Paul, are you aware of how strong a case you just made of why Spinergy should sell replacment parts directly to the customer rather than only through a shop? Most everyone agree with your argument that there are a lot of bad, lazy dealers out there. Why then do you force your customers to obtain parts and services through them? I’m confused.
Re: “and everything I have heard(we used to employ their former marketing director) is that they view triathlon as a nescessary evil that sucks energy away from real cycling events like road racing and mountian biking.”
Poor form, Paul. Good technical comparison of products- you should have left it at that. This comment comes off as sour grapes in my book, especially given Spinergy’s reputation for customer service. I don’t know about others on this forum, but as soon as someone tries to sell their product to me by bad-mouthing the competition I instantly lose all interest. It may not be libelous, but it’s sure irritating.
I dont think the comment was “sour grapes”. I was trying to make the point that this is a triathlon forum and most of the readers are triathletes. If there is a choice between two products, besides the technical facts there is also the idea that one company supports and is involved with triathlon and one does not. Scott Tinley once wrote a piece about buying Bud Lite versus brand x because Bud Light at the time was supporting triathlon. I totally agree with that philosophy. If you are waffling between two products and all else being equal, then why not support the one that has the most potential to put something back into your sport? I asked the former Mavic guy many times why Mavic wasnt more interested in triathlon. He told me that they figured tri guys would ride what the top road guys ride so they had it covered. This may be true but do you think if you run out and buy some Cosmics that Mavic will put part of your purchase price into sponsoring a local tri or attending a tri expo? I think they might use it for to go after one of the few D1 road teams they dont currently sponsor, but that is just my opinion. Check out their website. The tri shot is a 3-4 year old photo of Simon Lessing on his Cannondale. The “teams” they sponsor in triathlon include Simon Whitfield, Brigitte Mcmahon and Jan Rehula. Great athletes for sure but are any of them racing non-drafting(the style we, as amateurs all race, so a better test of equipment that we might use)? or are any of them striking fear into other athletes because of their cycling speed? Sounds more like some marketing guy said “get me the gold medalists from the olympics, they must be good” I have raced triathlons since 1989. I have finished 5 Ironmans including 9:59 in Hawaii. Does that make my company’s products better for triathlon? Not nescessarily but I like to think having first hand knowledg of the sport helps.
Since Paul seems to be so helpful:
We have scematics of all the wheels on our site >>
I have two rear REV-X wheels, which I love to ride, the problem is that I cannot found scematics on that wheel on your site(spinergy.com), it only says: “comming soon”.
Best Regards Dave
As a Brit I’m pleased that you’re sponsoring Spencer Smith. Perhaps your Ironman wheels will be available in Pink? 
Tiliums. I have rode Ksyriums and the Cosmic Elites and the Tiliums are without a doubt more comfortable and my bike splits have dropped since the switch. I’m using the Tiliums for training and racing and think it has been a good investment. Paul and Keith at Spinergy have been awesome in my dealings with them.
Even if Mavic Cosmic Carbone is on the heavy side; this wheel has some real benefits:
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Since it’s an ordinary alu rim, the stiffness/comfort (feeling) is very good.
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Is 100% true - not “close-to-true” as the aero carbon wheels.
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Aerodynamic wheel, nice hub.
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Very robust. Used by pro’s as Mario Chippolini in some of the spring’s classic cobblestone races.
There must be some reason why it’s so popular by the road pro’s. (I know about sponsors - but when a lot of them are using Cosmic Carbone instead of Ksyrium in cobblestone, crits and flat mass-start events, it’s because it’s a very good wheel).
no, two words, but should be spelled “you’re sexy”
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Email me with any questions you have regarding your Rev-X, it is a very simple wheel to work on. Keith
I’d like to jump in a support Paul on this one. He’s right. For many years Spinergy has supported our sport. Several friends have been helped out with loaner or pro-form wheels upon qualifying for Kona. They are at our expos, and contributing to our races. I’ve been riding Zipps (paid retail at B&L in Kona), but have never heard a negative opinion from any of my friends who are Spinergy users. The wheels are regularly seen posting the fastest bike splits at tris, winning sprints in road races and crits, and handling the abuse of cyclocross (which is just around the corner!).
Thanks for the support Paul, we appreciate it.
Hi Paul,
First, let me say I appreciate and respect the fact that you are on this forum talking about your company’s products. To me, that means a lot.
But, I have to say that my experience with Spinergy wheels was less than positive. I bought a set of SR-3 wheels a few years back, on paper they seemed like an awesome buy. However, I never got more than 300 miles between broken rear spokes. To make matters worse, after the third broken spoke, my LBS recommended it go back to Spinergy. So, off it went to some black hole. I must have called your CS dept a dozen times over a period of three months, NEVER getting a straight answer. It was either, they were waiting for spokes, to, my wheel was going to be completely replaced only they were waiting for new wheels form Europe…
Finally, when my new rear wheel arrived (I kid you not, it was three months) I got maybe 500 miles before it too broke a spoke. Let me add that getting spokes from your CS group was nearly impossible. They kept promising to send them to my LBS, but never, ever did. I finally started using cut-down Campy spokes (straight pull).
I stopped riding them because I simply could not trust them. I finally sold them to a guy, with a clear understanding to him of their problems.
My teammate also bought a pair, and his problems were with the bearings, they would fry about every 500 miles.
Let me clarify a few things, I weigh 170 pounds, so no way did I overstress these wheels.
My experience taught me to discount Spinergy, those wheels were absolute junk. You argue that Mavic is made in Romania (I think),but so what? If their products hold up, and they take care of their customers, I don’t care if they are made on the moon. Mavic has built a solid reputation, they are not perfect, but they don’t have the poor image of Spinergy. Go to any bicycle web board and ask for opinions on your products, I’ll bet the farm that over 75% will be negative. You have a tough row to hoe my friend, but I don’t think you’ll improve it by knocking Mavic.
That being said, I have a pair of Ksyriums that have given me nothign but problems. So, if you want to take them as a trade, and cut me a screaming deal on your Tillium wheels, I’m open to giving your company another shot.
Thanks for listening
AL
Aaron, OK, we’ll call you on your “Kysrium trade in offer”. And this goes for anyone, Since the dawn of the Rev-X, we’ve offered a “Lifetime No Fault Replacement Policy”. Since Rev-X’s are not repairable in most ways, you (through a shop) could send them in and we will sell a new set of any of our wheels to the shop at a reduced cost with the assumption they will then in turn pass along a reduced cost to you. So, if your not happy with the Kysriums, bring them into your local bike shop, have them give me or Paul a call and I’ll quote them a price on a set of Tiliums and you can decide if it’s a “Screaming Deal” or not. Keith@Spinergy
I like this guy!
Will do.
AL