Forget turning down the Christmas pud – these lightweight Reynolds rollers are a great way to lose weight after Santa’s scarpered. The good news is that there are no ‘special dietary requirements’ for these wheels – just conventional low-calorie menu options right through. The mid-depth aero rims help keep the wheels tight and responsive while […]
These 105 wheels are light and good value, which, coupled with Shimano’s legendary reliability, makes them an ideal winter wheel. The 24mm rims offer a smooth, pliable ride for coping with potholes, and also makes them less prone to gusting than deeper hoops. Placing the nipples of the straight-pull spokes (16 front/24 rear) at the […]
Undoubtedly these Gipimme wheels are very eye-catching, but sadly they wouldn’t be our first choice for winter work. The deep 40mm section, with its widely spaced, paired aero spokes and overall matt-black finish certainly stands out in the crowd, and they hold speed well. However, as the only wheelset here over 2kg, they take some […]
Halo has been making wheels for headcase MTB dirt jumpers and free-ride lunatics for years, so we expected their road wheels to be rugged. The relatively low 25mm rim and symmetrical crossover (therefore longer and springier) spoking all round means they’re also comfortable. The ‘Six Drive’ hubs are straight off their mtb wheels, with an […]
Easton’s second-tier aero set is impressively tough and versatile – if you like particularly stiff set-ups. With a mid-section 29.4mm aero rim, broad-body hubs and tight round spokes in a two-cross driveside/radial offside and front pattern, there’s no sign of deflection or drive loss however hard you kick. They’re impressively light for a low-cost aero […]
Using a mid-depth rim and tight double-butted spokes with Easton’s patented T3 Twin Thread technology makes the Circuit a phenomenally stiff and strong wheelset. They’re made for big riders and bad roads, and our experience doesn’t suggest any different. Despite the strength and stiffness they’re not harsh on rougher sections, and they feel impressively tight […]
The eye-catching orangey/red rims and hubs make these beauties look several times more expensive than they actually are, and may prompt you to check the price several times before believing it. The 24mm deep rims are strong enough to cope with winter roads without feeling as ‘clattery’ stiff as some deeper set-ups, and they still […]
The RD-400’s monochrome finish and big-windowed hub flanges look classy, and each set is individually handbuilt and numbered. Their 25mm semi-aero rims with a machined sidewall give strength and comfort, while the nipples for the aero spokes are tucked up inside out of wind’s way (luckily a purpose-designed spoke wrench is included). Sealed cartridge bearings […]
Shimano first started using superlight alloy rims with a reinforcing layer of carbon fused on top on its non-aero Dura Ace wheels. The fact you’re now getting similar light, but extremely strong, performance at £400 is a big value bonus. While relatively heavy hubs mean overall weight isn’t particularly low, it’s definitely not slow. Sixteen […]
This Gipiemme wheel is lighter and more aero than the company’s T-Due, but still didn’t particularly impress. (Also, while the wheel stated ‘024’, these are definitely ‘020s’.) Like the T-Due, semi-aero 25mm rims give a pro look at pocket-money price, which the bladed spokes amplify. The weight and hefty rim clunks over rougher road sections, […]
The second set of Pro Lites we’ve tested lately, but despite similar looks the Stelvio is a very different wheel from the Como. It may cost more, but there’s a lot more on offer. You’re still getting 30mm rims for a bit of wind-cutting advantage with alloy nipples for saving weight, and the handbuilt build […]
This 105 level set-up combines modern looks with traditional bearings for an eye-catching choice. The sidewall spoke insertions and paired lacing are gone; there’s still a 3mm asymmetric drilling offset to reduce dish, but otherwise it’s easily-tuneable business as usual. And the tight and even lacing of the straight pull, butted and bladed spokes never […]
The Open Pro has been the separate rim for ultra durable competition for decades. The double-eyelet design spreads stress through both inner and outer rim beds while the shallow, low-profile design gives a more forgiving ride than deeper aero-section extrusions. That means more comfort and less chance of a collapse, even if it picks up […]
The Pro Lite range goes right up to the highest carbon disc strata, but even this basic wheel has some likeable features. For a start, Pro Lite is very proud that all its wheels are fully handbuilt. Spoke tension throughout is impressively even and brass nipples make truing them yourself easier. Loose ball bearings also […]
First impressions: the EA70s look great. It’s a positivity that remained on every ride… The 26mm deep-section rim is pointed enough to add some aero edge, but still gives a competitive weight and a responsive feel that a lot of more expensive wheels would be happy to match. The machined braking surface also means good […]
A very affordable set of wheels. The double-spoke set-up is eye-catching and the white painted rims with machined braking surfaces look plenty pro. But don’t expect miracles: several makers have tried the paired-spoke design and most have quickly returned to conventional spoking. This set had really slack spoke tension throughout and creaked alarmingly as a […]
These lightweight wheels from Blackjack should prove useful to skinnier riders. The low 23mm rim, bladed spokes and thin-bodied hubs feel lively from the off and will cut a fair chunk of weight off most mid-price bikes very effectively. They also add an element of flex that makes cruising potentially hazardous winter roads more bearable. […]
