Hand on heart: What were the last criteria you used to buy new wheels? By their looks? Understandable! A new set of wheels is like a fresh cell treatment. Nothing changes a road bike in the blink of an eye as radically as different wheels. Delicate, with lots of thin spokes, or bulky, with an angular rim and a few thick aluminium spokes? The wheels give the bike character.
On the other hand, wheels are also important functional parts of the bike. With their acceleration behaviour and stiffness, they determine the riding impression, their spokes swirl the air and slow down the ride. The rims are also part of the braking system - how well the brakes grip depends on them, and they are subject to a certain amount of wear that needs to be monitored. Every cyclist wants their wheels to run smoothly, require little maintenance and be as light as possible. However, as it is difficult to combine the required properties, the designers have to make compromises.
13 candidates in the lab
TOUR makes no compromises when it comes to testing. From the wind tunnel test to mechanical laboratory tests and riding tests, the test programme covers everything that is of interest for wheels and thus creates the basis for an objective and transparent evaluation. The candidates for this test are wheels that weigh less than 1,650 grams and have everyday-friendly, easy-to-brake aluminium rims for clincher tyres. Seven so-called system wheels are included, in which the individual components have been specially matched to each other, and they are contrasted with six conventionally constructed wheels.
SHORT AND SHORT
Despite the innovative approach of the Mavic R-Sys wheels, the test victory goes to a tried and tested model from Germany: Citec's 3000 S Aero, a classic that has been built for years, offers the best overall performance at a fair price. The prices of many other wheelsets seem to be decoupled from the performance - the manufacturers pay dearly for a touch less weight without recognising any significant functional advantages. This becomes particularly clear in comparison to last year's test (TOUR 6/2007) with wheels between 100 and 350 euros.
You can find these models in the PDF download:
Campagnolo Shamal Ultra
Citec 3000 S Aero
DT-Swiss RR 1450 Mon Chasseral
Easton EA 90 SLX
FRM FL-R 21 Profile Aerolite
Fulcrum Racing Zero
Mavic R-Sys
Roval Fusee SL
Shimano WH-7850-C24-CL
Tune Skyline RR
Ursus Hybrida
Veltec Volare
Whizz Wheels Tune/DT
Downloads:
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