Topolino Tech Revelation C19 Clincher
by Rick Schultz
posted 2006-04-05
I have been riding these wheels for more than 5,000 miles now and I love them... The C19's are advertised as the lightest clinchers. Topolino did the C19's right. Everything about the wheel is made for racing... including the carbon composite hubs, a lightweight freewheel body that is made out of 7075 / T6 aluminum, and unique aero-profile spokes that are made from a carbon fiber core integrated with a kevlar sheathed exterior.
Topolino states, "A bicycle wheel that is refreshingly simple in design, yet radically different from the rest." Now that is an understatement! At 1,390gm per pair, these are LIGHT, STRONG, RESPONSIVE and offer a very SMOOTH ride. Compared to Mavic Ksyrium and Shimano Dura-Ace, the Topolino wheels absorb a lot more of the road shock.
Don't get me wrong, Mavic and Shimano make high-quality, top-rated wheels, but there is a major difference that you can really feel, especially after a 75 mile ride. After a hard ride, the Topolino wheels won't leave you feeling like you have been riding down an endless flight of stairs. The wheels absorb a huge amount of the road shock instead of transmitting the shock up into your arms. The Topolino wheels will allow you to ride longer and harder with less fatigue.
The unique Carbon / Kevlar spokes span all the way across the entire wheel. They are fully integrated into the carbon composite hub shell. These are super-strong Carbon / Kevlar spokes that are laced through an aluminum alloy rim. The front wheel has a 24-spoke count and the rear wheel has a 30-spoke count.
What is most unique about the C19's is the way they lace the rear wheels by putting 18 spokes on the drive-side and 12 on the non drive-side. This accounts for 50% more spokes on the drive side, adding strength while balancing spoke tension. With a PARK TOOL SW-0 (black handle) 3.22mm / 80 ga., the Topolino wheels can be easily trued in the same way that you would true a standard wheel.
Two thumbs-up for these wheels!
