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Featured Review: Williams Cycling Wheel System 30
by teamgomez

Price Paid: $499.00 at Williams Wheels
Review Date: February 7, 2010
Overall Rating: 3 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
Specialized Tarmac SL2/Campy Record that hangs at 15.5lbs

Summary:
After getting the SWorks Tarmac with a set of Ksyrium SL’s, I knew that any ’spirited competition’ was not going to be happening on the Ksyriums.

After all the good props on the Williams wheelsets I read here (more specifically, Keith Williams’ customer service), I rolled in on a pair of Williams 30’s. The first ride with Conti 4000’s sprung squeaks/rattles on my bike (and molars) that I’d not previously experienced…was initially disappointed to say the least. Ksyriums felt like I was riding on a Cadillac and the Williams was similar to an unsprung go kart…I could tell if the ant was male or female…

It wasn’t until I was in a pack with the bubbas that I could feel these wheels really take off…keeping the pedals going over the top sent the bike flying to the front of the pack. Buyers remorse removed and learned to live with the roughasever ride.

Enter one gnarly pothole on a night group ride- pinch flatted the Williams rear and thought I must have cracked the wheel (as the leader in front of me begins to ‘bunny hop’…I’m starting to think ‘uh-oh’ simultaneously coinciding with my rear wheel crushing the lip of well-driller’s dream…or vice versa). The good news was the rim held up well and only knocked out of true about 2mm. The subsequent ‘trueing exercise’ on the park trueing stand revealed something I didn’t especially like about the buildup: some of the nipples were perpindicular to the rim and some were along the axis of the spoke. Can’t say I’ve ever noticed this before (not a ton of experience w/ different wheelsets), but the ramification is when you try to adjust the spoke whose nipple is perpendicular to the rim (thus not along the spoke axis), the portion of the spoke in the nipple must be ‘bent’ to sit in there thus creates a bit of a hassle turning the nipple. Keith says I need to use a tool to hold the bladed spoke but I’d never seen/used one before…the tools I see are no different than using an adjustable wrench to hold the spoke and either would mar the spoke surface. Some Kroil and a good grip on the spoke got the results I needed and the wheel is back in ‘true’ operation.

Decided that the Williams will only see race day use as they’re too much of a PITA to ride daily. Will mention here that I’ve gotta put some of the blame on the Continentals…running them at 115 psi versus the Michelin-type tires S-Works puts out (that are on the Ksyriums) produces a harsher ride no matter what wheelset you put ‘em on…

Strengths:

• They’ll spin forever when the bike is on the stand and they accelerate well off the saddle

Weaknesses:

• Ride quality is a bit harsh…could crack a diamond.

Similar Products Used:
FSA 400; Mavic Ksyrium SSC/SL/TDF; Mavic Open Pro/DA hub; Open Pro/Ultegra Hub

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Featured Review: Ridley Phaeton R
by CliveDS

Price Paid: $1050.00 at glorycycles.com
Review Date: January 20, 2009
Overall Rating: 4 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
Built with SRAM Rival

Summary:
The Ridley Phaeton R is the ultimate second bike for any one who has a “uber bike” and is looking to add an all rounder to their stable. It’s also a fantastic bike if you plan on racing and need one bike for training, racing and time trials.

The Ridley Phaeton R turns out to be one of the most versatile bikes I have tested. The Belgian bike manufacturer has used the technology of the well established Ridley Noah and trickled it down to a very practical alloy frame at a reasonable price.

It’s an excellent second or “rain bike” the alloy frame rides a straight line and has a fantastically predictable nature to it, I felt I could keep going on the Phaeton and do some long miles without it tiring me out. The 73 degree seat tube angle and 73.5 degree head tube angle on the medium size I tested was just enough to be responsive and comfortable for an all alloy frame.

It’s a unique road bike that can be used as a TT bike because of it’s aerodynamic features. The Phaeton R has the Oval Concepts patent R-Flow fork that draws turbulence away from the spokes, something you only find on high end TT bikes. It Also has a special treatment to the paint Ridley calls R-surface, this is some sandpaper like strips placed in strategic areas to “increase laminar flow” All cables on the Phaeton R are internal to lessen exposure to wind and the seat post of the Phaeton is a teardrop shape with the rear wheel cut out and the post extended for aerodynamics. Simply swapping the drop bars for flat aero bars with extensions and putting your race wheels on this baby and you have converted your off season trainer into a TT killer.

The Phaeton R also distinguishes itself as a crit bike, the beefy alloy bottom bracket and chain stays ensure all the energy applied to the pedals propels the bike forward. The traditional Belgium race geometry is not sharp and skittish like many of the newer crit bikes it’s more inclined toward control and predictability. Rest assured you can hit the last corner in a tight pack and blast for the line with complete confidence.

The bike I tested was built with SRAM Rival and a pair of 3 cross hand built wheels. This was a prefect set up for this bike. The 3 cross wheels were comfy and although they are not light they took some of the edge off the alloy frame and added to the road feel of the bike. Obviously this makes for a pretty heavy bike 18lbs (frame weight is published at 1565grams)

Ridley has a way with graphics and finish, the founder of Ridley is a former Eddy Merckx employee and at Merckx he was the finish man. The Phaeton R has an excellent finish, the colors of the paint are deep and the paint is thick. It seems like it would not easily chip or fade.

This is a fantastic road, time trial and crit bike. Put it on your must-ride list and you might have to take one home. You could always justify it by saying it was a three for the price of one deal.

Strengths:

• Stiff and very versatile

Weaknesses:

• Rather heavy

Similar Products Used:
Ridley Noah, Ridley Dean

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Featured Review: Hutchinson Fusion 2
by JJsKHS

Price Paid: $25.00 at chainlove.com
Review Date: October 20, 2009
Used product for: 6 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 5 of 5

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR C1, Ultegra, Ksyriums

Summary:
I ordered a pair of these this past spring after reading positive reviews and finding a deal online. Little did I know what kind of value I was getting.

I have ridden 2,000+ miles on these tires and raced on them about 10 times. I won’t attempt a superficial ride quality quantification other than to say “they ride swell”. They have never slid out in fast crit corners or crazy descents, even in wet conditions (taking proper precaution of course).

They have also not flatted once. In fact, the only time I have had to pull them off the rim is when my crappy tubes have ruptured at the valve stems. By the way, the ease in which you can pull these tires on and off the rim can’t be overstated. I hardly needed to use levers even when they were brand new.

My pair are starting to show their wear and I’ll be replacing them soon. They have all sorts of miniscule cuts in the center tread from a season of abuse and the sidewalls are starting to fade (still, never a flat from the road). And I am 100% positive I will replace them with an identical pair of Fusion 2’s.

These tires may or may not stand toe to toe with your $60-$70 boutique tires, but for what it’s worth, they’ve more than proven themselves to me. All season long, through rainy races and over patches of gravel on my most ridden routes, every time I’ve looked down I’ve been reminded of the stubborn quality of these Hutchinsons. The name is ingrained in my mind as I have praised these tires to my riding buddies all season.

Not to mention that they also look really sharp.

Strengths:

• durability
• a child could put them on a wheel without using levers
• solid cornering grip in both wet and dry conditions
• looks

Weaknesses:

• Hutchinson is a weird sounding name (seriously, that’s it)

Similar Products Used:
Michelin Pro2Race

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Featured Review: Brooks Swift Titanium
by Iasonas

Price Paid: $280.00
Review Date: October 26, 2009
Used product for: 2 years
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
Raleigh Supercourse (1973)/ Raleigh Interntionl (1972) / Medici Pro (1990s)/ All campy Record 10 speed system.

Summary:
This may be an unorthodox way to start, but very few would be the alternatives on what I would put on a classic 1970’s Raleigh. Those were coming with Brooks B17 actually but still, this saddle suits them much better. I think that it is either the most beautiful or at least one of the handful of those saddles that really look beautiful. When it comes to looks I was also considering the San Marco Royale, but the idea of riding on leather to me was not exactly that of having a plastic layer underneath. Once heavy thick leather breaks in, it is a different situation. The surface level softness is not really my aim when it comes to a saddle. The Swift takes way too long to break in. You need to work on it a lot and use lots of that proofide (not a lot at once, but a thin layer at a time). I also used a fair amount of leather wax in the beginning (wax based shoe polish also), which did not do as good a job as proofide. A B17 breaks in within a month or so. The swift may take at least 1000 miles and a number of proofide applications for you to sense the initial change. In the meantime you get used to the harder ride and you appreciate how well it is contoured. I can feel the bounce of the titanium rails more than that of the leather!

This saddle is not for everyone. It is for those of us that have the patience and the will to break it in and form it, and in the meantime for us to adjust to it as well. It is the saddle to use if you want to have those sudden bursts of acceleration and be able to slide on it. In the beginning I needed good padding. Now, I can easily ride it without any padding. The swift will likely never become very soft. It is not meant to be. It is a classic performance saddle. For randoneuring it may be slightly hard even after break-in. Like a thoroughbred horse, its elegance and grace are unmatched, but it will not do for just any type of riding and it takes patience and work to get it there.

Strengths:

• Beautiful just to look at.
• Once it breaks in it is comfy.
• Titanium rails have great elasticity.

Weaknesses:

• Takes patience and time to break in.
• Expensive.

Similar Products Used:
Brooks B17

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Featured Review: Bontrager Race X Lite AC Clincher Tire
by Minnesnowtan

Price Paid: $60.00 at Lutherville Bikes
Review Date: September 12, 2009
Used product for: 3 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 5 of 5

Bike Setup:
Specialized Sequoia (alum w/CF Fork), Alex rims (oooh..), Sora 3×8 gearing (aaah….) Topeak rack & trunk bag.

Summary:
I was looking for Race X Lite Hard Case but somehow got the Race X Lite AC. The labeling mentioned flat protection and the sales guy played that up in a big way. In the store, I thought that the AC was “HC” for hard case. I had previously bought a set of Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case tires in 32mm for my hybrid, and they never went flat. So I liked the Hard Case label, and maybe I am a bit of a Hard Case too.

This was my first time ever installing a tire without a wire bead. It didn’t form a U channel in which to pour in some baby powder. It was weird, but I figured it out and got it on properly. That was at home on the couch, I don’t want to do it again on the street, but I could. I may not have to.

After a few hundred miles of riding, (some limestone trail [NCR] and lots of road) the tire looks almost like new. The is a scrape of some rubber, but it is minor. I do recall a time or two where something hard shot out from under my tire, and that abrasion is probably the result.

In contrast, my front tire (Specialized All Condition Sport) has soft tread that gets a lot of small cuts, one of them currently open and gaping (but still small). Although the front tire has been around longer than the Bontrager, it is certainly less than 1,000 miles old and makes the Race X Lite AC look pretty darn good.

Recommended pressure is 100-130 psi, so I stay at 100-110, as I am a fairly light 160 pound rider. The ride seems the same as with the previous tire (Specialized All Condition Sport, which handles well enough but is a hole-magnet), maybe slightly less grippy than its soft treaded predecessor. But it is very similar in handling from what I have experienced so far, and that is good.

My front tire needs to be replaced (due to its small gaping cut) and I may put another Bontrager Race X Lite AC on it, but this time in 25mm rather than 23mm. I may be commuting to downtown, and want something that grips in the wet and is flat resistant as well. If anyone else has experiences with this (or other) tires, please post reviews so that we can learn from you.

I rated this overall as a 5 because it has done all that is expected of it so far, and value a 4 because bike tires should not cost what car tires cost.

Strengths:
It has been doing well for 300 to 500 miles so far, and on some rough roads, downtown Baltimore city streets (such as the Hanover St bridge which has a lot of debris on and near it).

Weaknesses:
$60 for a bike tire? I can get a good, and I mean very good car tire for $66 new online. Other than the price, not enough time with the tire to find any flaws, if there are any. The LBS who sold me this bike aren’t thrilled to see Bontrager on my wheel as opposed to Specialized. Oh well

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case in 32mm on my former bike, a hybrid. I started club riding on it, never a flat. Had trouble keeping up, but no flats.

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Featured Review: KHS Urban X
by JJsKHS

Price Paid: $399.00 at Summit Ski and Bike
Review Date: August 24, 2009
Used product for: 3 months
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
KHS Urban-X w/ grocery panniers, kryptonite u-lock, and Planet Bike Blaze front/rear lights.

Summary:
This is really an excellent commuter for the price. I was looking at models selling for two and three times as much online, but when I went into the store the Urban X was the first one the guy pulled off the rack. I was somewhat hesitant, as I had it in my mind I was going with a single front chain ring with Nexus as opposed to a derailleur setup, but I’m so glad I went with the X. I routinely use all three rings here in LA, and would be at a loss on some of the steeper grades without a full 21 speeds. To think, I was considering a fixie!

Strengths:
Really well equipped stock, especially for the money: serviceable wheels, 21 speeds, a rack, fenders, etc. The stock Kendra Kwest tires are great at absorbing some of the “noise” and shock from the road, while still being fast. Bulletproof, too — ran over broken glass and all kinds of urban detritus and no flats yet. The Urban X has proven itself to be durable, usable, and an overall nice bike. Perfect commuter at a reasonable price; one only needs lights and panniers to be fully stocked and ready to roll.

Weaknesses:
The stock “Brooks-style” seat killed me. I tried and tried to get on with it, but just couldn’t. Put about 50 miles on it and was still undecided, then went on a 20 mile cruise one day and was hurting so bad by the end that I literally rode directly to the bike shop on my way home for a replacement saddle. Tried all kinds of adjustments, etc, and just couldn’t get accustomed to the stocker. This is, ultimately, a minor issue and a personal choice; your mileage may vary. Definitely not a deal breaker either way; if you don’t like the stocker, get a suitable replacement for $20-$50 and you’re all set.

That aside, my only other gripe is the paint, which seems fairly easy to chip. Granted, it’s not egg shell delicate, but I hit the metal part of my U-lock against it fairly gently and dinged away a tiny (tiny) bit of paint. This happened another time when I banged my pannier hook against the frame. It’s aluminum, so I’m not worried about corrosion, and I got this thing for riding, not for looking, but I think the paint should be stuck on there a bit better, and be more rugged. But it’s not terrible or anything, and looks nice. Minor gripe.

Similar Products Used:
Rode a heavy, poorly sprung, and poorly maintained Raleigh M50 Mountain/Trail around the urban landscape for quite a time, and thought I was cruising on a nice bike. Heh, right. Riding on the KHS is like night and day, primarily because it was made from the ground up for urban riding, has city tires, and doesn’t weigh ten thousand pounds. Now it makes me laugh when I see literally every other person on the road riding either a low end mountain bike like my old M50, or a full on race/road bike, neither of which are entirely appropriate for city riding.

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Featured Review: Hutchinson Fusion 2 Tubeless
by gowideopen

Price Paid: $58.00 from ebay per tire
Review Date: August 5, 2009
Used product for: less than a month
Overall Rating: 5 of 5
Value Rating: 4 of 5

Bike Setup:
2005 Felt F1C

Summary:
The combination of the Hutchinson Tubeless road tires and the Dura Ace WH-7850 wheel set has transformed my 2005 Felt F1C from a harsh ride into a more compliant and easier bike to ride for longer distances. The bike is definitely more comfortable and easier to pedal. You will not feel at huge difference at lower speeds – i.e. climbing – but combo of the wheels and the tire seem to smooth the ride out at speeds above 18 mph. I do feel more responsiveness while climbing, however. I can certainly feel a massive difference over my old Ksyriums SSLs and Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks on rougher road surfaces like the chip-seal that we encounter on many of the roads in Colorado. The bike seems to handle and corner better as well.

At 175 lbs, I’ve tried a variety of PSI but have settled in at 115. I did pick up a piece of wire in the front tire and it created a slow leak. When I first mounted the tires I did not use the Hutchinson Fast Air, but added it since that incident and it sealed the puncture. I have about 500 miles on the tires now with no further mishaps

Strengths:
1) Ride quality – has transformed my Felt in to more of a “Roubaix” type of ride.
2) Rolling resistance.
3) Easy to mount on the WH-7850s
4) No tubes (but I carry a spare in case of a large puncture).

Weaknesses:
No so far but they are pricey. I will be interested to see what competitive product appear in the next year or so.

Similar Products Used:
None. I will say that the WH-7850s also made a big difference even without the Hutchinsons vs. my 4 year old Kysriums SSLs. The SSLs seem to be a lot less aero and definitely more affected by cross winds.