9 gravel wheelsets on check – VeloNews.com
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The Grind is a weekly column on all issues gravel.
Though most gravel races have been canceled this yr, gravel driving definitely was not, and I’ve been testing a lot of completely different wheelsets. Right here is my comparative tackle 9 gravel wheels I’ve ridden, some commonalities, and a few standouts.
Associated:
The perfect gravel tire width
Shimano GRX Di2: What I love; what bugs me
SRAM vs Shimano gearing for gravel
What makes a superb gravel wheel?
So aren’t gravel wheels simply highway wheels? Effectively, not likely. Sure, you possibly can experience a standard highway wheel on gravel, however the principle distinction is within the inside rim width. Gravel wheels are wider than highway wheels to raised assist a wider tire.
Whereas most highway wheels have inside rim widths within the 17-21mm vary, devoted gravel wheels are normally about 20-25mm. ENVE has a useful tire stress chart that breaks down prompt stress primarily based in your weight, your rim width, and your tire width, for gravel and for highway. Check it out. It’s additionally a useful method to orient your self on the connection between tire width and inside rim width.
Relatedly, the general rim form of a gravel wheel higher pairs with a gravel tire. Aerodynamics might not be a precedence for you, nevertheless it’s a factor, albeit much less vital than on the highway.
Sturdy development is a should for a gravel wheel. Whereas you will discover an 18-spoke highway construct, 24 spokes is just about normal for gravel.
Low weight at all times feels good. As elsewhere with bikes, you usually get what you pay for right here. Heavier alloy wheels are in a single value vary; lighter carbon wheels are a step above that.
And lastly, in distinction to highway wheels, some gravel wheels are decidedly not tremendous stiff. The concept is that constructing a little bit give right into a wheel designed for a non-suspended bike on tough surfaces is an efficient factor.
Listed below are a couple of wheels I’ve been testing.
DT Swiss GRC 1400 Spline
$2,479 — 1,620g
These puppies appear and feel quick, and price a reasonably penny.
Fats, 24mm inside widths make for a strong base for 40mm tires, which mix proper in to the broad exterior rims, which stand 42mm tall. I loved driving these on Canyon’s top-end Grail in California, and at residence I put Schwalbe G-One Speeds (learn: digital slicks) on a check pair, as a result of quick felt proper on them.
For such deep gravel wheels, the low rim weight means they spin proper up like like climbing wheels, and DT’s 240 Ratchet hub with 10-degree engagement helps that instant-on really feel.
Mechanics may increase an eyebrow on the inside nipples (learn: truing a wheel means eradicating the tire and tubeless tape), however I haven’t had any points regardless of a couple of months of driving just like the bag of anvils that I’m, in order that doesn’t hassle me.
DT Swiss CR 1600 Spline
$700 — 1,709g
These alloy hoops got here on the Salsa Warbird I raced at The Mid South. The matching pink decals definitely counted for a couple of shaved watts, proper? Technically categorized as cyclocross wheels, these have a barely narrower 22mm inside rim width.
You get the marginally much less higher-end 350 hub right here, however with the identical Ratchet engagement as on the GRC. And the 2x spokes are sure into the wheel usually with exterior nipples, so that you mechanics can put your eyebrows again down.
DT Swiss G 1800 Spline
$492 — 1,741g
I rode these on Canyon’s most inexpensive Grail, the Grail 7, they usually’re okay. They’ve a three-pawl hub as an alternative of DT’s swanky Ratchet hub, however the aluminum rim has a contemporary, 24mm inside width so that you’re not giving up something when it comes to stance width. (Notice that this wheel is labeled 1850 when it comes inventory on bikes.)
In case you’re looking for gravel wheels, you most likely have already got a gravel bike that got here with wheels of this high quality. So if you happen to’re trying to improve and never exchange, spend a little bit extra to get much more.
Roval Terra CL
Okay, so a little bit caveat right here: These wheels are unique gear on the Specialized Diverge Pro Carbon, and aren’t accessible as aftermarket. However, you will get the Terra CLX and Terra CLX EVO, which each have a lighter carbon rim and the brand new, streamlined DT Swiss Ratchet EXP hub. The Terra CLs felt 100% raceable to me with a DT Swiss 350 hub and fats, 25mm inside rim width. The common Terra CLX weigh a claimed 1,296g, and the CLX EVO wheels weigh a claimed 1,357g as a result of they’ve a super-fat 30mm inside rim width, which places them into XC territory.
ENVE G23
$2,500 — 1,500g
I respect when firms title issues merely. The G23 is a high-end gravel wheel with a 23mm inside rim width. I raced them on the occasion previously often called the Soiled Kanza 200, and extra lately rode them fairly a bit on the Evil Chamois Hagar, with mainly XC-width tires on them.
The feathery 300g carbon rims really feel great; they speed up seemingly effortlessly, and the 24-spoke development is decidedly smooth. No, they’re not floppy or imprecise; once you speed up out of the saddle they’re proper with you, they usually monitor true by means of corners. However they only don’t appear to transmit as a lot tough stuff up into the bike and physique as different wheels. Possibly I’m simply ingesting the Kool-Help right here!
HiFi Remix Tape Disc
$600 — 1,660g
At 20mm inside, these HiFi alloy hoops are on the skinnier facet of gravel, however nonetheless a lot as much as the duty. I rode them fairly a bit with 38mm Schwalbe G-One Allrounds, they usually acted the best way a superb chamois does — I by no means considered them as soon as outdoors of ‘hey, it’s evaluate time’. The made-in-Oregon construct is no-nonsense; 24 2x Sapim spokes up entrance and 28 3x within the again. Plus you get the candy reflective decals with HiFi’s old-fashioned speaker emblem, which has to depend for one thing…
Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon Tubeless
$1,900 — 1,352g
Zipp’s 303 is an efficient instance of the highway/gravel crossover, as this wheel has lengthy been a stalwart of the highway racing scene. It’s simply progressively wider internally (now 25mm), which works for 28mm and 30mm highway tires in addition to 35-45mm gravel tires. The mannequin I rode (proven above) is the predecessor to the present super-Gucci version. Just a few winter months of abuse and energy washing didn’t appear to faze them.
Reynolds ATR
$1,299 – 1,620g
These are fairly related in measurements to DT’s high providing, with 23mm inside and 32mm exterior rim widths, and a 40mm (vs 42mm) rim top. Additionally, on paper, the Reynolds Allroad hub boasts a 10-degree engagement, the identical as on the DT 240. However word that whereas many firms use DT Swiss hubs, you’d be hard-pressed to discover a Reynolds hub on a non-Reynolds wheels. So how do they experience? Truthfully, fairly darn equally to the DTs, that are greater than $1,000 extra.
Shimano GRX RX570
$420 — 1,650g
Shimano’s highway wheels have been notoriously skinny for years, however these gravel wheels boast a wholesome 21.6mm inside width. As with the DT Swiss G 1800, this can be a wheel that you could be get inventory on a motorbike, so whereas it’s a superbly good and sturdy possibility, it’s not an attractive improve.
My favorites
The DT Swiss GRC 1400 and ENVE G23 wheels are distinctive, each from the fundamental hoist-the-bike gee-whiz weight test to the sentiments on the grime. I’d gladly experience both off into the sundown. However they ain’t low cost. The DT Swiss CR 1600 or its gravel sibling the GR 1600 might be the sleeper right here, with an honest weight, a best-in-class hub, trendy dimensions, and a model you possibly can belief.
Keep tuned for full evaluations on a few of these wheels.
