did topolino really re-invent the wheel?

They are stiff with regard to angular force, i.e. when you are climbing the
wheels feel stiff. The spoke material however, gives an additional dampening
to road vibration, which as we all know, can make any ride tiring.

I am not a spokesperson for the company, however, I do like the ride far
more than a set of ksyriums that I tried. When it comes down to it, a set of
wheels should be strong, and if possible, comfortable, which topolinos
definitely are.

--


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM!
Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter
http://mail.giantcompany.com


"Tim McNamara" wrote in message
...
"JayofMontreal" writes:

I have a set of Topolinos. My first wheel had problems, and
Topolino not only replaced the wheel, they even paid for the
shipping. They've stood behind their product 100%.

As far as the ride quality: there is nothing finer. The
Carbon/Kevlar spokes absorb road vibration magnificently. They are
relatively light (1400 grams a pair), but the reason to ride these
babies is for the quality of ride. Its like they have repaved the
road under you, yet these wheels are laterally stiff.

Oh, my. So vertically they are not stiff, since they absorb road
vibration, which in turn means that they are not torsionally stiff
(since those qualities are closely related) and therefore wind up
before transmitting your energy to the road. And they are laterally
stiff, which is impossible in a tensioned bicycle wheel. Well done
Topolino!


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.593 / Virus Database: 376 - Release Date: 2/20/2004

As the recent post eloquently summarized, these things are
perceived as "rigid yet flexible". Sky Yaeger used that
phrase often as a joke to paraphrase marketing campaigns.

The marketing seems to be superior and effective! A rider
actually said this about that (rigid yet flexible), having
been dup er, ah, having availed himself of this
new "rigid yet flexible" technology.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971


I've never tired the Topolinos but I have used the original Spinergys for
many years. These had four pairs of carbon fiber strips, and deep CF aero
rim bottoms glued to AL rims. They were flexible lateral but they did
absorb more of the road vibration then steel spoked wheels.

So they had one of those magical qualities, at the expense of the other.

Bruce

oveto- Has anybody purchased/ridden the topolino wheels. They sound pretty
cool as
they "bend" the spoke through the hub. How are they? BRBR

Nelson Vales has a pair he got for free, and we are waiting until he breaks
one, like he has with just about every wheel he has used..Mavic, Campagnolo,
these, shimano...

We try to build him a pair but......

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

In article ,
says...
oveto- Has anybody purchased/ridden the topolino wheels. They sound pretty
cool as
they "bend" the spoke through the hub. How are they? BRBR
Nelson Vales has a pair he got for free, and we are waiting until he breaks
one, like he has with just about every wheel he has used..Mavic, Campagnolo,
these, shimano...
We try to build him a pair but......

Not surprising. He has put on a few pounds and I'm sure he is still
extremely strong.
----------------
Alex

The only way I could see breaking the wheel is to destroy the rim or crash
something into the spokes causing them to be damaged. To snap one of those
spokes from stress would be extremely difficult I would think.

As the spokes are irreplaceable you have to install a new half of the wheel.
Raphael from topolino told me that they are roughly $100 and that includes
all the spokes for a 1/2 side and a new hubshell (the hubshell joins the
wheels in the middle of the hub.

--


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM!
Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter
http://mail.giantcompany.com


"Qui si parla Campagnolo " wrote in message
...
oveto- Has anybody purchased/ridden the topolino wheels. They sound
pretty
cool as
they "bend" the spoke through the hub. How are they? BRBR

Nelson Vales has a pair he got for free, and we are waiting until he
breaks
one, like he has with just about every wheel he has used..Mavic,
Campagnolo,
these, shimano...

We try to build him a pair but......

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.593 / Virus Database: 376 - Release Date: 2/20/2004

"Bruce Frech" writes:

Andrew Muzi sagely wrote:

As the recent post eloquently summarized, these things are
perceived as "rigid yet flexible". Sky Yaeger used that
phrase often as a joke to paraphrase marketing campaigns.

The marketing seems to be superior and effective! A rider
actually said this about that (rigid yet flexible), having
been dup er, ah, having availed himself of this
new "rigid yet flexible" technology.

I've never tired the Topolinos but I have used the original
Spinergys for many years. These had four pairs of carbon fiber
strips, and deep CF aero rim bottoms glued to AL rims. They were
flexible lateral but they did absorb more of the road vibration then
steel spoked wheels.

Yes, and they shattered causing imminent peril to the people using
those wheels, hence Spinergy quietly withdrew them from the market
without ever publicly admitting the failure of their design.

All spoke-based bike wheels are laterally flexible, except for those
with large cast metal, plastic or carbon fiber "spokes" like BMX
wheels or tri-spokes. Even Topolinos will have this issue because
it's unavoidable. Spinergy, having so few spokes under relatively
low tension, with large spans of unsupported rim, had the added issue
of vertical flexibility to a greater degree than was good for them.
Spinergy tried several stop-gap fixes which also failed.

So they had one of those magical qualities, at the expense of the
other.

Magical is the appropriate word for things that are "rigid yet
flexible." Fortunately for the hype-meisters working in the bicycle
industry, people fool themselves into perceiving what they are told
they will perceive.

"JayofMontreal" writes:

The only way I could see breaking the wheel is to destroy the rim or
crash something into the spokes causing them to be damaged. To snap
one of those spokes from stress would be extremely difficult I would
think.

As the spokes are irreplaceable you have to install a new half of
the wheel. Raphael from topolino told me that they are roughly $100
and that includes all the spokes for a 1/2 side and a new hubshell
(the hubshell joins the wheels in the middle of the hub.

The only problem this design appears to solve is the emptiness in
Raphael's wallet.

It's interesting that the Web site is dependent on subjective
testimonials, pseudo-impressive technospeak and some misleading
information as well. Mavic could learn a thing or two about
marketing from these guys.

In article ,
says...
The only way I could see breaking the wheel is to destroy the rim or crash
something into the spokes causing them to be damaged. To snap one of those
spokes from stress would be extremely difficult I would think.

A twig in a spoke could cause damage that would eventually cause
the spoke to fail.

As the spokes are irreplaceable you have to install a new half of the wheel.
Raphael from topolino told me that they are roughly $100 and that includes
all the spokes for a 1/2 side and a new hubshell (the hubshell joins the
wheels in the middle of the hub.

$100 to fix wheel damage seems a bit steep. Especially when you consider
that a broken spoke on a regular wheel would only set you back $20 or so.
--------------
Alex

I have a friend who won't get a carbon fiber frame because "if you smash it
against the edge of a door, its gonna break". The possible bad things that
can happen from an accident are many. Personally from an accident I am far
more worried about me than I am my bike. Bike fixes with money, bad knee
injuries -- well you're screwed for life.

I like the wheels, they ride great, you don't like them, you don't have to
ride them.


--


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM!
Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter
http://mail.giantcompany.com


"Alex Rodriguez" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...
The only way I could see breaking the wheel is to destroy the rim or
crash
something into the spokes causing them to be damaged. To snap one of
those
spokes from stress would be extremely difficult I would think.

A twig in a spoke could cause damage that would eventually cause
the spoke to fail.

As the spokes are irreplaceable you have to install a new half of the
wheel.
Raphael from topolino told me that they are roughly $100 and that
includes
all the spokes for a 1/2 side and a new hubshell (the hubshell joins the
wheels in the middle of the hub.

$100 to fix wheel damage seems a bit steep. Especially when you consider
that a broken spoke on a regular wheel would only set you back $20 or so.
--------------
Alex



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.593 / Virus Database: 376 - Release Date: 2/20/2004

Alex Rodriguez wrote:

In article ,
says...

The only way I could see breaking the wheel is to destroy the rim or crash
something into the spokes causing them to be damaged. To snap one of those
spokes from stress would be extremely difficult I would think.


A twig in a spoke could cause damage that would eventually cause
the spoke to fail.


As the spokes are irreplaceable you have to install a new half of the wheel.
Raphael from topolino told me that they are roughly $100 and that includes
all the spokes for a 1/2 side and a new hubshell (the hubshell joins the
wheels in the middle of the hub.


$100 to fix wheel damage seems a bit steep. Especially when you consider
that a broken spoke on a regular wheel would only set you back $20 or so.

?? Are those gold-plated spokes? If any shop wanted to charge
me $20 for a spoke I'd keep riding on a slightly wobbly wheel to the next
town.