Where is topolino??

[dr50470]

Now that topolino has been acquired by Easton what has become of their wheels?? It does not seem that Easton is offering any wheels similar to their original design. Is Topolino still around to offer parts or service??

[Louis]

The web site appears to be alive. Not sure if anyone would reply to a message sent there.

http://topolinotech.com/index.php/company1/contact_us/

[dr50470]

Yes, but if you look at their website they only make wheels for wheelchairs...

[Louis]

Also from the web site in the Bike Wheels section:

http://topolinotech.com/index.php/products1/bicycle-wheels/

As you may know, Topolino has licensed some of its key composite technology to Easton Cycling for the bicycle wheel market. In conjunction with this license, Topolino has discontinued sales of its Carbon Core and True Black family of bicycle wheels. But, to our customers who have Topolino wheels: it'll be like nothing's changed. We will continue to provide support for these wheels like we always have. Need replacement parts, repair services, or guidance with your wheels? Feel free to Contact us.

This arrangement has allowed Topolino to focus on our WX2.5 wheelchair wheels. They have been met with rave reviews and are the lightest wheels in the industry - by a longshot. Not only that, but they provide excellent lateral stiffness and the unbelievably smooth ride you've come to know from Topolino. We're a smaller tight-knit company and the wheelchair market is an excellent fit for what we do best: combining advanced materials and innovative design with old world craftsmanship and attention to detail.

[Keith A]

So is Easton selling any wheels with Topolino's tech?

[mvrider]

As the owner of a couple of Topolino wheelsets, I'd been wondering the same thing. Easton announced the E100 wheelset last year, which appear to use Topolino-like spokes. However, they never made it to the Easton web site... vaporware?

http://road.cc/content/news/129863-easton-launches-e100-1050g-carbon-fibre-wheelset

http://brimages.bikeboardmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/easton-e100-ultralight-full-carbon-tubular-road-bike-wheels2-600x292.jpg

[Keith A]

mvrider -- Thanks for posting that info. I did a quick web search on these Easton wheels, and several retailers have these listed as a product they sell, but no one had them in stock...
http://www.amazon.com/Easton-E100-Tubular-Carbon-Brake/dp/B00M1K8J1Y

BTW, looking at this design -- it seems like having one spoke connected rim to rim would make it harder to true this wheel :confused:

[mvrider]

BTW, looking at this design -- it seems like having one spoke connected rim to rim would make it harder to true this wheel :confused:

That is true with Topolino wheels as well, but there are threaded nipples at the end of both spoke ends for truing. Not sure with the Easton. Maybe that's why they're not for sale ;-)

[Keith A]

That is true with Topolino wheels as well, but there are threaded nipples at the end of both spoke ends for truing. Not sure with the Easton. Maybe that's why they're not for sale ;-)I realized that Topolino's wheels were the same regarding the single spoke connected rim to rim.

Is the spoke fixed in some way to the hub? If not, it wouldn't really matter for truing the wheel if there were threaded nipples on both ends -- since when one end was tightened (or loosened), it would affect the other side equally.

[dr50470]

The topo's are laced continuosly from rim to rim but they are fixed at the hub, so yes each end of the spoke should act independently for truing the wheel.

[Keith A]

The topo's are laced continuosly from rim to rim but they are fixed at the hub, so yes each end of the spoke should act independently for truing the wheel.Thanks for the info. I figured that must be the case, since it would be hard to true if it wasn't fixed.

[ColnagoFan]

mvrider -- Thanks for posting that info. I did a quick web search on these Easton wheels, and several retailers have these listed as a product they sell, but no one had them in stock...
http://www.amazon.com/Easton-E100-Tubular-Carbon-Brake/dp/B00M1K8J1Y

BTW, looking at this design -- it seems like having one spoke connected rim to rim would make it harder to true this wheel :confused:

I think those wheels never made it to production...if I remember correctly...

[dr50470]

Seems a shame that the topolinos are disappearing from the market. They were overpriced but rode very nicely. I've used themon and off for the past 7-8 years with a rebuild/broken spoke somewhere in there. I guess this might have been an inexpensive way for Easton to wittle down their competition....the american way:crap:

[Keith A]

I think those wheels never made it to production...if I remember correctly...They must have been pretty close as the were displaying them at the various shows and there are several on-line shops that have them listed as a product.

Actually, I just looked on Amazon and it now says...
Price: $2,199.99 & FREE Shipping
Only 2 left in stock. Ships from and sold by Discount Bike Supply.

:confused:

I did see this posted on another forum about these wheels...

I have not seen anything. Only thing i know is that this wheelset is postponed indefinitely! This is what Easton told me when i asked them, and i have asked several questions about these wheels for almost a year. There is actually a chance we'll never see them. Just look at Eastons web and you'll see they're not even avaible anymore.