Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 ACC
These Bontrager-branded aero wheels match a Steve Hed-designed 50mm deep-section carbon fairing with an aluminium rim and Bontrager hub. They come in at 1,660g per pair so aren’t a mountain climber’s first choice (Lightweight’s carbon set comes in at 1,000g), but equally they won’t hold you up on rolling terrain.
Rather than the spokes attaching to the deep section of the rim, the carbon is simply a fairing and the spokes attach to the aluminium rim beneath, making them ride more like traditional wheels than other full carbon rims.
Hed is renowned for its aerodynamic excellence so the 5.0s are as slippery as any of the other 50mm hoops available. Retailing at a penny under £1,250, they’re more expensive than Mavic’s (slightly heavier) benchmark Cosmic carbon wheelset, which uses similar technology.
Once on the bike, they felt somewhat stiff for this 11-stone rider, even when sprinting. But on the plus side they weren’t any harsher to ride over rough tarmac than a set of normal spoked training wheels.
Contact : Trek UK 01908 282626 www.bontrager.com
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
