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Hi everyone.

I'm new to road cycling and want to upgrade my stock wheels. I am debating between the Bontrager Race Lite Flangless and the Easton Circuits. I weigh 190 lbs but am intending to lose about 10 lbs. I want a fast wheel, that is sturdy. Other reviews about the Bontragers have scared me a bit about their strenght since I am I guess a Heavier rider, but my LBS is recommending those to me for my budget of ($400). Even though the the Easton's weigh ~ 50grams less they say the Bontrager's are faster b/c the spokes are bladed. What do you guys recommend from the above two wheels? As of now I am not doing competitive riding, mostly training (climbs and flats). Do you guys think I'm to heavy for the bontragers? And what do you guys consider better wheels? The other thing is my LBS isn't a dealer for Easton so it may be a bit more of a hastle to take care of things.

Your opinions are appreciated.

powerglide

hi icon, these questions are tough to answer (try searching the forum for each wheel)
I don't think you're too heavy for the bontragers (I've had my Selects for 7 years and have been as heavy as 240 during those years. never even needed adjustment)

Dynamic

bontragers have a tendency to not do so well with the heavier class of people. not sure on eastons. I'd go eastons considering you do flats n climbs (climbs specifically), plus they look cool.

DaSy

I upgraded from Mavic Ksyriums to Easton Orion II's recently, and think the Easton's are the best quality wheels I've come across. They spin forever, the bearings are so smooth and free, plus they are lateraly much stiffer than the Ksyriums (Equipe, so steel spokes not ali), but much smoother ride; nice and light and climb and sprint really well.

I'd go with the Easton's just because I think they are a quality wheel maker.

SesameCrunch

I have both (on 2 bikes). I'm 188lbs. They are both very good. I have had no problems with the Bontrager Race Lites - 3000 miles, not even out of true. Rolls beautifully.

The Circuits are very good also. I have about 2500 miles on them. Rolls great. No problems with staying true.

I like them both, so get the best deal you can.

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Thanks all so far for your opinions. Do you guys think that the Bontragers will be faster wheels due to their bladed spokes, even though it is a bit heavier than the easton ciruits? And any more experience with either customer care and riders weighing 180 and above with either wheel will be appreciated.

thanks again.

Zinn-X

you might have an aero advantage on descents with blades, but for climbs, the lighter wheel will make things easier for you. i'd go with the eastons, i have the circuits and they are bomb proof wheels. i've put them through all kinds of abuse and they have never gone out of true or broken spokes. easton makes a good product, and the hubs are breathtaking. silky smooth.

SesameCrunch

Probably .000001% difference. Not a practical issue in your purchase decision.

I think you'll be happy with either. What price difference is there? Warranty, support? Aesthetics? Go on those factors.

toneb

I agree 100% I have the ORION II's and have no complaints.

Dynamic

on ascents, the grams on your wheelset count a lot!!!
50g is 11% of a pound whic is a lot.

i used to have a thing for bontrager spoke setup, bladed being a plus as well.
but eastons also look great and perform just as well

Ernesto Schwein

Reynolds Alta Races, relace the front with CXrays, you will still have enough money left over from your original target budget to buy fresh boots.

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My LBS isn't an easton carrier so they would have to special order it for me, but one of the mechanics has worked with easton at another shop and although they carry Bontrager Race Lites, is leaving it basically up to me. I like the spoke look of the Bontragers and the overall look of the Easton circuits(nice rim color). The race lites will be $400 exact, while the Circuits may be $400-420. The 20 or so dollars won't be a deal breaker for me. A few reviews on roadbikereview.com is scaring me about the durability of the Bontragers. I haven't been able to find a recommended rider weight on either wheel.

Oh ya and my bike is white with a bit of red, a specialized. So maybe some esthetic advice could be given, and a few what would you do's, if you were me opinions.
thanks

ryanhulce

I have a set of Circuits, very smooth and quiet. Great wheel for the money. I also have a Race X Lite and also very nice. The Race X Lite is a lot stiffer. Haven't ridden the Race Lite, but alot of guys I ride with have then and enjoy them.

oilman_15106

Good luck finding the Eastons unless someone has them NOS. They have been on backorder for months in the USA and Easton will give no reason to retailers as to why? Or a delivery date. Bad way to conduct your business.

ks1g

I bought a set of Circuits early last season and really like them. The hubs are definitely better than what I had before (Ultegra on OpenPro rims) and seem to be better than what a lot of other people I ride with are using. I base this on (1) the Easton's are quiet - when I'm drafting someone and they start to coast, I wonder how they can stand all the noise their freehub is making. (2) I'm coasting faster on downhills and keeping up with people who should be pulling away from me based on our relative weights. (3) when the bike is on the workstand, I can spin the wheels and they keep spinning forever (or at least a really long time).

My wife insists that she pick out my dress shirts and ties so I don't embarrass myself, and my bike has a mix of black and gray cable housings based on what I had on hand, so I'm not going to touch questions of color coordination!

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Thanks everyone for all your help. I guess it's still a toss up for me. I'll consider Easton's back up orders and customer delays, that oilman suggested and also let you guys know what I buy and what I think of the wheels.

gambithunt

I would most definately go with the Eastons, they are mater wheel makers and I've had the Orion II for a while now and they are amazing, light, strong and they spin very well,

Its worth the wait, good luck

waterrockets 

The Bontrager bladed spokes merely offset the additional turbulence of the crappy paired spoke design.

Ryleeryno

The bladed spokes on my Bontrager Race wheels were affected more by crosswinds than my current 30mm rim with normal spokes. I'd say go custom with a reputable, local wheelbuilder and use light, durable hubs.

DaSy

I have to say that for general riding, bladed spokes for me were a drawback rather than a plus. Unless wind was dead still or coming directly at you, bladed spokes caused more drag and pulled the bike about too much for my liking.

BikeWise1

Don't mince words, man! Tell us what you really think!

Wheel aerodynamics is woefully oversold, IMO. As if a large guy with a semi-upright riding position is going to benefit from aero wheels. But I see it every few days...Of course, some people want every possible advantage, whether real or imagined. I suppose the beer belly might guide air around the front of the rider better, but....

BTW, I'm not saying the OP is fat! Just that aero wheels are oversold. I think it was John Cobb who once said, even if you could make the bike disappear from the aero equation, the rider still gains more going from the tops to the drops than anything they can do to their bike. There's just not that much frontal area on a bike! Besides if the bike created as much drag as current myth suggests, I'd lose a lot more than 1 MPG when it's on my roof rack going down the road at 70mph. And there is nothing aero about my steel Waterford!

Either wheel is fine. Go with the shop you like. They will probably have more to do with how much you enjoy the wheels over the long term than the wheels themselves.

Stickney

You can do some searches on Circuits to find more detail on durability, but I have about 3000 miles on a set of Circuits and I weigh 250 lbs and I have yet to have a problem with them. I obtained the Circuits via a warranty replacement so they were not my first choice, but they have won me over. I ride fairly rough roads in addition to being heavy and I haven't had to even think about truing them. Also the freehub is silent which I like.

Can't speak to the Bontys, but the Circuits are a good wheel.

akeelor

I have been riding on the Circuit's for 2 years w/o any adjustments needed. Weight = 215 lbs. Fast and smooth. I would definitely buy again.

Robert C Wells

My Madone came with Bontrager Race Lites and I've put about 1K miles on them so far. No problems whatsoever, still true. I ride some fairly rough "slagged" country roads, lots of small potholes, ruts, bridge expansion joints, etc. and I weigh 205lbs. Still, they are holding up to the abuse just fine. As much as I like to customize things, I think I'll stick with the stockers for a while to come.

I think the real point is, improving yourself is the best bang for the buck, period!

rollin

I like my Bontrager Race which came stock with my Trek.

I tested Kysriums (SL) and Bonty Race X lites - should be getting the X lites soon.

Decided to go with Bontrager as I have very good local Trek / bontrager support.

I for one love the look of paired spokes. Given my size and not being a racer I don't worry too much about aero advantage on my wheels.