Shimano GRX Carbon Wheels: At The Finish
They aren’t flashy, but they will get the job done reliably and with a high degree of performance.
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They aren’t flashy, but they will get the job done reliably and with a high degree of performance.
But before we get too far into the weeds on aluminum’s value propositions for the gravel rider, let’s step back a minute and examine what the heck is really going on here.
The GRX Carbon wheel set is a definite contender in its price-point for carbon wheel sets meant for all-road riding.
Today news comes from a company called Logos Components regarding new wheels in carbon fiber featuring a recent open standard technology many of you might be familiar with.
Today we have news about a new wheel set from Atomik and how Continental Tire and Trail Forks have partnered up to share gravel ride routes. Let’s go!
Campagnolo has made the new Levante wheel set with carbon fiber rims, of course, but stuck with a bit more traditional based bearings using a cup and cone set up …
I give the CZR wheels a ‘highly recommended’ score here. While certain singular features on competitor’s products may seem more appealing, the CZR wheels have a complete feature set, are a part of a systemic tubeless range, which not many other choices in wheels can lay claim to, and a wheel set which performs at a very high level in very demanding conditions.
The WTB CZR wheels not only are light weight, very competitively priced, and super-subtle in looks, but have excellent lateral rigidity which enhances handling and reduces rider fatigue.
The CZR range will include trail bike wheels and these gravel/road wheels which we have in for testing. Focusing then on the gravel side, the WTB CZR wheels will feature an internal rim width of 23mm, reinforced spoke hole beds, and WTB’s “4D” spoke holes which aim each nipple and spoke out to the hub at an angle which removes stress on the spokes which typical straight holes in rims cannot do.
HED Wheels, the Minnesota U.S.A. based maker of wheels, perhaps best known for their aerodynamic qualities, has released a new wheel in their Emporia range today. Dubbed the Emporia GC3, it features design cues from HED’s Vanquish RC Pro and Vanquish RC Pro Performance Series wheels and has a 30mm rim depth.
Today Roval announces two new wheel sets based off their flagship Terra CLX wheels. The goal was to bring carbon fiber wheels and Roval’s design ethos down to price ranges which should be a bit easier on the budget for many more riders than the range topping CLX wheels. Additionally, Roval has a new flared drop bar made in carbon fiber to talk about.
So, if you can get past the fact that the GXX is not going to win any lightweight wheel contests, the GXX wheels will give your bike a smoother, more controlled ride with less energy wasted trying to herd the bike down a rougher road. That’s worth a lot right there, in my opinion.
One of the first real rides I did on the Trailblazer wheels was a 50 mile mixed surface loop running the Touareg tires. Now I got a bit suckered into this one. You know that friend that says that “it’s a 30 mile ride with a couple of hills” and it never is? Yeah. That friend. I have one of those.
Spinergy has been famous for using an alternative to stainless steel spokes for years. Their spoke is based upon a use of a special fiber. Specifically a spoke with “over 30,000 strands of polyphenylene bensobisoxazole fiber”. These fibers are then coated with a chemical, water, and UV resistant material which can be colored. The PBO spokes also have three times the strength of stainless steel, according to Spinergy, at half the weight of stainless steel spokes.
The Atomik/Berd Ultimate wheel set is a lightweight, configurable component that can reduce vibrations to the rider which would otherwise hinder performance and handling on crushed rock roads.
After a two plus hour ride in heavy cross winds and a bit of head wind and tail wind for good measure, I can say that- Yes- there is something to having a good aerodynamic wheel on gravel.
Folks who know me will tell you I’m a wheel guy. They’re one of my favorite parts of a bike, so to say I’m so stoked to be testing the GRX-SL wheels from Gulo Composites is an understatement.
Without a doubt, there is a lot to like about the Cantu Rova wheelset. The weight is competitive, at 1567 grams for our set. While it’s true there are lighter options available, most aren’t using 35mm section, 30mm wide external/24mm internal width rims.
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