C_Heath

Why do some have shiny finished spokes and some have black spokes?

I take it the one with the shiny spokes are the newest version?

Thanks

InVisib0L

I wish I can afford those...

krazyderek

It's called color options.... oops, i mean yes, and i just happen to have a new set of the shiny one's only 100$ more then those old black one's, but much better... because being so shiny the sun reflects off the spokes keeping them cooler thus allowing the metal to contract slightly more allowing for a stiffer wheel guaranteed* to win you the final sprint in all your races and group rides...... all cause they're shiny and only 100$ more

*no actual guarantee will be honored in any way or form, all sales final, and may the buyer beware that if he is still reading this he is extremely gullible

cydewaze

Mine have stainless spokes, and they're the natural silver color.

waterrockets 

Yeah, it stinks when you have to choose wheels that are more durable, more aerodynamic, and less expensive.

cydewaze

Yeah, but who wants to drag around a 2500g wheelset?

cycle17

Changes in model year probably. I've seen the same model year wheels come through with black and ohters come into my LBS silver/stainless spokes. I personally like the silver, but I doubt I'd pay extra for one or the other, unless there was a performance gain.

waterrockets 

Sensible 1682g Wheelset: 28H Velocity Aeroheads, 2.0/1.8/2.0, brass nipples, with Perception hubs(w/skewers).

$304 (including rim tape)

Go a little more sensible and get some cup/cone Shimano hubs. Weight goes up slightly with the price.

That 0.4 lbs weight difference w/Bontragers is pretty expensive, don't you think? $2000 a pound? Especially when you start talking about durability.

cydewaze

The thing that gets me about posts like this is no matter what wheelset you have, someone will always say you should've gotten something else. Always.

So we have what, 58,000 forum members who all have to be riding Mike Garcia wheels, or have to build some 3-cross whatever-is-cool-today rim/hub combo themselves, otherwise they could have done better.

Absolute rubbish.

I paid $640 for my Race X Lites. They came with tubes and tires. Really nice tires actually. So subtracting for all that you can say the wheels were more like $530. So at 1490g they're pretty light, and they're VERY durable, despite what you seem to think.

On top if it, I got to test-ride them before I bought them. Two different pairs too, so I could decide between the aeros and the regular ones. And if I have any problems I can swing by the LBS that's a mile away.

Sorry if you could have done the same thing cheaper, but you could say that about 90% of the stuff on this forum. Sometimes it's not just about the bottom line.

voltman

You forgot to mention your Motobecane from Bikes Direct.

DigitalRJH

There are 2 options for the rim color. The black anodized, and the titanium anodized color. The titanium is more expensive. I think that halfway through the '05 year they all came with the natural stainless color spokes. In 04 they came with the black spokes.

I find them to be great wheels, of course all the Trek / Bontrager haters say they aren't any good, as you see above. But, DT Swiss Hugo 240 flangless hubs, DT aerolite spokes, and 1490 gr weight works for me. I ride on rough roads as well, and they have held up fine, just had a crash on a wet railroad crossing where the wheel slid into one of the track grooves, really yanked it hard, and I went down pretty hard. The wheels didn't even come out of true.

C_Heath

all good ideas and posts, thank you all. The fact that I am 25 full pounds over weight (175) leaves little to be desired that I am even looking at these wheels. My uncle has a pair and they have the titanium rims ans stainless hubs. They are a super nice wheel and are superlight.

cydewaze

Everyone knows I have a Huffy Santa Fe.

fishmel

I have a set of 2005 X-Lites (Black Rims/Silver Spokes). I think they are a nice wheelset, and have stayed true for the time I have used them. I am getting ready to sell them as I have another custom wheelset being made for me as I type. If your interested pm me.

DigitalRJH

There ya go....

waterrockets 

Better or worse is subjective. It depends on what your goals are. RolfTragers are much better looking, to be sure. Enjoy them. I don't dislike them at all, but I would never buy them.

I have an essentially unlimited budget and choose the better value. Besides, I build wheels, and I appreciate the handcrafted nature of them when I build them myself. These types of wheels will always meet my needs better than boutique wheels.

I spec'd some wheels that are more aerodynamic (they don't slow you down as much) and more durable. They're slightly heavier, but I could sub in alum nips and drop another 100g. Bontragers ACTUAL weight is 1520g...

cydewaze

I know what you did. I've done it a hundred times. After around my 30th wheelset, I decided I couldn't be bothered to build any more wheels myself, so I got the pre-build ones. So what if they're 1520? My mavics were 2000+ (advertized at 1820, depending on which catalog you pick). Either way my bike lost 3/4 lb from the swap.

The point wasn't who got a better deal. The OP asked about a specific wheel, and you replied with the equivalent of "my wheel is better than your wheel". It gets old.

C_Heath

I dont give 2 S#@$ts about weight. I dip skoal and ride about 300 miles a month lol. Im fat but not as fat as I was in Feb (lost almost 40)

I just love to ride my bike, yea, I get all roadied up, look the part, ride a $1100 entry level bike, but its ME, how I am, what I do. Shaving off 3 grams to make me climb better aint what Im looking at.

I am about looks though and yes I am that guy that will spend the extra hundred to get the stainless spokes. Why? Same reason I trade my vehicle 4 years after I purchased it new not because I didnt like it but because they changed the body style and I felt like I was "behind"

Screw it, Ill ride with ol ladies on huffys, kids, hybrids, recumbants, I dont care, lets just go ride.

Thanks for all the replies, least it was a good thread.

waterrockets 

I replied to the gent who said he wished he could afford the Bontragers.

It gets more old seeing how marketing and fashion are driving so many cycling purchase decisions. It wouldn't bother me as much if the stuff wasn't also so expensive.

cydewaze

Sorry Heath, I didn't mean to booger up your thead with all the bickering.


@waterrockets: It's a matter of perception. I see the 3-cross/steel frame/brooks saddle/etc stuff as being the "in" fashion right now. And as long as they aren't spending your money, it shouldn't bother you too much. It's the people that dump money into the sport that keeps things rolling.

C_Heath

Its all good, its a forum right?