http://www.wired.com/gadgets/gadgetreviews/news/2008/01/bikewheel_reviews
Dave
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They rate the R-SYS 8/10 despite it robbing 3-4 mph on the downhill. If that is true, it should rate 0/10.
IMO the R-SYS wheels are a bust from a racer’s point of view. There are better climbing clinchers that are just as light and don’t carry the extreme aero penalty. They are interesting from a wheel design perspective but as a production model I think they will fade quickly.
The other damnable complaint about the other rims not built by zipp or hed is that they lack the hybrid rim shape. This seems to make quite the difference when it comes to reducing drag. Also there seems to be a reluctance by other wheel manufacturer’s to develop 23mm wide rims to match the popular 23 tires. I’m awaiting some definitive wind tunnel testing to show the benefits of mtaching rim width with tire width.
That said, I’d ebay the mavic if given as a gift but never the reynolds or LEW.