Bontrager Race Light or RL Aero wheels?

cframe

Afternoon all,

I'm considering a wheel upgrade for my Trek 1.7 sometime in the new year and was looking for opinions on the Bonty Race Lite and Race Lite Aero wheelsets.

One of my mates in the LBS has said in the past that the hubs on the Lite's arent anywhere near as good as the X Lite ones (DT Swiss on the X Lite I think) but are they really that bad?

Also, is the aero benefit from the Aero wheels (31mm depth) worth the extra 200-300gms weight penalty over the standard wheels, dunno what depth they are though…

FORUM EXPERT

At this price point get the standard Race lites. Have seen a few of the Aero versions struggle to stay true.

Your mate is right if you can afford it look at the Race x-lite as they are DT240 Hubs and worth every penny. (same hubs used on Aeolus)

itboffin

cframe wrote:

Afternoon all,

I'm considering a wheel upgrade for my Trek 1.7 sometime in the new year and was looking for opinions on the Bonty Race Lite and Race Lite Aero wheelsets.

One of my mates in the LBS has said in the past that the hubs on the Lite's arent anywhere near as good as the X Lite ones (DT Swiss on the X Lite I think) but are they really that bad?

Also, is the aero benefit from the Aero wheels (31mm depth) worth the extra 200-300gms weight penalty over the standard wheels, dunno what depth they are though…

Hey cframe I can't say that i've noticed any aero benefits from mine. I'm going to upgrade my Trek 1.7 wheelset in the new year, I not been happy with them since I bought the bike, could be the poor set up from the shop but anyway I put a set of Mavics on my MTB last year and was amazed at the difference, i'm planning a set of Mavic Aksium for about £100.

Who knows I might even push the boat out a little, depends on the Jan sales.

redddraggon

cframe wrote:

Also, is the aero benefit from the Aero wheels (31mm depth) worth the extra 200-300gms weight penalty over the standard wheels, dunno what depth they are though…

31mm is not really an "aero section", you should be looking for closer to 50mm rims.

cframe

Cheers for the advice guys, I have to admit I hadn't measured the depth of the current rims, I had no idea they were the same as the RL Aero wheels!

Was looking about a bit more online and bizarrely the RXL Aeros are about £120 less that the standard RXL's although they still apparently both use the DT Swiss hubs, the Aeros are just 200gms odd heavier.

RXLs: http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107714.html
RXL Aeros: http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107673.html

giant_man

I don't (personally) rate Bontrager wheels myself. I think you would be better off with another make. My experience of them has been that they are light yes but also not very strong.