A220 Aero Wheel Set10/02/2017 ByWill McKinzie The primary reason that I purchased an A220 wheel set was to obtain a wider rim profile so as to improve ride comfort. I installed them on a 2013 Trek Domane, and the ride feel is absolutely plush. Even with the same 25 mm Vittoria Rubino Pro tires, there is a definite improvement in comfort over the original Bontrager Racelite wheels. The wider rims of the A220 wheels allow me to use a little less tire pressure, about 85 psi. The A220 wheel set is also slightly lighter than my Racelite wheels, by about 70 grams. Fully assembled, the A220 wheel set has a weight of 1150/1445grams for the front/rear wheels which includes the 25 mm tires, rubber inner tubes, and quick releases, but not the cassette.
I am writing this review from the perspective of a larger cyclist: 6’-3” and 210 lbs. I have a history of breaking spokes, so wheel specs are important to me. The oversized steel aero spokes used to build the A220 wheels set are similar to the spokes on the old Nuevation M28 wheels. They are very rugged, both in appearance and function.
The rims are smoothly machined. There are no decals or names on the black rims. The rear rim has an asymmetric profile with spoke holes offset from the rim centerline to help reduce the difference in spoke length between the drive side and the non-drive side. The asymmetric profile promotes a longer service life.
The hubs used for the A220 wheel set are a very pleasant surprise. Before my purchase I was not sure which of the three hubs listed on the website were used for the A220 build. It appears to be the M3 hub set. These hubs are well machined, and they roll very smoothly. In the rear hub, the freehub body is made of steel. It weighs more than an aluminum freehub, but its surface is much harder and it will not scar and dent as easily as an aluminum freehub. This is a benefit for heavier and/or stronger riders. The sealed bearing cartridges are the 6000 size (26 mm O.D. by 10 mm I. D. by 8 mm wide) which is a larger and more durable size than most bearing cartridges in lighter weight hubs. The best feature is that these hubs are quiet. If you listen to the rear hub in a quiet room you can hear only a very slight clicking sound. But riding out on the open road I am unable to hear the rear hub when it freewheels. I prefer a quiet rear hub, and this one qualifies.
The A220 is a very well designed and well built wheel set sold at a bargain price of less than $300. I consider it to be an excellent value, and I expect it to last many years.
Will McKinzie Fulton, MD
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