Summary: I bought these wheels at a great price and used them in daily training rides as well as ten crits in 2006. I thought they were a great value. Last year I had part of the rear hub break where the spoke was attached. I called Sean and he sent me a new Volant rear wheel for replacement. See my Volant review too.
Strengths: I think the wheels have great bearings,
they spin up very well.
Weaknesses: Possible quality issues.
Similar Products Used: none
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Summary: Great wheel set. It replaced a set of mavic cosmics and is such a difference. I immediately felt the added stiffness. I knew I could push the wheel a lot harder. The added stiffness didn't make the bike ride harsh but I just feel the road better. I hang my bike in the basement when not in use. All my friends that come to fix their bikes spin the Rols and are dumfounded by how well they spin, front and rear. As for customer service I can't comment because the wheels have been great since day one. I don't know if there are better wheels out there for the price, but I doubt it. Buy them.
Strengths: Stable at speed, great road feel, quiet and boy can they roll.
Weaknesses: none so far
Similar Products Used: mavic, dt, sun, shimano
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Summary: I set about finding some wheels and, not wanting the tried and common Mavic wheels, I set about finding a light weight alternative. The cycling news website suggested the ROL Wheels and I inquired further to find that the Colorado business is very respectable and take great pride in their business - prompt and polite relies to all my questions. Sean, owner I think, was always willing to oblige with answers to questions like type of spokes = Sapin, Rims = standard, Hub = ROL's own and very light.
Upon receiving the wheels I was amazed that after their journey from America to London they were perfectly round and true. The first ride proved they were stiff and could handle being pushed into and through the tightest corner at speed and the wheels don't mind you sprinting on them either. Although a climbing specific wheel set I have been putting them through their paces on the roads around Essex and they have not missed a beat - perfectly true.
I can not recommend these wheels highly enough - strong, reliable, VERY light and the hubs are very smooth rolling.
Strengths: Strong, reliable, VERY light and the hubs are very smooth rolling. Sean is awesome to deal with and all queries are dealt with promptly.
Weaknesses: They are in America and haven't a dealer hear but that will change soon. I bought from America and the service was better than most shops in London!
Similar Products Used: Spinargy Xaero, Mavic SL
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Bike Setup: Custom DeSalvo frameset, Campagnolo gruppo etc
Summary: Excellent wheelset!
Straight and true out of the box. High quality rim, using spokes, nipples, and hubs to match.
I trained on the wheels a good part of a week, then raced them on a 55 mile rolling to flat course with a multiple pitch finish ending with a 1000 m @ 12% grade.
The first thing I noticed on my initial ride was how smooth the wheels are. They ride stiff, but absorb quite a bit of the road harshness. They are an extremely quiet wheelset compared to others in the peloton. Most importantly for me they spin up quickly, and accelerate incredibly when coming out of a corner, onto a climb and into a sprint.
The only weakness is that the quick release lever is too wide for my CyclOps trainer, which I didn't realize until I went to warm up before a race.
ROL Wheels has done a great job putting together a reasonably priced wheelset that is fit for hard, year-long training and yes, even racing. At 1635 g the Volant wheelset feels and rides like more expensive 1450 g wheels, at a fraction of the cost.
Strengths: Out-of-the-box quality. Excellent customer service. Reasonable price. Outstanding training and race day performance.
Weaknesses: The quick release levers are too wide for some older model fluid trainers.
Similar Products Used: Mavic Open Pro, Bontrager Race X Lite, Rolf Vigor
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Summary: Just received my Volant's yesterday. Amazing customer service as is echoed throughout other reviews. Sean called me twice and included some goodies along with a gorgeous wheelset. Light, good looking, bombproof, and a bargain. I will follow up after logging some miles, but I already know ROL will be my wheel of choice from here on.
Strengths: Light, strong, attractive, great customer service
Weaknesses: none
Similar Products Used: shimano 550, kysrium
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