Shimano WH-R540 Wheelset

Price Paid:  $650.00 at Bicycle Recycle

Favorite Ride:
Kuranda Range

Bike Setup:
Ciombola 7005? 2005/2006? 58cm, Conti Tyres

Summary:
Can't say I'm really the most experience rider to comment on these rims, but I'm finding heaps of flex with these rims, so much that my speedo sensor is hitting the beacon on my fork when I start sprinting really hard. I bought the bike for $650 rims where on it already, so really for a first time bike I'm not complaining too much. I have ridden on better rims and when you sprint you can feel that the power isn't being absorb so much. These rims would be better for someone commuting not for training or racing.

Oh and I haven't broken a spoke yet. (Fingers Cross)

Strengths:
Look

Weaknesses:
Flex

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Ksyrium SL Mavic on OPPY Legend

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Budapest

Favorite Ride:
anywhere with beautiful landscape

Bike Setup:
Steel Bianchi with (older) Dura Ace set.

Summary:
Now I have Really Bd Experiences with this wheel set, but I try to be objective.

My parameters: 175cm, 67kg (not the biggest guy ever seen), amateur cyclist.

I bought them a year ago together with my bike - both were used, but not much.
After a few hundred kms one rear spoke felt itself more comfortable in two pieces: I moved the bike sideways while I was standing on the ground over my bike. After this, I used the wheels with care.
Despite avoiding most of the potholes, today (21.08.09) I broke 4(!!) rear spokes at the same time. It wasn't a pothole or else that made it but only an almost zero-speed turn and the following acceleration. It happened after about 1500-2000 km.

In a nutshell: The front wheel is great for me but if you want to keep it replace the rear one somehow!

Strengths:
Good rotation, aerodynamics, no problems with the front wheel :). A cheaper solution for amateurs.

Weaknesses:
Rear wheel - spokes. Useless.
Getting new spokes in time (especially if you break more than one) is extremely hard (in Budapest at least).
I don't feel them really stiff.

Similar Products Used:
-
(Vuelta Airline 4 for cycling in the city)

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
Cervelo Solist SLC.

Summary:
I bet most people don't know these have a lower drag coefficient than a set of Zip 404's. OK, I can hear all of you saying "yeh right" look it up, an engineer at UBC did a study on wheelset aerodynamics. I've run these for almost 5 years, have never broken a spoke and I've beat the living snot out of them, I'm 175lbs. They are heavy, but the aero advantage makes up for that on all but a very hilly course.

Strengths:
Aerodynamics, durability - these have been maintenance free and bomb proof for me. I ended up dumping my mavic carbones as I just couldn't justify the cost since I would ride these in training, and switch to the mavics in races - I found no noticable advantage to riding the 1500.00 carbon wheelset - other than maybe a slight comfort advantage...and I'm a gear-head/brand hound, I like the best on my bike, but I just couldn't argue the economics.

Weaknesses:
Weight, not really well suited to road racing if riding in groups where there's drafting.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Cosmic Carbone

Price Paid:  $300.00

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Spokane

Bike Setup:
Klein Quantum Ultegra, Serotta Dura-ace.

Summary:
These are the best wheels I have used to date. I'm a commuter and have put over 10,000 mi. on them and have had few problems. I have had to replace a broke spoke which are hard to come by. I dropped a front wheel in a storm drain at 20+mph which stopped me (175#)instantly. After waking up in the e-room a couple of hour later, the front wheel was still as true as new. I thought it would have collapsed. I'm finally going to retire them to my winter wheels after breaking a couple spokes bunny-hopping a ditch.

Strengths:
Good wheels for someone who is hard on wheels. Strong, durable, decent riding wheel, looks fast.

Weaknesses:
spokes are hard to get if you break one in the middle of nowhere. They are not as pretty as Kyseriums on your car rack.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at BSP

Favorite Ride:
IMC Bike Course

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR Aero1, 9sp Ultegra (now with Rival),Fizik Chrono Saddle.

Summary:
Stayed true for over 3 years of riding it. I have done an Ironman on it, and trained for it with them. I have also done the first winter of training after joining a road racing team on miserable weather and bad Seattle roads. The wheels are awesome. I only replaced them because the rims were wearing thin after all the years of wet dirty breaking. I replaced with Mavic Aksiums, and I miss my WH-R540s. I never had a broken spoke, but I know people who have. They are mostly the type that would jump on the curb with their road bikes, so no surprise there.

Strengths:
Solid, aero enough, not super heavy, good power transfer. Weigth is kept closer to the hub, for lower rotational inertia. Look nice also.

Weaknesses:
None for the money.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Aksium, Easton Circuit, Easton Ascent, Zipp 808.