Profile Design Altair Full Carbon Clinchers 52

I LOVE WHEELS!!! So you will be seeing quite a few write ups on different wheelsets, really any I can get my hands on. The Profile Design rep was nice enough to let me ride on the new Altair full carbon clinchers 52's for a week. I first heard about these through a ad in what ever cycling mag I was reading. Then I got the chance to see them up close at the cycling trade show in Las Vegas, Interbike. I thought they looked great and really stuck to the theme of what is, Profile Design. But after wondering around Interbike for 3 days, I started to loose interest in them. It seems the next big push in cycling for 2011 and beyond is, carbon wheelsets. WHICH IS FINE BY ME. I was headed to Kona for the Ford Ironman WC the next month. So I figured being surrounded by tri-geeks for a week solid, that I could take a second look at the Altair 52's and see how they stack up against other aero wheels. I was surprised to not really see that many of them out at Kona. Of course ZIPP was the number 1 wheel by far there, and yes I was on the new Fire Crest 404's from Zipp. But Profile Design only had 2 sets out there! So I would have to wait till now to get my hands on a set.

The Altair is a full unidirectional carbon clincher wheelset. The hoop and hubs are made by Eastern, good choice. And DT Swiss of course making the Sapim spokes. I will be using Zipps wheelsets as a benchmark to every wheelset I ride, because basicly I think Zipp makes the best wheels on the market today. So, comparing the Altair 52 to the Zipp 404 and it comes out to be eqaul in; weight and comfort. The Altair comes out WAY ahead in price, which will sway 90% of buyers out there. But, aero and cornering the 404's are still untouchable. You do get; 6 extra spokes, carbon brake pads, trueing tool and skewers with all of Profiles carbon wheelsets. Which is way more then what you get when you purchase a set of Zipps. And just like any wheelset you can upgrade to ceramic bearings, which you SHOULD ALWAYS do. The hubs do coming with very smooth rolling sealed cartage bearings and a fairly quite freehub body.

MY TAKE -

For every wheel test I do, I will be running the Michlien Pro 3 and a Sram 1070 11-26 cassette. I did a total of 5 rides/workouts on the Altairs 52s'. I do most of my training on a local crit course with plenty of conering and a few straight aways. Sorry no climbing in Houston. I was very impressed by these wheels to say the least. The overall picture is that they are smooth, fast when up to speed and hold in a hard cornners. I could see myself ridding 100 miles on these wheels in comfort. Throw some 700x25c tires on them for winter training and the wheel gets that much better. And yes I would buys these wheels if I wasn't married to my Zipp 404s with 10 kids. A would love to try the Altair 80s, which I hear truely gives the Zipp 808s a run.

Profile runs the market in aerobars and is not known for their wheels. Ya, that is about to change! Profile offers all of their carbon wheels in tubulars, carbon clinchers and semi carbon clinchers. So again the prices just keep getting sweeter. If you are a Tri-geek, GO BUY THESE WHEELS. If you are a rec rider and want the final touch to put on your bike, GO BUY THESE WHEELS. If you are a price point shopper and want the best all around bang for your buck, GO BUY THESE. If you are a competetive racers who only care about the overall performance and nothing else, DO NOT BUY THESE WHEELS. Yes there are better performing wheelsets out there and yes you will pay for them.





http://www.profile-design.com/