Xavier
new member
Reged: 03/04/04
Posts: 5
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Greetings,
I felt compelled to post this here for several reasons.
1. I often read the board and see wheel discussions come that include Topolino wheels.
2. I live in the town where they are made and have been racing the same set for two years.
I've been riding these wheels since they were first introduced to the general public. Seeing the team I ride for is in the same town as Topolino, and the team has a high profile Masters, Cat III and Cat IV team, Topolino offered us dibs on the first generation wheels at a slightly reduced cost. I took the bait and picked up a pair. I got mine at the end of the 2002 season. I've now raced these wheels for over two years and the relationship with the co. has been nothing short of exceptional. After having the wheels for only several months, a rider put his pedal into my rear wheel while going down in a crit. The wheel was replaced at a nominal fee in no time at all.
Two days before the 2003 Green Mountain Stage Race (the biggest end of the season rd race in the North East) I felt something wasn't right with the freehub. The hub was promptly replaced and I was on my way 30min later!!!
While I was waiting for the work to be done the owner Rafe, showed me around and gave me a preview of the now available deep dish carbon tubulars that are only about 1000gms!!! I also got to see each of the stations in which the wheel are built. To sum it up, I was treated like a USPS rider when in fact I'm a 38 year old cat IV!!!!!!!!!!!
In short this is a company that is passionate about their product and satisfying the riders that choose their wheels. Much like Calfee, they are a small company that strives to offer the best product available with personal customer service that is second to none.
(Disclaimer; I don't work or am paid by Topolino in any manner)
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BikeWNC
new member
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 23
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Xavier, how much do you weigh? I currently ride Ksyrium SL and like the lateral stiffness but I am curious if the Topolinos would stand up to my 180 lbs.
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1centaur
journeyman
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 126
Loc: Massachusetts
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There's a thread on Topos and rider weight on Bicycling - a 200-lb guy (I hope) said they were fine for him.
Topo e-mail support is very fast to answer questions - give them a try.
I absolutely love my Topos - after riding Neutrons for years (see my picture gallery) I got Topos on the Six13 to get a less brittle ride and now I prefer them in every way - they are my wheel of choice at this point on bikes to come.
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"You never make a gift of Ventoux"
Eddie Merckx to Lance Armstrong
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bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
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Its good that you live where the factory is, makes any "problems" easy to resolve. I know, I only live an hour or so away from Calfee and any problems have been easily resolved.
I do have a few questions that someone might be able to answer:
1. are Topolino rims and spokes proprietary?
2. what is the replacement cost of rims and spokes?
I ask these questions because a friend has done research on Mavic Kyserium (sp?) and Campy boutiques and found replacement rims *start* at $150+ each and can go as high as $220 each! Spokes are also proprietary and expensive too.
It gets to the point that if you damage your rim, you basically toss it out as its not worth the expense to rebuild. Seems like a waste to me....
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Ray_Ruyack
new member
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 1
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I've been on a set of the Topo's for 2½ years and over 8000 miles. Road, cross and trails with the cross bike and they're still true.
1. The spokes are not only proprietary, they come in halves. Meaning that each wheel has a split hub that the spokes are attached to. Click here http://www.topolinotech.com/faqs.shtml to get much more info.
Actual replacement costs are not listed. I did destroy 2 rims (remember to let some air out of your tires in the Summer when your bike is in the car) and the hubs and spokes were (still are) fine. It was a simple rebuild to replace the rims.
Ray
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Bruce
contributor
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 133
Loc: North of NYC
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I have been riding the Topolino alloy rims for the last 2 months or so, and I love them. Still true, light, and fast. I weigh 175, so 180 should works well. I wanted a lighter wheel than my 28 spoke Velocity Aeroheads with Record hubs, but did not want to ride my carbon rims for every day stuff. The Topolinos fit the bill. They make a big difference in climbing for sure, and they are plenty stiff for other riding. A very solid feeling wheel.
I also notice that they absorb much more road shock than standard steel spoked wheels. This is undoubtedly due the the carbon fiber spokes, as the wheel is otherwise very similar to what I was riding before.
My only complaint is that the hubs now have a bit of play in them. I know how to fix the rear hug, I need a 17 mm cone wrench, but I can't figure out the front.
Anyone have any idea on how to tighten up the front hub?
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Jas0n
journeyman
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 62
Loc: Westchester, New York
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try two 4mm or 5mm allen keys inserted into both sides of the axle. the axle looks round but you will feel the keys engage. i think they are both 5mm, but im not certain. once you figure out the size, you snug away as with any other hub adj.
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eat to live, live to ride
if it ain't rainin, it ain't trainin
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Bruce
contributor
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 133
Loc: North of NYC
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JasOn,
Thanks, I'll try it. I can't believe they don't say how to do it in the owners manual, at least not that I saw.
Bruce
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