is this a bike shop, and it was shipped directly to you?

Sorry, that is a weak letter. I suspect the people from whom you bought the bike will simply file and forget. Rightly so in my view: you shouldn't use threads in bike forums to try and gain leverage. If there's a problem, you should go straight back to the shop with the bike and point out why you are unhappy, not try and gain support and sympathy on an anonymous forum.

Both cheap and heavy wheelset, with Shimano maybe being 30 grams lighter.
Shimano freehub is better. Mavic freehub will bite the dust.
Search the internet....... many kicking S vs M on this subject.

One thing I have learned in my 55 years of life is that my first impressions or read isn't always the best. I have learned that there is value to measuring my thoughts against those of other reasonable people. That's why I asked for the thoughts of the community here. I don't intend to even point out the manufacturer in this thread. At this point there is no advantage to doing so. To that end, If I chose to point the manufacturer to this thread it wouldn't be in the name of leverage, but only to show them what other reasonable people think. I ordered directly through the manufacturer not a store.

Here's where I stand. By my best research, Aksiums sell for about $20 more per set when priced at the same vendor. The Gatorskin tire set for $30 more. From a price standpoint I lost about $50 in the transaction. Honestly $50 isn't that important to me. While I prefer Aksiums because I have had great results with them, I am not married to them over the RS11s. A good number of reasonable people have told me that the RS11s are as good or better with performance and or reliability. I will not ride the Ultra Sports on my usual rides. I hate flats. They suck the fun out of a ride. I have to say this too. I am disappointed that the manufacturer knew about the spec change and made no effort to advise me.

Does this sound reasonable? Asking the manufacturer to ship me a pair of Gatorskins. If not, I have to spend an extra $70 bucks or so to get them. Couple that with the $50 loss I suffered with the spec change, and now I am $120 in the hole.

Thanks again for your time and thoughtful feedback.

I'd rather have the Ultra Sports than Gatorskins, but that's just personal preference. The wheels, I couldn't say. I've read that the RS11's are pretty decent.

Oh, full disclosure, when Bikes Direct sent me the wrong fixed gear bike, I didn't particular care ...

I'd press the issue on the gatorskins, since you have a real need for them. Honestly I'd take it up with your credit card, dispute the transaction. It sounds super shady to just say, "oh thanks our website was wrong". I suspect they do not have anymore gatorskins or Aksiums in stock, so I'd insist on a refund that made up the difference. Good luck and hope to see pictures soon!

That's probably what I will do. I will give them an opportunity to make good.

Seller is being evasive with their email response. Try to pry a set of gatorskins out of them. Give them a chance to do that; if they resist, dispute the charge and file a complaint with the BBB.

No anonydrama until 100th pos, plz.

It's his thread. Not yours.

It took you 3 minutes to post to his thread and you added nothing to it.

Let them know you are disappointed and they should honor the specs they stated on their website at the time you ordered it.
If they didn't update it on time it is their fault. You ordered the bike based on those specs and expect those exact specs.

They should honor it or refund you the differences in price.

Just my humble opinion.

Your comments to the suppliers gave no hint of the unhappiness you felt, and the need to post here, rather than contacting them directly with your complaints. There was no need to involve a third party, as in this site. Personally, I'd have called them. Amicable one-to-one contact often works best.

Having ridden in New Orleans, yeah, you need the Gatorskins, plus the name sounds kind of native to the area. They should make good on the tires.

That was by design as well. While I was about 99% sure when I placed the order the specs were Aksium/Gatorskin I also wanted to allow that I may have last looked at the specs a day or two prior to my order. I am also the type that if something doesn't sit well with me I give it a little time. In approaching them the way i did, I allowed that I may not have looked at the specs immediately prior to ordering and it gave them a chance to tell me what happened. Now that I am fully aware, and I have bounced my thoughts off of other reasonable bicyclists, I will make contact with them again.

Here is the email I just sent.

Jack, I wanted to give myself a little time to think about your reply before I responded. As crazy as this may sound, the Aksiums and the Gatorskins were a big part of why I ordered the bike. I live and ride in New Orleans. Our streets are horrible. The potholes and debris take a toll on all but the toughest equipment. I am a bike junkie. In order to make room for the Litespeed in my garage I sold another bike. That bike had Aksiums with some 5000 or so miles on them. They were as true as the day I bought them.

Since our last contact I did a little research on the Shimano wheels. While the retail on them is lower than it is on the Aksiums, they are by all accounts good all around wheels...even if they do have that hideous blurple decal on them. I will live with them. I will not ride any tires that don't provide the highest level of flat protection. That leaves me two options. Go out and spend $60-80 on the tires I need or ask you to make good on the spec that was posted on your website. Do you think it is reasonable for me to ask you to ship me the Gatorskins?

Thanks,
Paul

If you all can't get along I'm turning this thread around and taking us all home.

I have had the old Aksiums and the S10 wheels and both are kind of low end. Neither one held up for more than a week. Busted spokes in the rear wheel, both brands. Sitting in my workshop now waiting for someone to come along and make an offer on the rear wheels. I weigh 230 pounds and they simply don't handle the weight. For what it is worth, I also have an S11 rear wheel sitting in the shop. Was on a female friends bike, and it, too, has a busted spoke. About 5000 miles on it. Not sold on the high tension, low spoke count wheels.
F

They are going to send me a set of Gatorskins.

:thumb: