I also recognize that with all the hype around wider tires, few are going to buy these wider Zondas and put 23C tires on them. The hubs are also solid, middle-of-the-pack performers. In summary, the Zonda C17 addresses one of the biggest issues with stock wheels — lack of stiffness — with a solution that works for riders large and small, the latter thanks to the little bit of added width. The Campagnolo Shamal Ultra C17 price compare here and twin Fulcrum Racing Zero C17 price compare here are the flagship alloy bike wheels from Campy, essentially the same wheels and from the same company under different brand names.
These wheelsets all share the same rims and spoke patterns with differences in rim etching, brake treatments, spoke materials, hub shell materials and bearings, freewheel, and flange materials. Whether you would notice any performance differences between these wheels or could justify the price differences is for each of you to decide.
If you need or want a stiff wheel and budget is your first consideration, the Zonda C17 should be your first stop for riders of all sizes and my recommendation as the Best Value among your rim brake upgrade wheel choices. HED has been one of the leaders in the wide rim movement with the Ardennes. First introduced with wide rim dimensions and a It now measures at For this review, I chose to evaluate the RA Pro. It delivers big on a comfortable ride with confident handling even with the 23C tires I tested with them.
I say that somewhat tongue-in-cheek since people have been led to believe that only wheels with 28C tires are comfortable these days. You can certainly run 28mm wide tires on them for more comfort but be careful not to lower your air pressure so much that your handling gets mushy. Tires install and remove relatively easily and inflate with a floor pump. These are also very well built and HED wheels have a reputation for being very durable over time. The other is no longer being made. It is worry-free and if you are willing to spend for it, is one that will also add a little cache to your steed.
It rolls smoothly and keeps its momentum once at speed quite well even though the hubs sound a little buzzy. I felt very confident in all aggressive handling situations on these wheels. I also found taking them uphill to be a grind. I really enjoyed the speed, stiffness, and handling of these wheels on flatter terrain and think that is where they are best suited. Both the disc and rim brake models use the same rim that measures They use a lower grade carbon than what was used in the 5 D3 and a lower spec, heavier hub as well.
I stupidly was distracted one day while riding this wheelset and ran straight into a deep pothole. After comparing the wheels in the category this time, the SES 5. And sadly, I returned this wheelset just like every other one sent to us to demo for reviews. It jumped forward when I wanted to move out or ramp up my speed while underway. When I cranked up the watts going up rollers and steeper hills or working to close a gap, it was stiff.
And it handled precisely and confidently going fast downhill and into corners. This ENVE wheelset seemed to take less effort to go fast and held my speed incredibly well. You know when you feel like you are going fast but not working that hard? It felt like that a lot on these wheels.
The wheelset was comfortable on their tubeless rims with 20mm inner widths. Nate is my evil twin tester. He wins some of them in a pretty tough age group. And he has a stiff Specialized S-Works Tarmac racing frame.
Nate and I reached similar conclusions about the SES 5. He really liked how they performed at high speed and how well they maintained their momentum once there. He also liked how they accelerated from a stop or when he wanted to make a big power burst while already at speed. They were noticeably tougher to climb with than the 40mmmm carbon wheels he normally rides but he found this to be true of many of the wheels in this aero wheels category.
That was my experience too. For the record, the wheelset we rode had Chris King R45 hubs and came in at grams on my scale, the same as what ENVE claims for them. The rims of your wheels are the primary factor in the aerodynamic profile, however in terms of reducing rolling resistance there are also substantial gains to be made in the hubs.
Upgrading to high quality bearings will dramatically improve the feel and performance of your wheels; helping them to rotate with ease, and reducing the noise that they generate. Moving from low grade to high grade wheels will often see the switch between cup-and-cone bearings and cartridge bearings; cartridge bearings fully enclose the bearings inside a sealed unit, and therefore reduces the chance of debris or water damaging the bearings during use.
The cartridge containing the bearings can then be popped out and replaced easily, reducing the chance of damage and the need for careful adjustment that is often encountered with cup and cone bearings. Each year companies in the bike trade seek to improve their products; be it in terms of weight, aerodynamics, feel or even just appearance.
There are always incremental and ground breaking changes going on. Even if your wheels were the height of technology a few years ago, the chances are there is new technology that has significantly improved the products further over the last few years.
If you're looking for a way to 'revolutionise' your ride, a new set of hoops is a great choice. The good news is that it is not just high end wheels that benefit from evolution. Because of the "trickle-down" effect, the high end technology we see in the top end wheels today will often be found in the next rung down the ladder the following year. The wide rim also provides additional support to the tire sidewalls at lower pressures than are possible on narrow rims.
This support, when paired with greater overall tire volume from wider tires, allows rider riders to run much lower tire pressures. Wider rims are ideal for off-road applications like gravel and mountain biking because enhanced support and lower air pressures from wider tires work together to improve overall traction and comfort.
Wider rims can improve cornering speed by helping tire side knobs bite in and preventing the tire from folding or burping air under heavy cornering loads. Road riders will also benefit from wider rims, but the effects are slightly less pronounced on smooth pavement and at higher tire pressures. In road cycling, external rim width is also an important consideration.
Aerodynamics are a much larger concern in road cycling because the higher speeds mean riders have to exert more energy to fight air resistance. A lot of studies has been done on road bike aerodynamics, and engineers have determined an aerodynamic rule called "The Rule of With modern 23mm and 25mm road tires, wider external width rims around 23mm satisfy this The Rule of and will be the best for aerodynamics.
It is possible to have a rim that is too wide for your tire. Or, you may square off the profile of your tires so much that it negatively affects handling and performance. Wider rims may also be slightly heavier as they require more material than narrower rims.
Choosing rim width is often a balancing act between proper tire support and desired weight. The width of different wheels can be easily compared using the compare tool. The table below provides very basic guidelines for what size tires pair well with which rim widths. It is possible to run a setup slightly outside the parameters and have it function well. If you are unsure if a particular rim width will be a good match with your preferred tires, check with the manufacturer, or contact our Ride Guides for assistance.
To learn more about how rim width affects your ride, and what the perfect rim width is, check out our article where we asked experts from major manufacturers to explain rim width. At high speeds, air resistance is the greatest force that riders have to overcome. This is why you see road riders draft each other in groups and pacelines, and why competitive triathletes and time trialists obsessively make their equipment and riding positions as aerodynamic as possible.
Wheels contribute a great deal to a bike's overall aerodynamics. Upgrading to more aerodynamic wheels will help you save precious energy and ride faster.
Generally, this consideration is only important for road or time trial riders. Aerodynamics is an incredibly complicated topic that needs its own in-depth scientific article. The shape of the rim, the rim surface, the tire, spoke, and direction of wind all affect how efficient a set of wheels is.
To simplify, when comparing wheels made by the same brand, a deeper rim section is generally more aerodynamic than shallow rim sections. This is a very basic explanation, but the key to good aerodynamics is to minimize air separation over the surface of a wheel, keeping airflow attached longer.
The easiest way to do this is to make a wheel deeper. By doing this you effectively make the hole inside of the rim smaller. The wheel then slips through the air more smoothly. Most triathlon and time trial riders, who prioritize aerodynamics above all else, generally use the deepest wheels possible. Some opt for solid "disc" rear wheels for better aerodynamics. If you are riding at slower speeds, aerodynamics are inconsequential. Most experts estimate that the breaking point for aerodynamics is around 15kph 9.
At speeds below that, wind resistance is present but not very significant. Plus, the additional heft of deeper rims might outweigh aerodynamic benefits. Experts also say that climbs with gradients steeper than 4. Deep rims also get buffeted around in windy conditions. If you're not a confident bike-handler, the squirrely feeling of an 80mm aero rim might negate any potential advantages.
Choosing rim depth is often a balancing act between aerodynamics and weight. Riders who ride steep and slow climbs will appreciate lighter wheels. But at a certain speed, and as climbs become more gradual and faster, aerodynamics will begin to play a larger role. Also, keep the rim width in mind. Most aero-focused wheels will be the ideal width to satisfy The Rule of Most modern aero wheels are designed to be most aerodynamically efficient when paired with mm road tires.
If you buy expensive wheels, you want them to last. Durability concerns are a potential downside of carbon wheels. This is more of a concern for mountain bikers who are hard on equipment and ride gnarly or technical trails. In extreme cases, rim strikes can generate enough force to crack a carbon rim.
Most carbon failures occur due to hard rim strikes or debris hitting the wheel. Damage from rim strikes and debris occurs in cyclocross and gravel riding too, but it's slightly less common due to the nature of the terrain. It's even rarer to damage carbon wheels while road cycling. Riders who are most concerned with durability often prefer aluminum wheels. Impacts may dent aluminum rims, but in many cases, they are still usable, despite the damage. If an aluminum wheel is totaled, it is also cheaper to replace.
In recent years, carbon technology and construction have improved. Modern carbon wheels are more durable than ever. Many amateurs and recreational riders will have no issues with carbon wheel durability. Read our article Carbon Fiber to learn more about carbon durability and repair. The spokes are butted, bladed numbers from Pillar and the hubs contain high-quality EZO bearings. Here are four of the best alternatives. It is as close to a tubeless standard as we can get currently.
As Mavic makes both the UST rims and tyres, tolerances are very tight meaning the system works very well — tyres tend to seat with a regular track pump. DT Swiss is best known for its high-end wheelsets and beautifully constructed hubs but the PR Spline 23 wheels show the Swiss brand can compete at the higher-volume end of the market too. DT Swiss has been championing tubeless technology longer than most and all of its wheelsets come with tubeless tape pre-installed.
They feature tool-free disassembly, so servicing a DT hub is particularly easy. Light, low-profile and tubeless compatible, these hoops have all the hallmarks of a very practical wheelset. Their medium width rims suit higher volume tyres like c models, lending them a gently rounded, stable curvature and reducing the chance of pinch flats should you choose to run them tubed.
Arriving with tubeless rim tape pre-installed, the Cero branded quick-releases are also very light at g a set. Despite being quite remarkably cheap, they nevertheless include high quality sealed bearings throughout along with a fast engaging aluminium freehub body. Gravel riding is big business now and DT Swiss was quick to capitalise on market demand by producing its G series wheelsets, all of which are designed to meet the demands of the emerging discipline.
By happy coincidence though their features also suit road use rather well too.
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