PSIMET...Nice Writeup in Velo
 

Starting on page 78 of the latest Velo magazine (the Giro issue with Hesjedal on the cover) is an article entitled "Speed for Purchase". They review wheels, specifically Rolf Prima TDF 60, HED Stinger 6 Flamme Rouge, Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3, Enve System 6, and PSIMET's customer wheels.

Using generic rims from open carbon molds (the older v shaped rim), he scored 62/100 overall, 15/15 on value, 4/5 on weight, and 17/20 on rotational intertia which is important to you guys that ride in circles for an hour or so on your Saturday races. I would always give up aero for spin up in the type of racing that's common here for most category racers...criteriums, slowing and accelerating for an hour or so...you don't have to work as hard to get the bike going again.

His wheels were the second lightest against that lineup.

Every other wheel in the test was two to three times more expensive.

BTW...on the rotational inertia test Rob beat everyone but Bontrager on his rear wheel, and beat Enve ($2,900) and HED ($2,200) with his front.

Yeah, the carbon technology is a bit older, but for the average category racer who is not going to break any world records (and where rider skills are not the best and the equipment comes out of your pocket, including your wheels), these are tremendous wheels.

The article also mentions that Zipp opted not to be involved. It does not say why.

Nice job!! And for a small business to be reviewed in Velo...well done. :thumb::thumb:

When I get 62/100 on tests, I'm usually pretty bummed. . .

The three thousand dollar wheel got 81/100. The primary difference was aero. You don't need to worry about aero. Trust me on this.

These tests are a lot tougher than some college prof's regurgitation examination.

I like this! Its odd, that a big magazine would jeopardize sponsorship giving a small guy such a good review..

It was a great article, very cool to see a small builder featured with brand name wheels. I did find it strange that Zipp did not want to participate though

Zipp doesn't need to participate. This forum and the name alone give them enough exposure to sell wheels without risking defeat in a test.

It would be like Ferrari advertising on TV.

Way to go, Rob!

I just added that comment as I figured someone would ask who had not read the piece.

This Velo review not only is great promotion for PSIMET, it completely debunks the name brand wheel mystique. When one looks at a high end Mavic wheel, for instance, there is a strong temptation to believe that all that fancy design like the funky hub flanges with special tabs for the striaght pull spokes is really necessary, important and worthwhile to pay for. Besides adding totally useless weight, it is all just a sham based on the the idea that profit is proportional to just how complicated a wheel can be made to build and repair and how fancy it can it be made to look. It is all BS. Thanks to PSIMET and Velo for proving it.

What is exciting is that the "goods", the components that make up PSIMET's wheels are readily available. This is what the Zipps, Eastons, Mavics and Cane Creeks of the world don't want us to know. The hubs, the rims, the spokes. Having said that, some folks can build their own, and some can't or just don't want to. Fair enough. Fortunately it makes no difference. PSIMET (and several others well known on this forum) offers a great, affordable product for those who don't want to make wheel design and construction a consuming passion. It takes that to really know how to put together the right wheel for a given rider, even if it is just oneself.

Way to go Rob! The article was very good and it taught me something about deep carbon wheelsets. Good for Rob and good for Velonews for printing the article with a lot of truth in it.

Very good article, now I won't be upset when he doesn't return an email. :D

Never trust someone on the Internet who says 'trust me on this'.

I'm just saying Zipp sells stuff without competing in these types of things. They have more to lose if Rob blows their doors off.

I think you guys are getting a bit carried away with the psimet stuff and comments that newer aero designs and shapes are a myth. Likely never ridden any newer designs, hence the comments. The handling, ride and overall feel are night and day compared to old v shape.

With that being said, the rider makes the biggest diference.

If you have $3,000 to give me, I will gladly follow your advice. My statements are about Zipp having more to lose by competing against lesser-knowns who likely can build as well as them without a massive R&D budget.

I guess botto was right all along...

What about availability? :rolleyes: I keeeed....it's just to easy to take silly jabs....on a serious note....will psi it sponsor my team?

Zipp it!



ps...you guys are all too poor for this sport if you're whining about wheel cost.....obvious troll is obvious

Grats Rob, its great seeing the small guy even included in this test...

you're the one shaking an empty coffee cup in your sig.

Congrats on the right up!

Well that's a creative use of homonyms.

Not saying that aero improvements by big boys are not significant. But did you know that Gigantex (a Taiwanese manufacturer of premium carbon rims, likely relabeled with some of the biggest names) makes a 45mm aero rim with latest shaping of the sidewall to reduce drag. BHS was selling these for a while at a price that would make possible an $850-1,000 wheelset from any of the cost conscious builders, not just PSIMET. If I could buy these so easily, surely the custom builders could too, probably even cheaper considering direct from trading company pricing. So even if one wants all the aero bells and whistles, it doesn't have to be a $3,000 proposition. I have built a wheel set with these, and they are truly awesome.

Lol...the money I have invested isn't money I'm missing. Who wouldn't take free money if it was being offered? I have yet to make an investment I regret. They always pay off.

Edit: I reached my goal and exceeded it so the sig will be changing

If Psimet had simply returned Velo's phone calls he would have scored 70/100.

:roflmao2: