"American Classic look nothing like the American Classic of just a few years ago.
Different logos, different rims, different hubs... The only thing that
hasn't changed are the folks behind the products. They still have the
same basic philosophy in design and customer service and it shows in
new products like the AC Carbon 58's we've already shown and in the new 420 Aero 3."
pezcyclingnews.com
"Component maker American Classic is introducing a new tubeless cross
country rim system. The company claims that these wheels are: “A
magical combination of light weight as well as strength, stiffness and
control." The new tubeless rim is light and at 26mm wide by 22mm deep, it is
wider, stiffer and supports the tyre better for improved ground
control. It is tubeless ready with a 25mm tape and valve, and either a
tubeless tyre or a regular tyre with a latex sealer can be fitted."
bike-eu.com
"Bill Shook at American Classic was very keen to show us a couple of new
wheelsets, but also had a nice cutaway of their rear hub which shows
very well how the mechanism differs from a standard rear hub. Instead
of using springs to push the pawls against the ratchet, the AC hub uses
a timing ring which engages all of the pawls mechanically, at the same
time. The pawls don't drag across the the ratchet, so it doesn't wear
and there's no unnecessary friction, and because all six pawls engage
at the same time there's less stress on the ratchet, meaning that
American Classic can use an alloy one."
road.cc
"I have been using the American Classsic Mountain wheelset for over 6 months now, and it is not only sweet
looking, but it has proven to be bombproof, and has some innovative and
interesting features. The AC
All Mountain are available in both a 26 inch and 29 inch size on a 28mm
wide 32 hole rim, and only come in White with some simple but nice
looking graphics. The wheels come outfitted with black 14/15 gauge
aluminum spokes with silver aluminum nipples in a 3 cross pattern. The
hubs come in a wide variety of options."
reviews.mtbr.com
"Simple gets it done. The single-bolt clamping and adjusting design
is as simple and easy to use as any clamping mechanism we have ever
run across. The clamp allows for micro adjusting of the saddle's tilt
and fore/aft positioning and side-to-side micro adjusting, which may
eliminate the need for some riders to shim their shoes. Heck, the clamp
even allows you to reverse the seatpost if you want to mess with the
offset."
Mountain Bike Action 11/07
"The American Classic MTB Disc Wheelset shaved a pound off our Santa
Cruz Blur LT test sled, but the weight reduction was not the most impressive
feature of these hoops. They offered a hidden performance boost. The
MTB Disc Wheelset uses a deep-section rim that is 22-millimeters wide
by 24-millimeters high. American Classic still assemble all their wheels
in the good old US of A."
Mountain Bike Action 06/07
"In
the second season of my love affair with American Classic wheels - the
Sprint 350 clincher is the best all-around wheel I've ever ridden - I've
discovered a value driven way to get into power training. American
Classic's Hurricane wheelset costs just $23 more than Bontrager's Aero
PowerTap Race rear wheel, and thanks to thrashing a set of Hurricanes
on cyclocross courses, I know these hoops are durable."
Bicycling 03/07
"The proof of this pudding
was in the ride. Yes, these wheels accelerate faster, and I liked
that. I needed that. I enjoyed that. And for cross-country racing,
they would be a big asset. They've held up great for 300 miles, some
of it jumping off some smaller ledges, heavy g-outs, and the like.
And they never felt flexy or weak. All told, this is a well-engineered
set of wheels."
Dirt Rag Issue no. 125 11/06
"The
wheels have an incredibly smooth ride, similar to the feel of a supple
tubular tire. Whether climbing or sprinting from a corner, the Mags
are quick to accelerate. My 150 pounds wasn't able to put a wobble
or hop into either wheel over dirt roads and potholes, so I passed
them to a couple of 175-pound Velonews staffers who bounced them down
washboard descents and over chip-seal shoulders. Throughout our testing,
the wheels held up admirably."
Velonews 09/06
"Descending,
there was just enough flex to hold the road with a tight grip through
endless switchbacks, and considering the high spoke count (28 front,
32 rear) the Sapim spokes at the right tension smoothed out some
pretty rough sections of Italian 'pave' too. The build has stayed
true after several hundred km more riding, and I've yet to hear a
creak or groan."
pezcyclingnews.com 08/06
"American
Classic has been making high-quality bicycle components
for many years. Bill Shook, the man behind AC, believes that MTB riding
is faster and more enjoyable with lightweight and durable equipment.
One of Bill's goals a few years ago was to create a lighter wheelset
that was still strong enough for competitive cross-country racing."
Mountain Biking 07/06
"Taking
its name from the company's own 350-gram aluminum rims, these Campy-
or Shimano-compatible clinchers are the lightest-per-dollar everyday
wheelset we've ever found. They excel as race wheels too - not only
because they spin up as quickly as you'd guess a featherweight would,
but because the deepish rim wall gives just enough aero advantage."
Bicycling 07/06
"At 3
pounds 7.7 ounces, the AC wheelset undercuts the stock Gary Fisher
Paragon Bontrager wheels by one pound even. With Kenda Karma tires
and ultralight tubes, the AC wheelset took off a total of 1-3/4 pounds
of rotating weight. The difference in response, acceleration and climbing
speed is huge. AC's widely-spaced hub bearings and 32-spoke, cross-three
lace easily withstands hard turns and rough descents."
Mountain Bike Action 07/06
"American
Classic's 420 road wheels will definitely make any bike look fast.
Is it the 34-millimeter deep aero rims, low spoke count or minimalist
hubs? I'd say all three, but the real test happens on the road. The
420s impress with their quick acceleration (the pair weighs a scant
1,455 grams), smooth, firm ride and noticeably faster cruising speeds
of about 1 mph when compared to standard 32-hole box section wheels."
Mountain Flyer no. 4 04/06
"Our
testers had a little trouble rating the MTB 350s. Not because they
didn't notice a difference, but because they couldn't believe it. Riders
came back saying, "I must be having a good day, because a wheel can't
make that much difference." Guess what? They do make that much
of a difference. The MTB 350s are a great upgrade for any trailbike
or cross-country racer."
Mountain Bike Action 05/05