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Topolini wheelsets

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:08 pm
by hamsterchick
Hello everyone!

Was surfing around the net and came across this brand. Weenie material as I guess most of you should know...but a new revelation ( no pun intended) for me.

Two models, Revelation C-19 and V-39.

Further to the thread concerning the Reynolds Stratus DV vs. Zipp 404's, what can we say about the Topolini Rrevelation C-19 & V-39?

In SG, the cost of the Reynold wheelsets starts at S$3,300/ and the Zipp 404's at around S$2,400/. Getting a Topolini from the web may cost around S$2640/....not bad for a top of the food chain wheelset.

They have this revoloutionary composite spoke and this aside they are tied at the intersections for more durability and strength.

Any personal exepreince using these wheelset?..and would you recommend it as an everyday training wheels or just for race specific use?

My next wheelset would be a carbon tubular and aside from eyeing the Reynolds and Zipp, I may want to consider the Topolini too.

So need your valuable in-put and feedbacks for considering my choice of purchase.

Thanx for your replies in advance! :D

Topolini wheelsets

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:08 pm
by Weenie

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Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:22 pm
by singlefeldspar
I have had the Topolino clinchers for about 3000+ miles now. They are the only wheels that I use. I used them in good weather, bad weather, long rides, short rides, hills, flats, good surfaces and horrible surfaces. They have hit plenty of potholes during this time. They have performed flawlessly. I have not had to true them and they spin as nicely today as they did the day I got them. The only minor flaw is that the front hub started to get a little loose (I could still ride, climb and descend at any speed with it like this - only slightly annoying when standing). However, on minutes notice, Topolino sent me free parts to solve the problem.

For what it is worth, they are also the most comfortable wheels I have ever been on. Switching from Bonty Race Lites (nothing special) not only saved a bunch of weight, but the ride quality increased exponentially.

All in all, I love them. If I was getting higher priced tubulars, I would definitely get the Topolinos over the Reynolds and Zipps. If nothing else, they have proven themselves tough enough for every day harsh use.

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:30 pm
by newbieweenie
Another vote for Topolinos. I will be purchasing mine in 2 weeks. The only negative thing I have heard about them is lack of lateral stiffness compared to Ksyrium's, but still stiff enough to climb with the best of them. I'd say go for them.

Where do you live that they are so expensive? They are only $850 with skewers and magnets here in the US.

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:33 pm
by Mr.Gib
Topolino's are interesting but I have to wonder about the aerodynamics with those big hunks of plastic out near the rim. It just doesn't make sense to me. The compliant ride is tempting though.

Any comments on aerodynamics?

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:53 pm
by BikeTech
The fact that Topolino implies their C19 wheelset is aero is amusing. I'm not buying the testimonial by Mika Luoto on their site.

Individual spokes on the wheelset cannot be replaced. You must purchase a wheel "half".

For anyone that is interested, the V39 carbon wheelset uses a Zipp 303 rim.

Maybe I'm grouchy. I have seen both wheelsets first hand (haven't ridden them) but they just don't do it for me. The spokes look raw and unfinished. Hubs are cheap looking. The spokes need a shave with a razor... furry fibrous bits on the ones I saw at Interbike.

Wonder why Healthnet dropped them and has been using Reynolds wheels for two years now...

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 1:58 am
by big fellow
@ singlefeldspar

how much do you weigh? do these wheels have a rider weight restriction?

also wonder about their aerodynamics, not that it's an issue when riding in a pack :wink:

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 2:16 am
by fdegrove
Hi,

Individual spokes on the wheelset cannot be replaced. You must purchase a wheel "half".


Cute....How on earth do they justify that one?

Guess I'll stick with my good old Mavics, Gipiemmes and Ambrosios for a while longer then.....At least I can put on the Sapim CX spokes on whenever I feel like it....

Grouchy? Me? Always. :roll:

Ciao, :wink:

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 2:23 am
by BikeTech
@fdegrove

I guess their idea for a wheel "half" stems from running a continuous spoke from one side of the rim, through the hub and out to the other side of the rim. No regular steel or ti spoke could do this.

IMHO looks like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Rafael Schlanger, President of Topolino designed this unusual wheel configuration in addition to the Spinergy Rev-X.

Like you I'll be sticking to my regular wheels :)

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 2:46 am
by fdegrove
Hi,

I guess their idea for a wheel "half" stems from running a continuous spoke from one side of the rim, through the hub and out to the other side of the rim. No regular steel or ti spoke could do this.


Hmmmm...yeah but still.
I suppose you could do this if readily made spokes were available for that type of construction, basically ones that are twice the length of an ordinary one if I read you correctly + the loss of the bend necessary to keep the hub in the twist.

Seems like a shift from one possible area of disaster to another to me but who am I to argue....
I wonder how "stiffly" you can fix a hub that way but let me check this out first before someone smashes me over the head with a spoke or two.... :oops:


Like you I'll be sticking to my regular wheels


LOL.....
Pretty hard to reinvent the wheel when almost everything has been done before.
The only area for improvement that's left IMHO is the application of newer materials, lighter, sturdier, etc.


Ciao, :wink:

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:22 pm
by singlefeldspar
To answer the earlier question, there is no rider weight limit (at least on the clinchers). The clinchers weigh about 1380 grams. They feel very light. They definitely work for an everyday wheel. They "feel" aero when I ride them, but without tests, etc., my feelings do not mean much. Then again, there is always a tradeoff in aero vs. stability in wind. They generally feel quite stable in cross-winds.

As for the comments about replacing spokes, I was initially concerned about that due to the cost. However, I have never come close to braking a spoke and have never heard of anyone (anyone I know or even a post on a website) breaking these spokes. They are stronger than regular spokes and the tension is spread out more than regular spokes. My guess is that you would need to jam something in the spokes when riding to break one - in which case, you would be in all kind of trouble.

Whether they reinvented the wheel or not is irrelevant to me. Compared to comparably priced wheels, these wheels rock. I like the look, and they are different. Of course, I also understand that some people think they are ugly - same goes for most biking stuff. The only way to get more bang for the buck IMO is to get custom wheels - which is something you love or you don't care for.

I got mine for $799 with skewers, tape and a Arione saddle (world champ colors).

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:25 pm
by newbieweenie
Ok, how did you get all that for so cheap??? THe cheapest I have found them is $850 with skewers and magnet.

I have read on report of someone breaking a spoke. It cost $180 initially to replace one side of the wheel. However, upon fixing the wheel, Topolino credited the persons credit card for the spokes that were not broke.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 3:17 pm
by singlefeldspar
How in the world did the spoke break??? At least they had good customer service.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 3:19 pm
by jersievers
I heard the only way to break one was to sheer it or manufactures defect in the joint where normal spoke meets kevlar spoke.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 4:21 pm
by newbieweenie
I'm not sure of the details of how it broke. It was either in a crash or hit a big pothole going pretty fast. But like you said, its good to know they have good customer service.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 4:21 pm
by Weenie

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