Campagnolo Hyperon Tubular Wheel Set

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Look 585

Bike Setup:
(2) Look 585s, Campy record.

Summary:
I have two sets of Hyperon tubulars, and I use them for everyday riding, training, and racing because life is too short...and I am old. They have the heft and stiffness of heavy wheels, yet they are light and without friction. I've had once set for three years and with about 15,000 miles on them, they have never needed truing, a spoke replacement, or a bearing adjustment. They are the best bike component I've ever owned.

Strengths:
They feel substantial, unlike my Zipp 202s, which have lateral flex and feel sketchy and flimsy. (I still love Zipp.) The Hyperons require no maintainence, they are supple, unlike deep-section wheels, they have great lateral stiffness, and they're extremely stout, almost like 2,000 gram wheels. They are bombproof, and have a dreamy ride, especially with 250 gram Tufo tires.

Weaknesses:
The only weaknesses are price, availability, and availability of service parts. If you break a rim, you throw the wheel away and buy a new one.

Similar Products Used:
Wheelsets I currently own: Zipp 202, Zipp 303, Zipp 606, Zipp 900 disc.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at Helen's Santa Monica

Favorite Ride:
Latigo

Bike Setup:
Full Campy Parlee Custom Z3.

Summary:
Amazing, these wheels do everything well. I have them on my Parlee custom Z3. Of course they look stealth, but most of all they are great riding wheels. No matter the ride, up down, windy calm, these wheels always feel the same, great. I particulary like the ceramic bearings and recommend that if you bought a newer pair without ceramic bearings that you upgrade to them. I weigh 155 and these are super comfortable wheels, yet they lose no power when you go to accelerate or sprint.

Strengths:
Lightweight, impervious to wind, smooth as silk.

Weaknesses:
A bit costly, but that is the price of a super wheelset without resorting to Lew or Lightweight.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager XXX Lite

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at Carl Hart Bicycles

Bike Setup:
COLNAGO Carbonissimo LX37, 56 cm - Special Edition, Campagnolo Record Carbon, Ergo Brain 10, Chris King NoThreadset, Deda Elementi Alanera, Campagnolo Hyperon Tubular , Fi'zi;k Aliante Ti, Look Cx6 Ti, Tufo Jet Special Tubular, Elite Patao STD Carbon

Summary:
Super sweet!!!!!!!!!! Fast!!!!!!!!!! go! go! go! Wicked! smooth barings...

Strengths:
Pure Italian Elegance! Construction! Quality !!! Reliability, Unashamed Luxury!

Weaknesses:
Cost, but if you cant afford get the aluminum Neutrons.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at Used/Clean 2003 Set

Favorite Ride:
Lakefront

Bike Setup:
Bianchi EV4
Full 2004 Record
FSA Crankset, Bars, Stem, Post
Hyperons

Summary:
I realize that this is not a wheelset that everyone can consider as a viable purchase option (including myself), but I had an opportunity to buy a used 2003 set for reasonable money and wring out my new ride.

Strengths:
The first thing I noticed is that the Hyperons seem virtually invisible to gusts of cross winds. They just seem to keep rolling - fast.

In the flats, the Hyperons feel very secure, but not harsh. They roll incredibly fast in the flats, and I felt very comfortable in diving into a relatively sharp corner at higher speeds than what I was used to. They handle beautifully and with precision. They also seem to be very quiet.

In the hills, the Hyperons are an amazing climbing wheel, and this is quickly noticeable. Here there are a few steep bridges over industrial shipping canals, which normally bring me out of the saddle. This morning, I rode over them noticeably more easily, without having to leave the saddle at all.

Weaknesses:
Perhaps only the price of a new set.

Similar Products Used:
Mavic Open-Pro
Mavic CXP22

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at Kirk's Bike Shop

Favorite Ride:
anywhere out doors

Bike Setup:
03 C-Dale Team Replica -Record

Summary:
I bought these wheels last May and they are my favorite wheelset. I work at a bike shop and have tried all different wheels available. These wheels are unassuming looking. They are not a deep carbon "killer looking" wheel, like Zipp 404's. But they are far better engineered in the all around sense. They are made for racing , but are just as happy on a everday club ride and can take the punishment. I weigh 185 and they have not needed trued. I have used them in wet weather and they are better than my Mavic Reflex alum wheels. Beware, you absultely need to use the brake pads with these wheels. And if you put a alum wheel back on, change the pads back or you will find a stopping problem on your next decent!

Strengths:
super lite and strong

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
all (with in reason)