, yes, but for the money, they're definitely worth it! I'm around 160lbs - perfect wheelset!

Strengths:
Strong! Skinny profile for the money!

Weaknesses:
Probably a bit heavy for the hardcore racer...

Similar Products Used:
Shimano RS10 wheelset

Price Paid:  $245.00 at unreal cycles

Favorite Ride:
long climbs in mountains

Bike Setup:
Ridley Noah with SRAM Red

Summary:
These have been my main training wheels for the last two years and I couldn't be happier with them. They've been through it all and still run true and smooth after at least 15,000 miles. I think I've only had to touch up a few of the spokes since I got these wheels. At first, I was a bit concerned about the 20/24 spoke count and the Velox hubs, but now I know these wheels are practically indestructible. Plus, the rear hub is so quiet you literally can't hear it ratchet over the wind in your ears - perfect for slacking off in a group ride without being detected!

Strengths:
Strong, strong, strong!
Super quiet rear hub
Quiet rims (no road noise amplification)
Not too heavy at 1697 grams
Inexpensive for quality wheels

Weaknesses:
I peeled the obnoxious Easton stickers off the rims as soon as I got them - no easy task!

Similar Products Used:
various mismatched wheels, Aksiums (rim cracks), Bontrager Selects (had some hub problems and spoke breakage)

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Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Felt F55, Dura Ace, Zero Gravity (16.0lbs)

Summary:
I have ridden these wheels on and off for close to 3 years. They were used for training only, and are extremely durable and strong. Yes they are heavy but for the price what do you expect? I have done some several thousand miles on these, hitting some serious potholes along the way, yet these wheels never once whimpered! They are absolutely bomb-proof and have never needed truing. I weighed anywhere from high 160s (lbs) to high 170s while riding these.

Strengths:
Strength, Reliability, Looks

Weaknesses:
Weight, Inertia

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Open Pro (several sets), Mavic CXP33, Mavic Kysrium SL3, Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL, Several Alex rims, Easton EA90 SL, etc.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at OEM Felt F55

Favorite Ride:
lunch hour

Bike Setup:
Stealth matte black with yellow PR2 Felt F55 Dura-Ace with just the right amount of carbon and aero bars for speed. Felt road bikes RULE!

Summary:
These wheels are awesome! Over 2 years and 2000 miles and never trued. Reset the computer and gave them a spin 5 or 6 times to ave it out. These relatively entry level wheels will ave spinning for 5:26 minutes! Every other wheel I've tried spin less than 2 minutes. Including beautiful WH-7800 Dura-Ace with about 100 miles and properly adjusted cones per LBS 1:20 minutes. Nuff said! Easton Velomax wheels are simply magic! I can wait to try some Orion IIs (or possibly Neuvation R28 SL3)...

Strengths:
Forever true. Spin like there's no friction at all in the hub!

Weaknesses:
I'd like to try light wheels, but does it really matter for a recreational rider?

Similar Products Used:
Xero on a Giant OCR1, Dura-Ace WH7800, Forte Titan

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Price Paid:  $0.00 at N/A

Summary:
Great, inexpensive, training wheels. These wheels came stock on the bike I purchased. I have 1000 miles on these wheels and they have performed very well.

Strengths:
Inexpensive.
Rolls smooth.

Weaknesses:
None for a wheel-set in this price range.