DRLski

I have a choice of wheelsets, Easton Circuit for $253.99 or Mavic Open Pro w/ Campy Veloce hubs for $219.00, I'm assuming I'll only be saving about 100g with the Circuits but which would hold up beter? And no it doesn't matter that whether I get campy or shimano since I have a 10spd cassette that would fit either. Any quick advice would be appreciated as an auction is ending shortly. You're all familiar iwth the Eastons, the Mavic's have Wheelsmith Double-Butted spokes and are 32 hole.

DRLski

367 people viewing this forum, where is everyone?

Namenda

I love my Eastons. No problems at all.

wagathon

I have Mavic Open Pro black rims, Ultegra hubs, Wheelsmith butted spokes, brass nipples. They're great. Even with just 32 spokes, it does gives the bike an older (classic ?) look compared to e.g., 18-24 flat bladed spokes though.

blandin

I have a set of each. Both are great wheels and you can't go wrong with either. Easton's are more aero.

ViperZ

I love the look of the Easton Hubs, If the Circuts are like the Velomax, they look great!

travis200

I have used both but I like the ease of rebuilding in case something happens to the Open Pro's. You can go to any LBS and get the Open Pro's worked on.

HAMMER MAN

I have used Mavics for years and currently both of my road bikes have the Open pros black, 32 rear D/A hub, 28 spoke D/A hub they are a great wheel with very little maintenance, only other wheels I have ever tried were Spinergy.

Grasschopper

Beware the Eastons. They look great and roll very smooth but I had issues with my rear wheel styaing true. Because of this I had my LBS trues them 3 times in 3 months and they still wouldn't stay true so I sent the rear back to Easton. Well their answer was that one spoke wasn't the right length and that it was a build issue but I had voided the warranty by having my LBS true them...Easton policy is if anyone but Easton trues the wheels the warranty is void....something to keep in mind.

My vote if for the higher spoke count set...they already built? If not think about the DT Swiss RR1.1 rather than the OP as the rim, 10g lighter per rim by spec and more by the avg weights I have seen, black doesn't cost you more and in fact they are generally $2-$5 less per rim.

DRLski

Thanks for the heads up grasschopper. The OP wheels were handbuilt, I can also get the Centaur version for the same price as the Eastons and they're just about the same weight as well. I think I may just grab the OP since I do like that they're 32 count and was looking for a bombproof training/race wheel since the roads in my area aren't that great. I have a pair of Velocity Deep V's laced to a Ritchey WCS in rear and Nuke Ti in front, but the Nuke and braking surfaces are on their way out so gotta get them replaced.

Grasschopper

Go for the Centaur hub...the construction is more like the Chorus and Record hubs than the Veloce...I forget the difference but for sure go with Centaur especially if the price is about the same.

badkarma

It's really crappy that Easton maintains that they have to do all the truing or the warranty is void.

Yeah, the Circuits are more aero and look cooler than the traditional boxed rim Open Pro, but from a durability standpoint, the Open Pros will be bombproof, where the Circuits will probably need occassional truing.

To the OP, how much do you weigh? If you're under 160, then you probably wouldn't have a problem with the circuits.

Grasschopper

Oh on the weight thing, Easton said the Circuit should have no problem even at my weight (220lbs) and there are plenty of reports with heavier riders putting thousands of miles on them with no issue. I think it was some place between I am hard on wheels and I got a bad build that caused my isses...the issue I had with Easton was that the tech guy told me it was a bad build but they wouldn't fix it for free...if it was their fault then I don't care who tried to true it, it is their fault.

badkarma

After my experience with AC350s, I don't think I'll ever buy wheels with weight restrictions. I weight 180, and I can't keep my 350s true, even though the weight limit is 200 lbs. AC claims it's a bad build and they want me to mail in my wheels. I'm skeptical that they will be able to fix them seeing how A LOT of people have trouble keeping their 350s true.

Grasschopper

Send them in, get a new set and sell them.

badkarma

I don't think they're going to give me a new set. They'll just true them for me, and then I'll ride them and they'll come right out of true. I think it's a waste to pay to mail in my wheels, but I might just see what happens. When I originally contacted them, I was hoping I could mail in my 350s and upgrade to the
420s for a small upcharge, but they shot that down insisting my 350s should hold up.

blandin

FWI: I weigh 220 lbs and have had a set of circuits since 2004. Other than a slight tweak to the rear wheel after the first couple of hundred miles, they haven't been touched, have stayed perfectly true and performed beautifully.

DRLski

I'm 155lbs. The bike these will be on will only be used for training and criteriums so how aero they are aren't that much of a factor for me, I'm just looking for durability. I have a pair of Easton Vista SL's that I love so far but have heard time and time again about the Open Pros, and if I can get them with Centaur hubs and Wheelsmith spokes I'm thinking I can't get too much better than that for $250.00 which is the price I can get the Circuits for as well.

badkarma

I wouldn't restrict yourself to simply the open pros tho, grasschopper mentioned the DT Swiss rims, there are also velocity aeroheads, etc.

But if I had to choose b/t the two wheelsets you mentioned, I'd go for the open pro.

cydewaze

That's insane! What if you're out on the road and a spoke breaks and you need to turn a few spoke nipples to get the thing rolling?

So if my shop (an Easton dealer) trues my Eastons (that I bought from them) my warranty is void? Insane!!!

Surferbruce

i've had nothing but problems with easton vista's. i know they're low end hoops, but i've had two sets that creak and moan so loud its obnoxious. hopefully eastons higher end wheels avoid such problems but with so many other choices i'd put easton last on my list. heck my old alex wheelset has been more durable and worry free. i'd go with the centaur/open pro combo.

Grasschopper

I'm just telling you what the guy told me...I thought it was pretty stupid myself and questioned it just like you are.

SteelerHoo

I'm a big fan of the Circuits. I have a pair of Velomax (now Easton) Circuits on my bike. I've had them for two years. When I first got them, I weighed 185 pounds and rode them hard in Boston and the surrounding suburbs (frost heaves, pot holes etc.) I now live in NYC and ride them throughout the city, into NJ and race on them. The roads here are pretty treacherous, unfortunately, I'm not the kind of rider who rides "lightly" on wheels and I tend to hit potholes and bumps pretty hard. I now weigh 165, still hit holes hard and to date, I have not had to true the wheels.

Lastly, one of my favorite things about the wheelset is the absolutely silent freehub. If you like hearing the whoosh of your bike as it cuts through the wind, the Circuits are the way to go as there is no freehub ratchet sound.

blandin

I already responded earlier, but SteelerHoo's experience is a mirror image of mine. It seems quite odd that people either love or hate these wheels. Mine are also two years old and are under the Velomax name, so maybe Easton has changed something alone the way, you never know.

woody_1029

For what it's worth, I've had a pair of Velomax/Easton Javelins (now called Tempests) for approx 5 years and recently had the rims replaced by Easton after wearing the sidewalls out. In that time, I've never needed them to be trued. This is a major feet considering I ride old roads full of pot holes. Also, a buddy of mine who works for a major bike manufacturer told me that I should buy a pair of the Circuits while Easton was rebuilding my Javelins. He said that he has never received a problem call about wheels on any bike his co. sold that had Easton Circuits on it. I did but a pair of the Circuits and rode them for about a month and they were a excellent. For the price, they are a certified steal! I really can't compare them to the Open Pros because it's been too long since I've ridden on them.

As for service, I really can't complain. Although it took Easton about a month to replace the wheels, spokes and hubs, it was certainly cheaper than going out and buying a brand new set of comparable wheels. And now, I have an excellent pair of backups just in case