i got mine also immediately as i bought them used from a guy who had them just becaused he liked the looks, but never rode them

Johan, as you can use your own wheels, what about the tires? do you get these from your team's sponsor or do you get your own tubulars?
And do you know if is it true that at the cobblestobe classics many riders use Dugast tires?
(and shouldn't you be out training rather than surfin' the net? nah, only joking...)

Martin
who should *definetly* work rather than reading the WW forum...

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Snowman and Strong Walker
Scott Sc
my old stuff
my new stuff

Cool. Always nice to see a pro answering questions on-line. I bet you guys get quite some laughs out of some of the views amateurs have regarding their equipment

we are riding Vredesstein tubulars in the team. No I dont' think they are riding with dugast tubulars on the cobbles. In the cyclocross everyone is using them but not on the road.

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no pain no gain

he isn't washed-up yet!!

Congratulations to you!! I enjoyed watching that race. I will have to watch it again a look for you.

Can anyone give me a very brief comparison of their impressions between Lightweights vs. Zipp 404 vs. Corima Aero??

The comparison having owned Corima Aeros, Zipp 303 and Lightweights is that there is no comparison. I have to say I had my doubts but having finally took the plunge the lightweights are superb. Not sure you can really compare something with such a huge price difference fairly though

I understand they should be 'better' (especially at that price point), but I'm looking for something more specific. I was contemplating a set of Corimas and then started looking at Zipps. Now, I'm looking at Lightweights, but that represents a huge jump in price. If I rode Corimas, then 404s, then Lightweights, what should I expect to note as I progressed from one to the other?

BTW - I'm riding Hyperons presently.

I changed from Corima to Zipp and to be honest I think it was a backwards step, I never had a single problem with my corima aeros they were not a heavy wheel considering their aerodynamics and they rolled well, the Zipp 303's I had felt fragile in comparison and let me down on a couple of occasions. The lightweights I have are the 20 spoke front wheel version. They accelerate phenomenally well, they are extremely stiff which can feel a little uncomfortable on some of our less well surfaced roads and I have experienced no "grabbing" when braking using shimano carbon pads. I would recommend the Corimas 100% and considered going back to them but I got a chance to acquire the lightweights as part of a deal so jumped at it. I look at it this way if the pros are in a position to use wheels that are free, something they have to pay for MUST be considerably better.

BTW anyone knows what Cipo weighs nowadays? I was under the impression he was around 80-85 kg´s impressive that the Lightweights can take such a beating from such an agressive rider.

Cipo was riding 20/20 spokes.

Count the spokes here: 12/16

Zabel rides an experimental set of Lightweights here with 12 spokes front and 16 spokes rear and wins "Around Cologne" with them in a sprint decision.

Carbon/Aramides spokes don´t stretch at all and they can take loads that no metal spokes can ever take. Because they are laminated to the rim and hub, they also cannot change their position. This is the main secret why Lightweights are stiffer than any conventional wheel available.

Cipo asked Mr. Obermayer to make him a set with more spokes before he ordered his first set of Lightweights in 2002. Mr. Obermayer convinced him that there is really no need for that. Cipo won the WCS in Zolder on a "regular" set.

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www.carbonsports.com
www.carbonsports-forum.com

What's the advantage of the 12/16 spoke concept? Weight gain should be almost nothing, but stiffness and strenght are maybe decreased?

I am having the same question. What is the advantage of 12/16 above 16/20.

Is it 25gram of weight? And a lot of drag (how much?)?

Interesting question in that the ride qualities of the 16/20 or 20/20 might be too stiff/uncomfortable for all day riding on less than perfect roads. Would the reduced spoke count add comfort for a 76 kilo rider?????

I hope the people from Carbon Sports sign on and respond as often as most of the people here!!!!!

The concept is not only to build the well known wheels with fewer spokes. There´s more behind it and you´ll find out on this year´s Eurobike in September.

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www.carbonsports.com
www.carbonsports-forum.com

less spokes=better aerodynamics