Xero Lite XR-3

Price Paid:  $0.00 at with the bike

Favorite Ride:
Road

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR C3, Shimano 105/Ultegra mix, Michelin tires

Summary:
These wheels were OE on the 2006 Giant TCR C3 so I decided to save some money and buy better pedals/shoes-bad decision. I should have upgraded the wheelset first.
I am a heavy rider (225) so I had reservations about riding on a 24 spoked rear wheel after coming from a Mavic Open Pro (32 spoke). Sure, there was a noticeable difference in ride quality-particularly plushness. But shortly after I started riding with the XERO's, I had to take the rear wheel in to have it trued.
I needed to repack the rear bearing with grease because it sounding like someone through walnuts into a blender. After that the hub kept coming loose. Two weeks ago, while on a 64 mile ride, two of the spokes pulled through the rim while climbing a hill. I was stranded and had to call the SAG wagon to get me. Upon further inspection I noticed the entire rim cracked on the hub side indicating a structural failure. Thankfully I was not bombing down a hill when this occurred.

Strengths:
Looks, fairly light compared to Mavic Open Pro's

Weaknesses:
Cheesy graphics, poor material quality led to a potentially catastrophic failure.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Open Pro

Price Paid:  $170.00 at e-bay

Favorite Ride:
Cabot Trail Park highway loop

Bike Setup:
KHS Flyte 500 & total bike upgrades to some 105 but mostly Ultegra components. New bike is a Rocky Mountain Solo 50st with Columbus carbon Carve forks and rear triangle and Columbus steel front frame V. Ultegra & Durace drive, flat bars with Shimano XTR shifters.

Summary:
Three years ago, I bought my wife an inexpensive road bike to try to get her back into road riding with me. She is not the type of person who cares about brands, price, quality, etc. As long as it works. Her wheels had terrible quality bearings that felt like they were filled with square bearings. So, after a few weeks of riding, I bought her some new, lighter and better wheels on e-bay. I did not tell her about the change and she did not notice the upgrade until we started riding. "What did you do to my bike?" after just 1 km. She noticed! And she loves the wheels. After 2 seasons of riding over 5,000 kms (3,000 mi), and some normal bumps and one HUGE hole that sent her flying, both wheels are still perfectly true. Bearings are smooth. She weighs about 160 lbs and rides in some triathalons where her bike segment puts her in the top 3 of her age category. Her Xeros help a lot. I bought her a new bike, a Rock Mountain Solo 50st. She wanted, so she has her Xeros on her new bike. We have 2,000km training rides planned for her Xeros as soon as the snow and ice melt to prepare for a 7,900km (5,000 mi) cross Canada supported tour for which I will fit her Mavic Ksyriums so we can save her Xeros for pleasure rides. Only maintenance was 2 bearing clean & grease jobs.

Strengths:
Very light especially at the price of these wheels. No spoke, rim or bearing problems after over 5,000 kms.

Weaknesses:
none so far

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Naults in Manchester

Favorite Ride:
Hurricane Mt. Road in North Conway

Bike Setup:
Stock Giant OCR3 with replacement Truvative bottom bracket.

Summary:
Wheels came stock on my Giant OCR-C3. IT's a good solid wheel set that has lasted me over 6500 miles. I'm not a racer, but was able to keep up in a large peloton at 24 MPH in a 175 mile bike event in Philly.
I hit a 4" concrete edge in a sunken drainage grate in Buffalo, Wy which instantly flatted my rear tire and flared out the rear rim a good 1/2 inch. Bent the rim back with some vice grips and it's been good to go. Slapped some Continental Gatorskins on them, and it's been 3,000 miles between flats since.

Strengths:
Tough wheel. spokes are still strong and rims pretty true (not counting the vice grip bending), low maintenance.

Weaknesses:
Rear axle is hard to adjust for bearing tension.