Bicycle Mechanics - Anyone know why Rolf wheels were discontinued.

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cyclezealot
07-23-04, 06:16 AM
Was it just they were bought out by Bontager, I believe...? Or does anyone remember some criticism of Rolf wheels...Seems a couple years ago, USPS rode on Rolf's... Were they disappointed by Rolfs?

dobber
07-23-04, 06:58 AM
Rolf's (the Vector flavors) were produced under license with Trek. Trek wanted to go one way with em, Rolf wanted to go the other. They parted ways and Trek hooked up with Bono's.

http://www.freewheel.com/rolf/press-release.htm

Rolf's making the Primas now http://www.rolfprima.com/index.html

I've got a set of Vector Sports (entry level) on my Lemond and have been very happy with em. They and thier siblings pop up on EBay every so often.
roadbuzz
07-23-04, 10:38 AM
My understanding is that Trek was manufacturing Rolf's under a license agreement (as dobber sez). A year or two after the agreement, Rolf was not satisfied with their product quality and since they could not reach an agreement, Rolf and Trek parted ways. That's where the criticism of Rolf wheels came from, I suspect.

That parting of the ways is the reason USPS isn't riding Rolfs... they're still a pretty hot ticket for weight and aerodynamics, and I've heard of people building them up with Sapim spokes so they're even lighter and more aero.

caloso
07-23-04, 11:15 AM
Rolf Vectors came standard on my '01 Trek 5200. Absolutely fantastic wheels: 7K miles and have never needed truing.

On my next bike, I'm getting Primas.