How we review gear...

Product reviews on this site are conducted by DART adventure racing team members and have been used in the field by the author. We prefer our sponsor's product based on our history of use, however we do review sponsored and non sponsored products equally and without predjudice. We will list both pros and cons and will give you the most objective information to help you make critical decisions about what you take into the field.

Friday, January 19, 2007

FSA RD-600 Wheel Set

You might expect that we would only talk about gear specifically for adventure racing. However, many of us participate in other sports in addition to adventure racing. I do one road triathlon a year (Pacific Crest 1/2 ironman). I do this to keep me sharp and focused on personal performance. Last year, 2006, I used the FSA RD-600 wheelset equipped with Michelin Race Pro tires. Out of 590 finishers, I finished 2nd AG (excluding pros), 2nd masters (excluding pros), and 28th overall including a dozen or so pros.
The wheels and tires were on fire. I recieved many comments from other athletes about the wheels as they are fairly new on the scene and different looking with their giant center flange. The 110mm center flange sits directly behind the rim allowing a third of the spokes to be sheltered from frontal wind which increases the wheels aerodynamics. I didn't notice any others on the course. Since I am 41, my wave start is almost last. So, rocking my way throught 600 other racers on their bikes is a great feeling. Especially when the other racers are using wheel sets that were historically considered the best in triathlon. The best thing is that, this wheel set can be purchased for about $700 which is a fraction of the other's cost.

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