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PRODUCT REVIEWS: TOPOLINO CX2.0 CARBON CORE WHEELSET
Road Bike Action
February 11, 2009
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The folks at Topolino Technology have been designing and building truly innovative wheels for approximately five years, in Bethel, Connecticut. Each of their products reflects a rare-for-cycling openness to using new ideas, materials and processes, and Topolino consistently comes up with remarkable designs. The CX2.0 wheelset is no exception. There is no mistaking the carbon/Kevlar spokes that are laced through and bonded into the carbon hubs. Each of Topolino’s circular works of art is hand made at the Bethel factory
TECH
Topolino’s unique spokes are a sandwich of two Kevlar fibers running along each side of a carbon inner layer, encased in a thermoplastic resin matrix. The combination allows the toughness of the Kevlar to complement the stiffness of the carbon, resulting in a spoke that is very strong and light. Each spoke is a continuous strand of Kevlar and carbon fibers, which pass through the hub and cross to the other side of the wheel. This allows much greater strength and better alignment than conventional spokes that individually attach to each side of the hub. Topolino claims that their composite spoke is stronger than a 14g stainless steel spoke and is only one-fifth the weight.
Using a spoke designed to be so light and yet strong allows Topolino to use more spokes than other wheels in their weight class, to achieve stiffness and yet not sacrifice lightness. The wind-cheating blade, Kevlar/carbon spokes are complemented through the use of lightweight 19.5-millimeter tall aluminum semi-aero rims on the CX2.0.
The Topolino CX2.0 Carbon Core hubs (ceramic bearings are offered as an upgrade) are a thermoplastic carbon fiber composite material that Topolino claims equals aerospace aluminum, but is 45 percent lighter. The front wheel’s 24 spokes are laced in a cross-two pattern, while the rear wheel’s non-drive side is laced up with 12 spokes, cross two, and the drive side utilizes eighteen spokes in a cross three pattern. Because of the light weight of the Topolino Kevlar/carbon spokes, their designers were able to run 50 percent more spokes on the drive side, allowing a more balanced spoke tension, and at the same time increasing lateral stiffness of the wheel while still maintaining the wheelset’s light weight.
The Topolino CX2.0 wheelset is shipped with titanium skewers and a special magnet for the Kevlar/carbon spokes. And they are offered with a choice of three freehub bodies: Shimano 8/9-speed (which also fits SRAM), Shimano ten-speed Specific, and Campagnolo nine/ten-speed (the wheel needs to be slightly re-dished to convert from Shimano to Campagnolo).
CX2.0 wheels are not limited to flyweight riders. Topolino says they have many customers in the 220-pound range enjoying their wheels. Should there be a problem with a spoke, the modular constructed “wheel half” that needs to be replaced can be ordered and, using normal wheel building methods, be repaired and tensioned like a conventional wheel. We weighed our CX2.0s and found the front wheel was 604 grams, while the rear came in at 781 grams (Shimano), and the pair of Ti skewers weighed 92 grams. Total weight for the complete wheelset was 1477 grams.
THE RIDE
Our first ride on the beautiful Topolino CX2.0s was smooth as silk heading down a rather bad section of asphalt, belying the performance that we would soon discover. It was only after we rose out of the saddle to attack the first hill that we realized the true potential of the Topolino wheels. They transfer pedaling input in a very direct manner. Light weight, coupled with strong vertical stiffness, forces things to happen very quickly. In the mountains they are a climber’s delight, while descents are smooth and solid feeling due to the ride characteristics and lateral stiffness of the Kevlar/carbon spokes. It’s not often that we find a wheelset that exhibits these traits in one package.
The semi-aero rim cross-section, coupled with the bladed spokes, also works very well on flats and rolling hills, and there is no buffeting from side winds. Braking is excellent due to the machined-aluminum brake surfaces. The only minor inconvenience was discovered when we mounted Continental Grand Prix tires and had to resort to tire levers.
RBA SAYS
Prepare to tell the story of Topolino wheels—you will be asked about them whenever you encounter another rider. They are very beautiful, and at the same time quite unusual. If you take full advantage of their performance benefits, your admirers will have to pedal very, very fast in order to view your CX2.0 wheels up close. Topolino’s novel design delivers speed and comfort. Race them, or burn up a century; either way, you will be a winner.
PRICE: $1200
CONTACT: www.topolinotech.com
WEIGHT: 1477-grams
BONUS POINTS: Lightweight, vertical stiffness, and smooth riding
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