Hey ! First post ...great forum. Question from a newby.

My current 550's are perfectly alright after 4000ks, but wife has offered a Xmas present and I'm thinking of a new set of wheels.

Is there a real advantage in getting the Mavic Aksiums over the 550s?. Or any real difference would start with the Equipes? Or not even that is worth the money?

thanks

cheers

Aksium is 1980g. I wouldn't bother. Save up some more and get something that truly differentiates from your existing wheelset.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

Why mavics? I happen to know I am getting a bargain pair of Neuvation R28 aeros for Christmas, for the same price as Mavic aksiums over here. Take a look at neuvation M28 (or Performance titans) and R28s. Plus, the neuvations are shiny.

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BMC SL01
SRAM Force


thank you crank n' cycles...If you are ever in SW WA, take a trip to Crank N' Cycles.

Still eager to hear your report. But as others have said, it's a good idea to take off some of the decals... If not cosmetic, then at least to please the weight weenie God.

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Morphed Bianchi Camaleonte IV 2006, Ridley Damocles 2006, Garmin, Mac

You will have to be eager for a few more weeks. If I can somehow get a ride on them before chrissie then I will report. I hate the decals too, but the rim is shiny.

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BMC SL01
SRAM Force


thank you crank n' cycles...If you are ever in SW WA, take a trip to Crank N' Cycles.

I would second the suggestion of looking at Neuvation wheels. Here in Aus, I think only the R28 Aero and R28 SL are available, and they are both around $AU 400. I got the SL's (to replace Shimano R550's after a crash), and all I can really say about them so far is that I don't notice them at all (which I think is a good thing). They are listed at under 1500 g for the pair, which makes them a lot lighter than the Shimano or Mavic options around this price. Both the Aero's and SL's have great reviews at roadbikereview.com:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wh...90_780crx.aspx

Quite possibly the people buying wheels at this price are not likely to be as critical as people buying more expensive ones, but those reviews are way better than for Shimano R550's.

I certainly did some de-stickering of my SL's, but purely for aesthetic reasons. 16 large stickers and 16 small stickers for a pair of wheels is just too many - I have left the large sticker near the valve hole and the small one either side of it. (NOTE TO WEIGHT WEENIES: sorry but I didn't weigh the ones I removed!)

I just ordered a set of Neuvation R28 SL2. I have been looking for a wheelset for a while. It was either them or the ROL Race SL, which cost about twice as much as the Neuvations. The ROL look so nice but there are a lot of good things said about Neuvation.