2018 Campy Neutron (not ultra) wheelset

[Kirk007]

Anyone know anything about these? Some of the UK retailers are blowing out for under $400. Look like ultras minus the carbon hub shell. No mention on Campy website?

[drewellison]

I just received yesterday an order for this exact wheelset from PBK. Arrived in about 7 or 8 days. Yep, older style (bulbous flange) hub. Red/White (not subtle) graphics on the rim. Came with rim strips (perfect fit in the well), wheelbags, and also with skewers!!!!

Only option was a Shimano freehub but I've got a spare Campy freehub from an older Neutron wheel I'm going to swap in. I'll be selling the Shimano freehub when I get around to it.

All good. I'm very pleased with the purchase. So now five of my bikes will have Neutrons. I guess I like 'em.

[p nut]

I almost bought those last year, but ended up going with Zonda's for the C17 rims (from PBK). I'm sure the Neutron's will perform very well, but just one thing to consider.

[drewellison]

Thanks for that point. I should have mentioned that these are not wide rims (C17 or otherwise) by today's standard. They're the same width as the older Neutron rims. But they're still a couple millimeters wider than the old Open Pros.

Also not two-way fit.

[jemoryl]

I have some Protons, which I think are the same spec on the rim. If mounting tires on the Neutrons is as much of a pain as on the Protons, I would certainly be looking at the Zonda C17s. In fact, I just bought some of the latter from Wiggle at a very attractive price....

[AngryScientist]

The one thing that annoys me about neutrons is the internal nipples. Pain in the butt IMO

[ultraman6970]

U need to get the right socket but besides that there is notthing wrong with hidden nipples, specially if you have clinchers, I use tubulars so Imagine

But the wheels in general if they perform like my tubbies is not that you might need to true them all the time, so far i had retouched them twice a tiny bit between tubies swaps, besides that the wheels once are trued is hard to get them bad specially if you dont have a 220 pounds butt like mine.

TO me the bummer is that campagnolo is not making aluminum tubulars anymore, that just sucks!

[rounder]

I have three sets of neutrons including one set of ultras. They all roll good but the ultras are prettier with the carbon hubs.

I never had problems with any of them except one time when I crashed and broke some spokes. The LBS replaced the spokes and now they are rolling along.

[cadence90]

What was the difference between Neutron and Nucleon clinchers?
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[thwart]

Originally Posted by cadence90

What was the difference between Neutron and Nucleon clinchers?
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I’m sure that the old spud has a better answer, but as far as I know the only difference was the color of the spokes.

Nucleons had beautiful silver spokes, instead of black. And they came with the classic silver skewers.

I own a set of both. Great wheels.

[rwsaunders]

I'm hoarding a set of NOS Neutron Ultras that are just sitting in the box. I made the move to those Old Potatoe type of wheels/tires five years or so ago and I haven't had the need to use them. Those carbon hubs are nice to look at and they spin very nicely in your hand, but alas, I have no tires to mount to them.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by thwart

I’m sure that the old spud has a better answer, but as far as I know the only difference was the color of the spokes.

Nucleons had beautiful silver spokes, instead of black. And they came with the classic silver skewers.

I own a set of both. Great wheels.

Thanks much.

Does anyone know if the bladed spokes on these were Sapim CX-Ray, some Alpina bladed, or other Campagnolo-specified proprietary?

Both Nucleon and Neutron used stainless steel spokes, correct?
.

[thwart]

Originally Posted by cadence90

Thanks much.

Does anyone know if the bladed spokes on these were Sapim CX-Ray, some Alpina bladed, or other Campagnolo-specified proprietary?

Both Nucleon and Neutron used stainless steel spokes, correct?
.

Campy may have sourced them from Sapim, but they are 'proprietary'. First set of Nucleons I owned about 10 yrs ago were very well used; I had to buy a Campy spoke kit to replace a couple of spokes that broke during my years of ownership. Are they stainless spokes, yes.

As far as I'm concerned those are the only downsides to these wheels... the proprietary spokes and the infamous tight tire fitting.

Otherwise... bulletproof... and fast. And of course they look great.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by thwart

Campy may have sourced them from Sapim, but they are 'proprietary'. First set of Nucleons I owned about 10 yrs ago were very well used; I had to buy a Campy spoke kit to replace a couple of spokes that broke during my years of ownership. Are they stainless spokes, yes.

As far as I'm concerned those are the only downsides to these wheels... the proprietary spokes and the infamous tight tire fitting.

Otherwise... bulletproof... and fast. And of course they look great.

Yes, sorry, I don't know what I was thinking earlier. Of course the spokes have to be specific to those hubs.

I wonder if people (I'm looking at you, oldpatata) somehow modify CX-Rays, etc., if replacements are necessary (official Campagnolo N/N replacement spokes for these seem fairly rare).
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[cycle-spinner]

I’m with the crowd, some of the best and longest lived wheels I have ever had. Can’t go wrong.