Easton EA90 Aero

[WorcesterWheelers]

Every single customer that's baught any pair of wheelsets from me, has only had good things to say about their wheels.....

(If I ever need to replace my Bora's, it probably will be for a set of Easton's.... mostly because I wont be able to afford ICycling's wheels.....)

[desmondalie]

 

Took my new wheels for a spin this weekend. Thanks MJ cycles!

 

Compared to my SL's I think I am in better company now. Firstly the EA90 Aero came in at 1640g, 90g heavier than claimed by Easton. This was a bit of a disappointment but once they were on my bike, I didnt give a damn about the extra 60g (compared to my Sl's), cause they really, really look sexy.

 

I took it out on a 90km hilly route and enjoyed every second of it. These wheels just feel so much stiffer and more responsive than the SL. They are as smooth as butter.

 

The only thing I miss about my SL's is the sound of the free wheel - the easton hardly make any sound.

 

I would recommend these to anyone, its simply the best wheels I have ever owned. I know its still early days and I still have to put it through some more tests, but so far so good.

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

 

Cut cut cut cut cut

 

I took it out on a 90km hilly route and enjoyed every second of it. These wheels just feel so much stiffer and more responsive than the SL. They are as smooth as butter.

 

 

Very interesting. Pleasse tell us how you determined that they were stiffer and more responsive. And while you're at it' date=' what is "responsive." In what units is it measured?

 

 

The only thing I miss about my SL's is the sound of the free wheel - the easton hardly make any sound.

 

 

Wheels don't make a sound. The only acoustic feedback I've ever had from wheels are from tyres. Different tyres sound differently.

 

I would recommend these to anyone' date=' its simply the best wheels I have ever owned. I know its still early days and I still have to put it through some more tests, but so far so good.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Early days indeed. But let us know what sort of tests you're going to subject these wheel to.

 

 

[Harryn]

[Harryn2008-08-23 14:07:25

[Johan Bornman]

JB' date=' desmond said that the wheels feel so much stiffer. He did not say that he scientifically determined that they were stiffer. Hence, I am afraid that your question is somewhat lacking in integrity. no? Kindly concede this or rephrase the question.

 

[/quote']

 

I think my question was pretty straight forward with integrity not coming into play. I think the subjective judgement of a product posted here has some integrity problems though. This is the tech forum where "feel" and "perceive" doesn't help other people understand the science of cycling.

 

For the record, stiffness on a bicycle wheel is mostly a nonsense term invented by the marketing people, as evident from the marketing blurb cited above. If you analyse it, you'll see they claim the wheel is stiffer than its previous version. However, they don't explain how come. The only wheel to make a wheel laterally stiffer is to a) increase the hub flange width, b) use thicker spokes, c) use more spokes, put a beefier rim on and e), make the wheel smaller.

 

Also, unless he measured it, he won't know whether the wheel is stiffer or not since it doesn't present in any way you can feel. Only if the wheel is completely pap, will it rub on the brake blocks. In between very stiff and just-just still enough to rub on the brake blocks, you cannot tell without meaurement. Therefore to tell me you can "feel" it is mischievious or naive.

 

Torsional stiffness, the other type of stiffness applicable to a wheel, is again a function of spoke thickness, quantity and cross pattern. Again, nothing different from the old wheel over the new one. Besides, even it if was radically different, we know that maximum torsional forces only increase/decrease tension in a spoke by 5%. Plug that into wind-up and you'll see that again, you cannot feel it.

 

We know none of these were done, so how come the wheel is magically "stiffer?" Did they compare with measurements? No. It's technobabble, , finish and klaar.

 

Also' date=' it is rather fatuous of you to ask Desmond what unit responsiveness is measured in, when it seems very clear from the content of his post that he is giving his subjective opinion on the "responsiveness" of the wheels in questions, based upon his personal, comparitive and proportional experience in having ridden them. He did not infer or imply that he had utilised an objective unit of measurement, and with all due respect, there is rarely a need to measure responsiveness with a specific unit of measurement.

 

By way of example: I can say quite clearly that my Volvo is more responsive than my wife's Renault Scenic without having to look at the speedometer, just by how both cars feel (relative to each other)  in the way that they respond to driver command.

[/quote']

 

My question is stupid? Lets look at the facts after we've gone for a drive in your Volvo. You can apparently see how much more responsive this is over your other car just by looking at the speedometer. No way Jose. You can't judge small differences in accelleraton by looking at a speed meter. Cars don't have accelleratometers in them that spell out the absolute. What you are feeling is the difference in accelleration on your body. Tape up that speedometer and you'll still know which car you're driving. And that is my point, which I'll come to in a moment. Press the pause button for a minute.

 

Back to the original claim.

 

A person says he can feel that his bike is more responsive with this set of wheels over the previous wheels.  The facts are: a) The engine of this particular bike/wheel combination is exactly the same as the one in the previous experiment. b) The bicycle is exactly the same.  c) the wheels have changed and are now of a different type.

 

Therefore we know he has not applied more power or made the total package (bike plus rider plus wheels) much lighter. We're talking about a few grams here (insert precise qty. if you like). The total package weighs say 70 kg plus 9 kg plus 2kg on the first bike and 70kg plus 9kg plus 1.5kg on the second bike. A percentage difference of less than 0,7%.

 

Our rider claims he can feel the difference in accelleration (which, I'l,l let the cat out of the bag, is the elusive responsiveness).

 

Accelleration is simply a function of applied energy to mass. No magical material, spoke pattern, scandium in the rim, blue nipples...nothing can change that fact.

 

So, even if you indemnify the original claim by using the word subjective, I think it is still wishful thinking. Most expensive wheels are deemed better than cheaper ones because the owner needs some psychological justification for his expense.

 

Back to your Volvo/Renault analogy. The watts per kg ratio applicable  here clearly puts accelleration into the band perceivable by effects on your body. The same cannot be said for the bicycle example.

 

I would have let him go if he said his new wheels are so much prettier than the old ones. But he didn't, he claimed he accelerated faster because of them and that he could feel they're stiffer.

 

 

 

 

Johan Bornman2008-07-21 00:17:30

[wisecrack]

Well I did not read the essay above,but I also replaced my crashed Easton Vista SL's with a set of these.

 

I went out for two rides so far and the wheels indeed feels like it rolls up faster and climb better than my old wheels. Did I mention they look super SEXY??

 

Sorry JB I have no scientific data to backup my claims

 

[desmondalie]

JB - Damn pal, did you get up on the wrong side of the bed or something.

I never claimed anything for certain. This was just my perception of my new wheels.

 

If I say these wheels are great you will probably want me to explain my definition of great and request scientific proof on how I came to this conclusion.

 

Well I dont have proof but they are still great! Now its up to you to prove the are not. I hope you have the energy for this cause I dont.

 

Take a chill pill.....

[javadude]

Awesome bike wisecrack. What bars are those, really like the shape?

 

As for this wheel debate, i definitely felt a difference between my Fulcrums and regular veloce / alex laced wheels. My unit of measurement was the amount of pain i felt in the butt, with the fulcrums inducing far more of it than the Alex. I therefore make the assumption that the Fulcrums are stiffer and my backside absorbs more of the bumps.

 

 

[AndreZA]

Awesome bike wisecrack. What bars are those' date=' really like the shape?

As for this wheel debate, i definitely felt a difference between my Fulcrums and regular veloce / alex laced wheels. My unit of measurement was the amount of pain i felt in the butt, with the fulcrums inducing far more of it than the Alex. I therefore make the assumption that the Fulcrums are stiffer and my backside absorbs more of the bumps.

[/quote']

 

Okay I know this is an Easton thread but Velo I must agree. the Fulcrums are a much "harder" ride. It feels like there is no "give" in the wheels and you feel every little bump in the road.

 

 

[Speed Devil]

Desmondalie nd Wisecrack

 

Nice wheels. A nice set of wheels can make any crappy looking bike look sexy...not that your bikes are crappy. Hope you guys have plenty of happy miles.

 

How much are those wheels going for now? and what are the prices for the EA90SL and SLX models?

[Bionic man]

Hey there desmondalie, nice looking wheels, JB gets upset about 'stiffness and response comments', not to worry, we know what you're saying (need to justify the price paid) and we also know what JB says(sometimes gets a bit technical).

BIKE LOOKS HOT WITH THOSE WHEELS

[wisecrack]

 

They are Easton EC90 SLX3's handlebars(mouth full)

 

Really light at 190g.

 

wisecrack2008-07-21 02:16:54

[desmondalie]

JB, you are forgiven....

 

Bought mine from Mailliot Jaune Cycles at a very good price. I dont want to mention price but Cycle Lab in Milnerton quoted me R7 500, when the new stock arrives. I got mine for much cheaper than that.

[Barend de Arend]

 

 

 

The only thing I miss about my SL's is the sound of the free wheel - the easton hardly make any sound.

 

 

Wheels don't make a sound. The only acoustic feedback I've ever had from wheels are from tyres. Different tyres sound differently.

 

You've never heard the difference between a Shimano freewheel and a Campagnolo one?  The freewheel definitely makes a sound when you're not pedalling -- courtesy of the pawls.  The pawls make a similar sound to having cards between spokes as a kid.

 

I'm not claiming one is better than the other -- just that they sound radically different.

 

I will also claim that my Eastons and my Mavics, using the same tyres at the same pressure make a vastly different sound when hitting road imperfections (paving, minor holes, etc.)  I think that's because the Mavics have something hollow, which amplifies sound.  Note that the Mavics don't need rim tape -- the nipple holes are sealed.

 

Again, I'm not claiming that one is better than the other, but wheels most definitely make a noise.

 

(not the original poster, not the same mavics vs. eastons)