Have they released drag charts comparing against zip and hed?

Are the weights published?

Front FLO 60 - 875 grams
Rear FLO 60 - 1061 grams
Rear FLO 60 Clydesdale - 1089 grams
Front FLO 90 - 952 grams
Rear FLO 90 - 1138 grams
Rear FLO 90 Clydesdale - 1170 grams
FLO DISC - 1260 grams
FLO DISC Clydesdale - 1299 grams

I might go for a disk!

Vegas

From their blog:

Front FLO 60 - 875 grams
Rear FLO 60 - 1061 grams
Rear FLO 60 Clydesdale - 1089 grams
Front FLO 90 - 952 grams
Rear FLO 90 - 1138 grams
Rear FLO 90 Clydesdale - 1170 grams
FLO DISC - 1260 grams
FLO DISC Clydesdale - 1299 grams

Where are these guys located? Canada? If so, are they predicting prices US or CDN? Also curious is they are going to allow standard credit card use.

From their blog:

Front FLO 60 - 875 grams
Rear FLO 60 - 1061 grams
Rear FLO 60 Clydesdale - 1089 grams
Front FLO 90 - 952 grams
Rear FLO 90 - 1138 grams
Rear FLO 90 Clydesdale - 1170 grams
FLO DISC - 1260 grams
FLO DISC Clydesdale - 1299 grams

Where are these guys located? Canada? If so, are they predicting prices US or CDN? Also curious is they are going to allow standard credit card use.

They said credit cards and paypal will be accepted. There is a drag chart out there somewhere on their blog.

We are located in Las Vegas. Prices will be in USD and you can pay with a credit card or via PayPal. We have a fully integrated shopping cart ready to go. You can ship via USPS or UPS.

I hope that helps,

International orders? Are they going to be accepted / what shipping options?
Cheers

Ball park what's a disc + intl shipping to NZ going to set someone like me back (just evaluation options here...) also how wide are the discs? Have you tried one in a Scott Plasma 2 frame?

Ball park what's a disc + intl shipping to NZ going to set someone like me back (just evaluation options here...) also how wide are the discs? Have you tried one in a Scott Plasma 2 frame?

Response from Scott...
I can tell you that from measurements I've taken on the Plasma 2 frame, rims wider than 28 will rub. They can roll through the frame with no problem, but when a rider uses a light hub, super thin spokes, etc, the wheels flex enough to rub. As you likely know, there are different riding styles. Some riders get out of the saddle and really push the bike side to side aggressively like a BMX bike, and when they put that kind of side load, coupled with strong pushes on the cranks, many wheels will rub. On the opposite side of that coin, there are really smooth riders who maybe have spent time on spin bikes, and only move their bodies up and down, with less side to side movement.

Definitely very interested in these wheels (60 front and rear for me). But I have seen nothing about any attempted tests related to long term durability. Yes, I know it's a new product so time will tell. But with custom hubs, custom spokes, and rims have any preliminary stress/fatigue tests been performed? Even though aluminum rims are not whiz-bang technology, there are still lots of examples of crap rims out there. Lots of things ride great until they fail. Has there been any talk about durability and I just haven't been able to find it?

I just hope lead times aren't like 6 months.

Wow. These are on par with HED weights. I expected them to be heavier.

Based on this, I assume you will be posting a list of bikes that you have tested and confirmed as fitting/not fitting with the launch?

Yes we certainly will. Is there a certain bike are you questioning?

Only if you include an extra 500g's or so of extra weight in the hed's!

http://www.hedcycling.com/...efault.asp?content=6

A P3 and a Slice. I have no reason to think they won't fit.

Only if you include an extra 500g's or so of extra weight in the hed's!

http://www.hedcycling.com/...efault.asp?content=6

really? Comparing clinchers v tubulars? You have to be smarter than that...

I'm about to pull the trigger on some planet x clinchers, now that you are prepared to take preorders, can you list the price somewhere on the blog. I have to decide within days on what brand to purchase. The planet x sale will not last forever.

Ball park what's a disc + intl shipping to NZ going to set someone like me back (just evaluation options here...) also how wide are the discs? Have you tried one in a Scott Plasma 2 frame?

I'm about to pull the trigger on some planet x clinchers, now that you are prepared to take preorders, can you list the price somewhere on the blog. I have to decide within days on what brand to purchase. The planet x sale will not last forever.

Yes we certainly will. Is there a certain bike are you questioning?

Not trying to be argumentive, just curious. Where did you find the data, shape? None whatsoever? If thats true thanks for the heads up.

Bah, no powertap.

Chris, have you gotten a chance to put them on a speed concept yet? Thanks

Chris, have you gotten a chance to put them on a speed concept yet? Thanks

Any information on the weight/launch date/price of your "climber wheels?"

Canadian, If you want to test either a Quintana Roo cd0.1 or Lucero Lite, PM me. My girlfriend and I live in Las Vegas and would be more than happy to help out!

Chris,

Any estimate for Australia (e.g. Brisbane 4000). Looking at 60mm front and rear.

Thanks.

Check out the Tririg video review of the wheels. They are on a SC and look absolutely amazing one them!!

Free set of wheels for helping to answer a question, Chris?? ;)

Will the disc wheel be track compatible/convertible?

are you going to make tubular wheels?

Our FLO ceramic bearings are produced by a company called TPI (Technology Precision Innovation). The ball bearings are made using Silicone Nitride (Si3N4). Silicone Nitride offers a long list of improved physical properties that make the bearings ideal for high performance applications. As an example, silicone nitride bearings are used in the main engines of NASA's Space Shuttle. This means if you reach speeds high enough to launch yourself into outer space using FLO wheels with ceramic bearings, they still won't fail ;). Let's take a look at a list of the improved physical properties and a table comparing ceramic bearings and standard steel bearings.

• Improved Temperature range
• Lower Density
• Reduced Thermal Expansion
• Improved Hardness, Young’s Modulus, Poisson Ratio / Excellent Wear Resistance
• Lower Friction

Let's now detail the improved physical properties listed above and discuss why they make a better bearing.

High Temperature Range
Standard steel bearings see a reduction in their hardness when exposed to higher temperatures. Silicone nitride bearings are capable of handling much higher heat loads and do not see a reduction in hardness or life endurance when exposed to heat. For the most part the bearings of a bicycle wheel (steel or ceramic) will not experience temperatures high enough to effect the bearing. However, over time the improved temperature range of a ceramic bearing could provide an improvement.

Low Density
The density of ceramic bearings is less than one half that of a steel bearing. Knowing this, bearing manufacturers use ceramic balls with smaller diameters (shown below) which greatly reduces the influence of centrifugal force (ie. ball sliding and spinning caused by a gyratory moment). As a result, ceramic bearings show a reduction in temperature build up and an improvement when spinning at high speeds.



FLO EZO Bearing (left) w/ 10 Ball Bearings - FLO Ceramic Bearing (right) w/ 11 Smaller Ball Bearings


Thermal Expansion
The thermal expansion of silicone nitride is four times less than steel. As the ball bearings inside of a bearing heat up, they become larger which increases the overall bearing friction. Using a silicone nitride ball bearing reduces the amount of thermal expansion and as a result reduces the overal friction of the bearing.

Hardness, Young’s Modulus, Poisson Ratio / Excellent Wear Resistance
Silicone nitride bearings have improved hardness, Young's modulus and Poisson ratio. This improvement in physical properties improves the overall wear resistance and service life of the bearing.

Low Friction
All of the items listed above equal a reduction in overall bearing friction. Simply put, ceramic bearings rotate with less resistance than a standard steel bearing saving you watts and getting you to the finish line faster.

The Bottom Line
Ceramic bearings as a whole are a better quality bearing. They last longer and will help shave even more time off of your next race. Sounds like a pretty good reason to upgrade if you ask us.

Chris

The better question might be whether ceramic bearings are worth the cost. Are there numbers on reduced wattage (due to reduced friction) or expected lifespan? With the low price point, the bearing upgrade is 20+% of the cost of a wheel, is it worth it?

I don't have any specific values on reduced wattage or lifespan. I would consider ceramic bearings more of a luxury instead of a necessity.

Also, will disc covers be available for purchase for those considering a rear flo 60/90 + disc cover?

We will not be selling disc covers. Rich from wheelbuilder has my product specs and is sending me samples to determine if his cover will work.

Can't wait to see these wheels in person!

Thank you.

Take care,

Chris,

Will the Clydesdale version be part of the pre-order? What is the maximum weight of the regular 60 or 90 rear?

Yes, the clydesdale wheels will be part of the pre-order. The maximum recommended weight limits are 198lbs for standard builds and 242lbs for clydesdale builds.

Thanks,

You're welcome.

All the best,

Bill

Hi Chris,

Do you have any plans to eventually release a 45 or 50 mm deep set? Thanks!

Not in the near future. Potentially in our next generation of wheels. But... there is a LOT that needs to happen before we consider that!

Take care,

Ian

I am torn between a 60/60 or 60/90. I am a little guy (5'9" & race at about 135lbs). My last 70.3 I averaged 21.1mph. I am buying these wheels for triathlons from sprint to 140.6. Triathlon is the main reason I am buying these but I would also love to throw them on my road bike every now and then. I also plan on getting a wheelcover for the rear.
I know that either combo will be much better than my training wheels that I have been racing on so I just want to post this and get some people opinions. I have read and reread Flo's responses on this so I just want to get everyone else’s .02. So at my weight and speed what would you get?
P.S.
I am leaning toward the 60/90 basically because it is a toss up and I like how the 90 rear looks.

I am torn between a 60/60 or 60/90. I am a little guy (5'9" & race at about 135lbs). My last 70.3 I averaged 21.1mph. I am buying these wheels for triathlons from sprint to 140.6. Triathlon is the main reason I am buying these but I would also love to throw them on my road bike every now and then. I also plan on getting a wheelcover for the rear.
I know that either combo will be much better than my training wheels that I have been racing on so I just want to post this and get some people opinions. I have read and reread Flo's responses on this so I just want to get everyone else’s .02. So at my weight and speed what would you get?
P.S.
I am leaning toward the 60/90 basically because it is a toss up and I like how the 90 rear looks.

Would/will there be any issues with a Felt B2?

Chris,

If I buy these on the 1st preorder day (friday 23rd), is there a chance I will have these by the 1st weekend in May? I live on the East Coast and no you will be shipping from Vegas. I've been waiting for these to launch for over a year and want them on my bike for my 1st race of the season.

Thanks in advance

Chris,

I have a 2010 Felt B2 Pro. Any issues with fit?

Bill

May be hard to find but any chance you can check clearance on a Kuota Kueen K? Mine is an 09' but I think thay are all the same. I doubt there would be any issues as it seems to have good clearance.
Thanks

Chris,

Can you tell us what the "special warranty" will include on the preorder?

Sorry if this has already been said, but I could not find it in any of the threads.

Brad

There is a chance but I can not guarantee it. There are a lot of people signed up and there is a good chance we will sell through the first order fairly quickly.

If this guy places an order on the very first day of your pre-order sale: 2/23/12, how is it that you cannot assure delivery of his wheels 10 weeks later?

This is just one guy!! How many other people are you going to leave hanging? You need to brush up on your supply chain management and order fulfillment procedures before you start taking orders dude.

Why have a pre-order sale if you are going so vague about fulfilling those orders?

You bumped in less than an hour for an answer....

Okay I don't work for this company at all, but I'll attempt a logical answer. The presale is being done on a first come first serve basis. The firsts orders will be filled first. It's quite possible that if demand is high enough, that any customer might miss out on the first batch of wheels. This makes it very difficult to assess when an order will be filled.

There is a chance but I can not guarantee it. There are a lot of people signed up and there is a good chance we will sell through the first order fairly quickly.

If this guy places an order on the very first day of your pre-order sale: 2/23/12, how is it that you cannot assure delivery of his wheels 10 weeks later?

This is just one guy!! How many other people are you going to leave hanging? You need to brush up on your supply chain management and order fulfillment procedures before you start taking orders dude.

Why have a pre-order sale if you are going so vague about fulfilling those orders?

Maybe you should brush up on your reading skills.

I have a brand new LG Aero Helmet that I will give away -- for free -- to the first slowtwitcher to post on this forum a photo of their new Flo Wheels on their bicycle on or before April 23, 2012.

come on dude...cut these guys some slack

I am not affiliated with any company that advertises on slowtwitch so no ax to grind with Flo. However they are getting a lot of free advertising here where I am certain paying advertisers are not pleased. I like the underdog story too. With all the free publicity Flo is getting, someone needs to provide some critical analysis to what is going on here and I happen to be that guy. I'm in the profession of commercial credit and A/R management. I'm an expert in everything having to do with the Order to Cash process. (my word is gold:-)) From order entry, fulfillment, invoicing, shipping, returns, customer service, credit risk analysis, and collections....even the nasty part of lawsuits and post judgment execution. A new companies lack of expertise on these things I just mentioned can cause very bad things to happen. Flo and their fan-boys probably think I'm a dick but they should be thanking me. Because if they are paying attention to what I am talking about here things will be very harmonious for Flo and their consumers and then only good things will happen.

I see the unpleasant side of failed start ups on a daily basis and it is typically the result of failing to adhere to some pretty basic business and economic principles.....it is far too common these days. I hope Flo can pull it off and sell fast, durable wheels at an attractive price-point. If they are able to do it they'll be like the Apple or Microsoft of the aero wheel business. Best of luck to them, but in the meantime there's a lot they need to be thinking about to make a good impression right from the start and to sustain it over the long term.

I didn't see ANY mention of manufacturing, sourcing, and working with foreign production markets

That's not my area of expertise so I won't pretend that it is, wiseguy. I'll stick to what I know about.....which makes me special around here. I'm sure they've learned all the front end manufacturing stuff on their own.

Their next step is order fulfillment, invoice accuracy, shipping and customer service. Homie suggests a mantra: 'zero defect mentality' or 'the first order perfect every time.'

Check the carefully inspected product against the invoice against the container prior to shipping and then check it again. A section of the invoice should read “This shipment has been personally inspected by.........” with a real signature signed in real ink. Blue ink is always best.

Use quality packaging materials and package the shipment in such a way the recipient can see that it was done with care and attention to detail.

When someone calls to complain about an order, have a live body (an expert) on call who will pick up the phone after no more than 2 rings who can resolve the problem on the spot. Accept returns gracefully and without question and offer expedited (next day air) replacements. It is also a good idea to throw in a couple of decals, a T-shirt and a water bottle.

Do not ever, under any circumstances, delay a refund when requested. If the customers credit card can be debited in a split second it should also be credited back with the same speed, not a two week delay where you are earning interest off of the money of unhappy people.

If Flo can do these things, they are good to go. If not, the fan-boy becomes a hater and tells the whole world how bad they suck......or to use your words, becomes “angry and skeptical.”

Yes. The clydesdale option will be available.

Thanks,

I don't see the Clydesdale option anywhere... will it be available today?