Rolf Prima Elan Aero

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Direct from Rolf(clo

Bike Setup:
2009 Giant tcr adv 1

Summary:
This review is based on a years worth of riding wheelset. These wheels ride pretty close to my chris king/mavic reflex tubular set up. I have conti gp4000 25mm on them. They are a bit lighter than my sew ups,but somehow they just feel slower. Maybe because I can crank the air pressure on the tubulars to 150 psi and they still ride smooth? They wind up to speed with no problem and are stiff when cornering. My problem with them is play in the hubs. After replacing bearings, axle and bushing in them, bike shop still couldn't fix problem. Now I have to send them back to Rolf on my dime and they are charging me for the labor to fix them. I have no problem paying for a service, but compared to my chris king hubs which are 4 seasons old and tight as day one, they are inferior. They use a white industries hub which in my personal experience is kind of cheesy. They are designed to be very light but reliability is questionable. High end wheelsets should not have problems after a year of use.

Strengths:
light, cool looking and they stay true

Weaknesses:
hubset durability

Price Paid:  $724.00 at NY

Favorite Ride:
Bald Peak

Bike Setup:
Currenty I have a Felt F75 all stock except for the Rolf Elan's and a selle italia saddle

Summary:
All I can say is WOW!! I was using the stock wheel set that came on my Felt F75 which is right around 1900grams I believe.I put these wheels on and went for my normal after work 20mile ride and I couldnt believe it.. they spun up quicker, rode smoother and were just plain faster then my old wheels, my avg speed was 2-3mph faster then normal. I then hit some hills on the next ride and thats really were these wheels shine.They are not cheap but after the first right I could justify every penny I spent on them. I would recommend these to anybody, they are an incredible wheel.

Strengths:
fast, smooth, super light, strong and also a very nice looking wheel

Weaknesses:
The only weekness I have notice thus far is that you can feel the lightness at high speeds, but other then that i havent found other weeknesses

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Roys Sheepshead Cycl

Favorite Ride:
Nyack

Bike Setup:
Seven Elium SG, Seven Fork, Easton Stem, bar and seatpost, Campy carbon record, Zero Gravity brakes, Fizik aliante seat, Rolf Prima Elan Aero wheels or Zipp 404..

Summary:
Have about 3000 miles on these wheels. They spin up nearly as fast as my zipp's and so far they have been bomb proof.. they are still true, hubs still sound good. They are comfortable for the long rides, light for the hilly rides and fast for the fast flat rides.

Strengths:
weight, strength, roll up fast, bomb proof.. they look nice too..

Weaknesses:
price a little stiff, but you pay for what you get..

Similar Products Used:
Kysrium SL's, Topolino C19, Torelli Bormeo, Zipp 404's

Price Paid:  $0.00 at on/line

Favorite Ride:
any hills or rollers

Bike Setup:
2006 cannondale 6/13 team 1=hollowgram si
compact/elan aeros/keo ti/veloflex tires/
zero gravity/alien post/slr saddle.54cm frame.weight with pedals=14.35lbs.2006 sl
carbon synapse.dura ace/elan aero/pro 3 tires.keoi carbhon.frame 53cm,weight with pedals=15.58lbs

Summary:
rolf elan aero's.have a set of black on cannondalr 6/13,and a set of polished on
cannondale synapse sl carbon.have over 10,000 miles on black set and 6,000 miles on polished set.they have been great, no truing yet.my weight=165 lbs.will replace with same when they wear out.i normally ride 12,000 miles a year.this is the wheel for climbing and fast spin-ups. no problems when installing tires either.these are tough wheels,have done the death ride,and 20 or more centurys with no problems.

Strengths:
lite weight/2 finish options=polished or
black.lots of dealer support.made in usa

Weaknesses:
none to me.maybe price.but you get what you pay for

Similar Products Used:
2006 mavic es=junk broke 3 spokes in 3,000miles.easton accents=ok hard to find
spokes,factory slow shipping.mavic sl's,good wheels,everyones got them,heavier than claimed.mavic elite,not bad but heavy

Price Paid:  $500.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Woodrat Mountain

Bike Setup:
Cannondale Cad 8, New Dura Ace/Ultegra 10spd group, Dura Ace Crank, Carbon Seatpost, Carbon Wing Bar, Rolf Prima Elan Aero

Summary:
I hate to say it but these are the best wheels I have ever ridden. As a former wheel builder and racer I can tell you these wheels are super strong and very light. I feel like I am giving away one of my secrets by reviewing these wheels. I have crashed these wheels off the road and down a rocky decent and although I blew both my tires they were still straight. They are spendy!!! I got a partial sponsorship from my Lbs. I would buy them at full price! ps. I am a big rider 6'5" and weigh between 200 and 220 pounds.

Strengths:
Did I say they are light!!! Holy cow light!!! Superior climbing and strong. Helped smooth out my ride. Best of both worlds.

Weaknesses:
Not as aero as the Vigors, but no sidewind problems either.

Similar Products Used:
You name it, I rode on it.