peterk said:
Is there a true benefit to going with the c-xray spoke or is it purely for looks?
There are true benefits to CX-Rays and they are -
Lightness. They are one of the lightest spokes available - equal in weight to their brother, Sapim Lazer, and the DT Revolution. Only titanium spokes will be lighter but let's not go there as they're exotic stuff indeed. Actually, 'Rays are forged
from Lazers so they are the same spoke only flatter.
Aerodynamics - I'm sure 'Rays take less power to push through the air than round spokes as their thickness is 0.9mm versus 1.5mm of Lazers and Revs or the 1.8mm of Sapim Race and DT Comp but that will give very diminished returns for their extra cost.
Strength - Sapim make some very debatable claims as to the extra "fatigue resistance" for 'Rays. Here is some of it -
http://www.sapim.be/index.php?st=products&sub=spokes&detail=fatiguetest
This silly graph stands up to NO scrutiny from anyone with any degree of scientific knowledge. The ultimate strength, or fatigue resistance, of spokes is never approached in normal use. Spokes are only stressed to a fraction of their capabilities so extra strength is a non issue.
As the 'Rays are the same weight as other light spokes and their aerodynamic advantage is very tiny, their cost for extra performance is high indeed. All that being said I have them on 4-5 sets of my wheels, including a set of mtb wheels. I have them for the same reason I have a titanium seatpost and stem on my mountain bike - because I want them. And everyone with a bike costing more than approx $1000 has made the same kind of choice.
I've been using 'Rays for about ten years with zero issues. But then I can say this for my Sapim Race and DT Comps too.