Pro Lite Garda vs Easton EA50 Aero

ge0123

Hi all,

Looking to get a fairly budget wheelset for training through winter - my budget is £150 max due to being a student
Two sets that have caught my eye are the Pro Lite Garda priced at £119:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-lite-garda- ... -wheelset/

And the Easton EA50 Aero (with a significant price cut RRP £320 according to BikeRadar):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/easton-ea50-aer ... ear-wheel/

I have heard great things about the ProLites (i.e. bombproof etc.) but I am assuming that these are based on value for money. Conversely, I have heard not-so-good things about the Eastons based on their price at £320 however wiggle are selling them for £130.

Tl;dr : Should I buy Easton EA50 at £130 or Pro Lite Gardas at £119?

P.S I weigh 75-80kg


Pro Lite Garda Review:
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/08/bomb ... nDjkZQkJfQ

Easton EA50 Reviews:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... -11-44557/
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheel ... 90crx.aspx

ugo.santalucia

The paired hole rim drilling alone would put me off completely... the Garda are not an upgrade to anything and I would not even put my hand on the fire that they are so solid.

On the other hand, the Easton at that price are certainly worh a punt. I suspect these are a reasonably old model, but they make a lot of sense for someone who builds and repairs wheels... everything there can be repaired and replaced...

Bear in mind I have not ridden either... I am just basing my assumptions on what you get for your money

ge0123

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The paired hole rim drilling alone would put me off completely... the Garda are not an upgrade to anything and I would not even put my hand on the fire that they are so solid.

On the other hand, the Easton at that price are certainly worh a punt. I suspect these are a reasonably old model, but they make a lot of sense for someone who builds and repairs wheels... everything there can be repaired and replaced...

Bear in mind I have not ridden either... I am just basing my assumptions on what you get for your money

Thanks for the input - I have always heard good things about Easton in general (hand built, consistent quality etc.), I just haven't heard anything too promising about the EA50s specifically.

ge0123

Would be great to get some input from anyone who has ridden either of these sets!

ugo.santalucia

ge0123 wrote:

I just haven't heard anything too promising about the EA50s specifically.

I normally don't trust reviews, as they rarely talk about the things I am interested to hear about... they point out to stupid things like pawls engagement delay and hub stiffness (???) and how well they hold speed and other nonsense.
What is the problem they see in the Easton that I cannot see from the pictures?

ge0123

ugo.santalucia wrote:

ge0123 wrote:

I just haven't heard anything too promising about the EA50s specifically.

What is the problem they see in the Easton that I cannot see from the pictures?

Fair point, just all the reviews I have read are lukewarm. In hindsight I should have explained that the main thing I am concerned about is build quality. Thanks for your help, I reckon I'll end up going for the Eastons tbh

ugo.santalucia

ge0123 wrote:

Fair point, just all the reviews I have read are lukewarm. In hindsight I should have explained that the main thing I am concerned about is build quality. Thanks for your help, I reckon I'll end up going for the Eastons tbh

I wouldn't be worried at all about that. The important thing is that if the build quality is not good, they can be sorted easily... while if you have a set of Ksyrium with a poor build quality, you are pretty much fuxked until the retailer takes pity of you and offers you a replacement set

petemadoc

You realise the Easton price is for the rear wheel ONLY right?

ugo.santalucia

PeteMadoc wrote:

You realise the Easton price is for the rear wheel ONLY right?

There's the catch... :roll:

supermurph09

I have a set of Eastons, the rear wheel needs a new hub. I'd be happy to sell you them as they are for £100 + postage.

ugo.santalucia

Supermurph09 wrote:

I have a set of Eastons, the rear wheel needs a new hub. I'd be happy to sell you them as they are for £100 + postage.

What's broken beyond repair in your hub?

daniel_b

What about Mavic Cosmic Elites for Circa £180? (Allegedly 1770g)

I don't technically 'need' any, but at that price I may get a pair to go with my Ksyrium Elites.

supermurph09

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Supermurph09 wrote:

I have a set of Eastons, the rear wheel needs a new hub. I'd be happy to sell you them as they are for £100 + postage.

What's broken beyond repair in your hub?

Hi Ugo, tbh what I should have said was there is a problem with the rear wheel. When I stop pedalling the bike thinks otherwise and the pedals can often turn a few revolutions by themselves. Not sure what will need fixing or an approximate cost?

ugo.santalucia

Supermurph09 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Supermurph09 wrote:

I have a set of Eastons, the rear wheel needs a new hub. I'd be happy to sell you them as they are for £100 + postage.

What's broken beyond repair in your hub?

Hi Ugo, tbh what I should have said was there is a problem with the rear wheel. When I stop pedalling the bike thinks otherwise and the pedals can often turn a few revolutions by themselves. Not sure what will need fixing or an approximate cost?

Most likely it will cost nothing to fix. Two x 5 mm Allen Key should open your rear hub caps, then pull off the freehub, clean the pawls with oil (any oil, but NOT solvent or WD40)... do the same with the ratchet, wipe the excess oil, put a thin layer of runny grease and reassemble. Should work then. If the pawls retaining spring is rusted you will need to find one that works... they are worth 1 pound, it's just a matter of finding the one that fits

supermurph09

Well if thats not an excuse to try out my new tool kit I don't know what is!!

Thanks, I'll give it a go and report back.

supermurph09

Ugo, would this article be what I need to follow: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... ub-service

ugo.santalucia

Supermurph09 wrote:

Ugo, would this article be what I need to follow: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... ub-service

Yes, yours will look like the Bontrager one... although I think yours open with 2 x 5 mm Allen keys, but I can't remember to be honest... last Easton I serviced was in the summer of 2012

ge0123

PeteMadoc wrote:

You realise the Easton price is for the rear wheel ONLY right?

wow, what a way to introduce myself to the forum, schoolboy error ordered the rear anyway, I'll just have to get a matching front next month and get used to beans on toast for a little while!

many thanks to all that have contributed - I will bookmark this thread and update how I get on with the EA50s if anyone is interested.

thanks!!!!

ugo.santalucia

ge0123 wrote:

wow, what a way to introduce myself to the forum, schoolboy error ordered the rear anyway, I'll just have to get a matching front next month and get used to beans on toast for a little while!

many thanks to all that have contributed - I will bookmark this thread and update how I get on with the EA50s if anyone is interested.

thanks!!!!

I think you are better off returning it straightaway and get a refund. Wiggle use Collect+, which is really hassle free and you don't have to pay to send stuff back.

kangarouge

Not sure all of the parts for Easton wheels are obtainable if replacements are needed. This is not quite what the Easton website would have you believe. I have some Easton Vista Sl's ( i think they are they are the forerunners to the EA50s) and they are needing new rims and as I can't get any new ones, I am having to get them replaced with an alternative. It does limit the choice a little.

ugo.santalucia

Kangarouge wrote:

Not sure all of the parts for Easton wheels are obtainable if replacements are needed. This is not quite what the Easton website would have you believe. I have some Easton Vista Sl's ( i think they are they are the forerunners to the EA50s) and they are needing new rims and as I can't get any new ones, I am having to get them replaced with an alternative. It does limit the choice a little.

On the up side, you DO have an alternative... get the DA Cl 24/RS 81 or the Mavic Ksyrium and you DO NOT have an alternative.