Campy Hyperon Wheels - WOW

Ted B

I realize that this is not a wheelset that everyone can consider as a viable purchase option (including myself), but since I had an opportunity to buy a used 2003 set for reasonable money and wring out my new ride, I felt some might be interested in reading my impressions.

I was previously riding a Bianchi EV2 with full Chorus and Mavic Open-Pro 32h with better Conti clinchers. I am now riding a Bianchi EV4 with full Record and Campy Hyperons. The largest functional difference between these two setups is in the wheelset. To make the comparison somewhat fair, I rode a very familiar course (almost always windy), and pumped the new tires to only 120psi (I rode the Contis at 115psi).

The first thing I noticed is that the Hyperons seem virtually invisible to gusts of cross winds. The Open-Pros are certainly not a deep section wheel by any stretch of the imagination, but a strong cross wind can be felt somewhat...not with the Hyperons. They just seem to keep rolling - fast.

In the flats, the Hyperons feel very secure, but not harsh. They roll incredibly fast in the flats, and I felt very comfortable in diving into a relatively sharp corner at higher speeds than what I was used to. They handle beautifully and with precision. They also seem to be very quiet - is it the rims or the bladed spokes?

In the hills, the Hyperons are an amazing climbing wheel, and this is quickly noticeable. Here there are a few steep bridges over industrial shipping canals, which normally bring me out of the saddle. This morning, I rode over them noticeably more easily, without having to leave the saddle at all.

All I can say is that if you have to choose one wheel for just about any purpose, I dare say this is perhaps the best choice, even if money is no option. There seems to be nothing it doesn't do remarkably well. Of course, this wheelset is quite expensive, but if you can find a clean used set for around $1k like I did, you won't be disappointed!!

I rode these at only 120psi. My tires are rated for up to 220psi, so I imagine more air and less rolling resistance could only make things even better.

Ted B

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Duckwah

I wouldn't ride those every day

really any full carbon wheel is a race wheel since once really good whack can destroy them

__________________
Don Stevenson

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Octogen Fitness

www.octogen.com.au

fitness@octogen.com.au

marlon1

Very nice wheelset! Are you using 20mm tubes, or smaller, like 19/18mm?

Ted B

Thank you. I would have liked to try your Bora G3, but with all the cross wind we have here, the Hyperons are probably better for me.

At the present, I am riding tires with 22-23mm tubes. I plan to buy new Tufo S3 215g with 21mm - 220psi.


Duckwah - Thanks for the warning. These wheels definitely look and feel more durable than a comparable Zipp, and 90+% of my riding is done over relatively smooth surfaces.

marlon1

Dpends also on the bike. Some bikes looks great with hyerpon (very thin wheels), other don't. For Bora the same.

Tufo Elite Hi-TPI is 160g. Veloflex record is 180g. Both 20mm. The rim of the Hyperon is 20mm!

Ted B

Yes, good point. I think I should be ok with the 21mm Tufo, no?

marlon1

But your rim size is 20mm! So that will fit better.

And why did you bought such an expensive wheels ($2000), if you can make 100g. difference in the tires, for $30 or something? Going even further and buy time trial tires (elite 110 and 120g.) will save you 200g. but they don't have much grip and puncture resistand. I know the 160g Elite is $150-$160 for a pair.

Ted B

I bought them because I got them for only $1000, and they came with two good tires already installed. I prefer durability and puncture resistance to light weight, which is why I was thinking about the 215g tires with the high thread count. I will do a lot of training on this bike.

mrowkoob

When they make durable carbon wheelsets I´ll buy a pair again until then I´m sticking to old style 32/3weave. PLease post again when you have 5000 miles done on those hyperons....

Duckwah

Seriously i'd take some of the money you saved gettig a deal on the hyperons and buy some solid training wheels for your daily rides

get something thats easy to repair with conventional spoking and then save the hyperons for races and those club rides when you want to leave everyone eating dust.

its got two advantages,

1. Bust a rim, break a spoke or whatever and you won't cry
2. when you switch back to the hyperons you will feel the difference straight away

I use ambrosio sonars for training (28 spoke 2 cross front and rear, straight gauge spokes) and then i've got a pair of campy protons (radial spoking, double butted etc) for races and longer rides that i want to do well on

my 2 cents

PS I am insanely jealous you got such a great deal on those

__________________
Don Stevenson

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Octogen Fitness

www.octogen.com.au

fitness@octogen.com.au

steve

isn't 220 psi abit high for road riding?

__________________
Steve

CyclingForums.com

Ted B

Your suggestions seem to be sound, and I will consider them strongly. It will be difficult to peel myself away from these wheels, but like you pointed out, whatever you can do on a cheaper set, you will do it better with these.




It would seem so, but these tires can be used over a fairly wide pressure range, and I am very curious to see how the higher pressures affect rolling resistance and how they feel on the road.

marlon1

pressure depend on the type of road you are cycling on.

training on hyperons is nuts. you have to buy a pair of trainingswheels for training.

$1000 with tubes is a very good prize!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Were they new???