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FEATURES: ON TEST: EASTON EC90 SL TUBULAR WHEELSET
Philip Booth
December 30, 2009
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STORY
Easton is one of the top wheel manufacturers in the industry, offering a full line of wheelsets that range from deep section aero to ultra lightweight. Falling in the middle is the EC90 SL tubular wheelset. Not only do the EC90 SLs blur the line between being aero and lightweight, they are about to be put into action at the top echelon of the sport, as Easton has signed onto be the official wheel supplier of the 2010 BMC team.
TECH
The handbuilt Easton EC90 SL wheelset features 38-millimeter deep carbon rims, laced to Easton R4SL hubs via Sapim double-butted black, straight pull spokes. The spokes nipples are internal for increased strength and better aerodynamics. The front wheel features 18 radially lace spokes, while the rear contains 24 radially laced on the non-drive side and one cross on the drive-side. The R4SL hubs spin on Grade 3 ceramic bearings. The rear R4SL hub features an oversized drive-side flange to create a stiffer wheel by allowing for shorter drive-side spokes with greater triangulation. The Easton EC90 SLs come with yellow SwissStop carbon brake pads.
RBA SAYS
The Easton EC90 SL tubulars garnered quite a bit of attention before we ever got them mounted on a bike. The black carbon rims mated to black spokes and hubs with subtle white and red graphics drew plenty of complements. The Easton EC90 SL’s weight also impressed, as the wheelset weighed in at 1220-grams – 2-grams below their claimed weight. Installation on the SRAM cassette was simple, but the cassette body on the R4SL is aluminum so care must be taken not over tighten and strip the threads. The EC90 SLs are available with dedicated Shimano, Campagnolo and SRAM cassette bodies. One nice feature is that the cassette bodies can be switched out in about five minutes with just a couple 5 and 6-millimeter Allen keys.
For our test we wrapped our set of EC90 SLs in 23c Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp tubular tires. The Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp are some of our favorite tires and provide excellent traction in virtually every condition. Out on the road the first aspects of the EC90 SLs that impressed us were the smooth ride and how easily the wheels spin. The low weight and ceramic bearings given the rider the feeling of being able to ride one gear lower without any extra effort. Add this to the shock absorbing qualities that only tubulars can provide and the wheels simply fly. Out of the saddle efforts are meet with instant acceleration with the carbon rims providing plenty of lateral stiffness. On descents and through corners the wheels held their line and we never experienced any wobbling or shimmying that can sometimes occur at high speeds with super lightweight or deep section wheels. Stopping ability and feel was also impressive as the SwissStop carbon pads provided plenty of power and excellent modulation.
Throughout the test the wheels remained true and maintained spoke tension – something we are thankful for, as truing tubular wheels with internal spoke nipples is a major hassle. We were also happy with the performance of the R4SL hubs, which after months of riding were as smooth as day one. It is hard to find fault with the Easton EC90 SLs, which puts them high on our list for race day or long hours in the saddle.
PRICE: $1799.99
INFO: www.eastonbike.com
BONUS POINTS: Weight, performance, and durability |
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