AFAIK, the buyout was the first step in Easton entering the wheel market. Initially I think that there are only relabeling and cosmetic changes, however, Easton is a big boy and can create carbon rims, and fine alloy components. I ultimately expect a complete revamp of the Velomax/Easton line up by 2006 including an in-house carbon rim and full carbon clincher rims. I bet they introduce a 1300 frame aluminum clincher wheelset as well in the $700 price range. It is likely that Velomax would have evolved as well, but certainly the in house team and Easton will bring more money to the table

-SD

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https://www.kickstarter.com/...bike-for-the-new-era

Other then the Hub, why is there a huge difference between the Easton/Velomax and Ritchey aero carbon wheels? Hasn't Dan posited in the past that both companies, and maybe a few others (American Classic comes to mind), use the Zipp 404 rim?

When you say "huge difference" do you mean in price? I think they key advantages to these over a set of any other 404's are the R3 hubs and the double threaded spokes. Stronger wheels, and better hubs, laced to arguably the best rim around.

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Have you ever had to replace a spoke in Velomax hub? Yikes. It is not pleasant. There is a good chance that when spoke failure occurs, it fails at the end of the threads at the nipple (not a big deal) or the hub (send the wheel back). I've also seen the hub flanges split along the spoke "holes"

The Ritchey uses fewer, standard spokes vs. the Velomax/Easton.

-SD

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https://www.kickstarter.com/...bike-for-the-new-era

Well, other than the hub and spokes there isn't a difference. Except cost. The 4 components of the wheel the rim, spokes, hub and cost are only similar in one area; the rim.

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https://www.kickstarter.com/...bike-for-the-new-era