Bike Setup: Bianchi T-Cube, SRAM Force, and Richey WCS components.
Summary: I bought theses wheels to use for training and the occasional cyclocross race and up until this year have been rather impressed with them. However, recently I've been breaking a spoke every hundred miles or so. I can't fault the wheels for their hubs or anything else and given the price I've been able to put a full season of cyclocross racing on them, however spokes breaking is a problem. Even with buying rather cheap wheels, I expected the spokes to last longer than 2000 miles. For the money these are fairly good wheels if you aren't planning on using them for multiple years. My biggest suggestion for buyers is to consider if you are planning to race on inexpensive wheels, in which case I would recommend these, or if you are looking for inexpensive training wheels, in which case look for something that you can true in an emergency.
Strengths: Solid wheels for the price, good hubs and rims. For the price fairly light weight and when new good for racing in a pinch
Weaknesses: Bad spokes. For $300 I don't look for the most aero spokes and I think that FSA would have built these wheeles better if they hadn't gone for cheap aero spokes but instead spent the money on normal straight pull spokes. Also, for training wheels, if a spoke brakes you can't quickly re-true the wheel because the spoke nipples are inside the rim.
Similar Products Used: Shimano 105 training wheels, Mavic aksium wheels, etc.
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Bike Setup: Specialized Allez, Tiagra/Ultegra mashup
Summary: I was initially impressed with the weight and speed, although even at 140lbs I could flex them easily. When truing became necessary, I found the included spoke tool to be incorrectly sized, and I stripped a few of the nipples. FSA sent me new nipples which were no better. That, along with having to remove tire, tube, and rimstrip to do the work, was exasperating. After some time, they simply would not stay true for more than one ride. Recently, I've spent more time fixing them than riding them. "Artisan-built" = fragile, unreliable.
Strengths: Low weight and aero for the price
Weaknesses: Flexy, difficult to keep true, poor service from FSA.
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Summary: I purchased this wheelset for a great price. They are much better then the alex wheelset that came with my bike. but then again Alex makes 70% of the wheelsets out there. (including FSA) I had one problem with the freehub, it came loose. After getting that problem fixed, the wheelset has been perfect. I rode from San Francisco to Los Angeles without a problem. (556 miles to be exact).
Strengths: Way better than most entry level wheelsets. light and fast.
Weaknesses: freehub could be better.
Similar Products Used: None.
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Summary: Broke spokes on both the front and rear. Contacted FSA and learned that serial numbers below 22000 (mine were) had "annoying spoke breakage" and they're replacing with new wheelsets.
Nice, though shipping the wheels back cost me $30 (I requested a shipping label which they ignored).
Haven't ridden the new wheels much, lost confidence in them, but hopefully they'll last longer than the first set.
Strengths: Aero spokes and rim, smooth ride.
Weaknesses: Spoke nipples are in rim, under rim strip and tire, so a hassle to true. Also, when a spoke does break, they go *way* out of true, enough to be a serious problem on the road.
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Bike Setup: 2002 Lemond Nevada City, Ultegra/Dura-Ace Grupo.
Summary: I picked up a pair of the to retire my Xero XR-1s which had seen 3 season of racing and training. These are definately stiffer than the Xero's since they have a couple more spokes. I have about 800 or so miles on the FSA's and they are doing great so far. The quality of the welds seems sub par on the rim. The decal quality is also very poor as well....but looks are not everything. For the price they are great. Im a budget collegiate racer and they definately fit that category.
Strengths: Stiffer than the Xeros(Im 6'1 and 145 lbs, so Im not exactly one to flex wheels) Ooooo...Bladed spokes...they look nice
Weaknesses: Hidden Nipples are a bit pointless and make truing a bit more tedious (im avoiding it, not like the wheels need it yet anyway).
Similar Products Used: Xero XR-1, Open Pros
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