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Old 05-01-08 | 06:17 PM
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prendrefeu
How much does it weigh?
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,427
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From: Weight Weenie on a budget.

Bikes: Lotus Fixed, Bianchi Virata 2004

Originally Posted by toshi
To those of you who have logged thousands of miles on your Solitudes: how are you liking them now? Still satisfied? How much work (tensioning after break-in) have you put into them in order to keep them running smooth?
I haven't logged thousands of miles on them yet, only a couple hundred (500 or so?) - but I'll offer some review/opinion:

-I love them, overall. They're noticeably more aero than my previous wheelset (Ksyrium Equipes) and lighter. I'd also claim they are stiffer, as I was able to flex the Equipes on sharp turns but have yet to experience that with these wheels.

-I have not had any spoke breaking or tension issues so far. Mind you I'm 5'8 and a steady 150lbs. YMMV.

-The hubs are running very smooth, and I'm very happy with them. Hearing that they are based off of old WI hubs might indicate why the rear hub is so loud! I don't mind, most of the time. It's actually kinda entrancing... but it does not help when sneaking up on someone or bridging a gap... if you break cadence at all, you'll be heard.

-Only issues to speak of:
-I prefer the "French style" Presta valve without threads. But, due to the lack of threads there is no valve nut... The hole for the valve is a tiny fraction larger than the valve itself, which leads to a little rattling when hitting a bump. Unfortunately it's too small of a difference to stick some heat-shrink tubing in there or tape. My solution so far as been to lightly fill the gap with silicon caulk and wipe clean (not too much, just enough to fill the gap but not fall in the rim. So far, no problems!
-Did I mention that the rear hub is loud?
-Because the wheels are lighter than what I was riding before, I need to get used to how they react when turning on descents with changing radius. I'm still getting used to that...
-Hubs. They are loud.

-I have not yet had the opportunity, or need, to true the wheels. The nipples are internal/hidden, so this would mean taking off the rim tape (in my case, Veloplugs) + tube + tires. Again, I haven't had to deal with that yet, so I can't write too much on that tip. On the other hand, these wheels have exceeded my expectations for durability on the sh*tty roads of Koreatown.
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