Consider the following:

Weight of the wheelset – Lighter wheelsets mean faster acceleration.
Stiffness – Too much flex will decrease the power utilised from the pedals, however, wheels that are too stiff will create an uncomfortable ride.
Sealed bearings – High quality sealed bearings will provide a smoother and faster ride along with the added bonus of a longer lasting lifespan compared to ceramic ones.

Miche has a long standing reputation for creating high quality products since their creation in 1919 by using only the finest materials and innovative methods. All of their products are 100% manufactured in Italy and Miche ensures it creates products that are ‘functional’ and ‘endurable’.

The Miche Connect Road wheelset offers top value for money yet manages to achieve increased strength paired with a reduction in weight thanks to the use of high quality materials. This wheelset is an ideal pick for someone who is looking for a high quality, rigid and strong wheelset to enhance the performance of their bike.

Miche have ensured that the Connect wheels provide the perfect camber and offer unbeatable balance to guarantee a smooth and controlled ride. The wheels offer a slight aerodynamic advantage compared to sets that contain rounded spokes by utilising bladed stainless steel spokes. The rear wheel contains 24 spokes arranged in an asymmetrical 16+8 formation to provide added
rigidity and strength against its previous counterparts. The front wheel has 18 spokes.

The Rims consist of a lightweight and stiff aluminium alloy that will provide increased performance. Extreme care has been taken to create a deep rim on the Connect wheel which will offer an aerodynamic advantage over its competing products.

The wheelset utilises an Ergal 7075 aluminium alloy hub, known for being strong yet lightweight. Along with the strength comes added and guaranteed protection through the use of precision grease to fill the sealed bearings that aid movement. This ensures a smooth and flawless ride with long lasting protection.

Product Features

Reduced weight of 1720g (combined)
Ergal 7075 aluminium alloy Hub
Lighweight Aluminium Rim
Bladed spokes for slight aerodynamic advantage on competing products

Miche have created a reasonable entry level product with the Connect Road wheelset that is great for anyone looking to increase the performance of their bike, however, due to the relatively high cost of 7075 aluminium alloy there are other products that boast a similar specification but without the increased price tag. You can however guarantee a firm yet smooth ride if you choose the Miche Connect Road Wheelset.

The latest carbon wheelset offering from Easton is a carbon clincher wheel that offers the durability and performance of a traditional aluminium clincher wheel but with a reduced weight thanks to its carbon design. Carbon clincher wheels are still commonly debated but with the technology that Easton brings to the table, it is hard to resist what they have to offer.

At 38mm deep the wheels only weigh an impressive 1532g and hold impressive tension and stress bearing properties. The manufacturing process means the carbon rim is moulded in one process, offering unrivalled protection and strength against stress and fatigue.

Aerodynamic performance is also improved by the use of Sapim double butted bladed spokes which offer reduced weight and increased strength. The Carbon clinchers also provide a firm but smooth ride that is equivalent to that of an alloy counterpart and the flex is minimal as to not cause any apparent problems with the braking.

Before you go comparing the EC90 SL to other carbon wheels which tend to have a grabby, inconsistent and pulsing feel when braking, combine the already impressive list of features above with a new concept: ThermaTecTM, a ceramic treatment coating which is applied on to the carbon rim braking surface and can resist temperatures in excess of 500oc.

What do you have? You find yourself with a bike that can not only pick up speed in an impressive manner but a bike that has an impeccable braking quality. As carbon is an insulator, using the brakes can lead to a build-up of heat which will eventually lead to a blow out, however, Easton have used the latest technology to ensure this issue is bypassed and braking is smooth and consistent throughout your ride.

Product Features

38mm rim depth
Sapim bladed black spokes
18 radial front spokes
24 radial NDS rear spokes
Ceramic cartridge bearings

Easton’s EC90 SL Carbon Clincher wheelset offers all round flexibility and shows excellent capability when used for climbing or generating speed on the flat due to their lightweight yet firm rim. The one piece moulded carbon rim provides a flawless surface that assists in smooth and controlled braking.

They were the choice of Cadel Evans in the 2011 Tour de France, one of the toughest races on the calendar and we can certainly see why he chose them, they have to be the world’s most advanced carbon clincher available to date and are a must for anyone looking for a top of the range all round racing wheelset.

The most impressive design and construction feature of the SRAM S60 wheels is their 60mm UD carbon rims, these rims possess the perfect level of rigidity guaranteeing that they effectively transfer a rider’s power to the road. This rigid carbon design ensures that riders not only pick up fast speeds but also maintain incredible speeds both on the inclines as
well as declines. A unique feature of the SRAM S60 is the aluminium braking surface which has been included on the carbon rims; this specific design feature promises that riders will enjoy responsive and reliable braking in all weather conditions. The carbon centred hubs with straight- pull flanges makes certain that the SRAM S60 wheels are durable and
maintain their rigidity. While the SRAM S60 wheels also feature the same aerodynamic design and technology often only found on more expensive models. This careful aerodynamic spoke design enables the wheels to slice through crosswinds effectively helping riders to maintain incredibly fast speeds.

Our testers were impressed with these wheels, in particular how they effectively converted a riders efforts into high speeds. The only fault our testers could find with these magnificent wheels was their weight, weighing approximately 1,900 grams they aren’t the lightest wheels on the market. However, this additional weight only helps to create stable and durable wheels and didn’t hinder our testers too much when they tackled steep inclines. The is no doubt that these purpose built road wheels combine SRAM’s high quality components with a technologically advanced design to create one of the fastest wheelsets on the market.

These hand built clincher wheels possess specific optimized components that include a strong sleeved joined single-eyelet rim that is both light in weight as well as rigid. This perfect equilibrium of rigidity and lightness promises that the rim effectively transfers a rider’s power to the road so that riders reach impressive speeds with the least amount of effort. Another optimized component of the DT Swiss R1900 wheels are their DT Swiss bladed aero spokes with a front radial lacing and rear 2-cross lacing, these pioneering spokes and careful design offer riders a range of benefits. In particular their aero design guarantees that the wheels are able to slice through strong crosswinds easily for a steadier ride, while
the strength and rigidity of the spokes and their careful design help to eliminate any flex and ensure a riders power is transferred to the road. The DT Swiss R1900 wheels are also fitted with ProLock nipples, which help to reduce the overall of weight of each wheel, whilst remaining strong enough to endure excessive use.

DT Swiss have also fitted the R1900 road wheels with quick release Shimano two pawl system hubs. Introducing these quick release hubs on the R1900 wheels ensures that they are virtually maintenance free, long lasting and provide riders with a smooth spin, even after excessive use.

Most of our testers were impressed with these DT Swiss wheels, with many commenting that the wheels hadn’t gone out of tune despite the excessive testing. While others were impressed at their rigidity and how the rim and spoke tense helped riders reach incredible speeds. The only fault a few testers mentioned was their weight, weighing approximately 1900 grams in total the DT Swiss R1900 are slightly heavy, however the additional weight didn’t prevent any of our testers sprinting up hills and in fact helped to create a more stable feel when riding on flats. The strength, rigidity and aero design of the DT Swiss R1900 wheelset are why they are and will continue to be one of the leading products DY Swiss produce.

The SRAM S80 wheelset is purposely built for competitive road cyclists who demand a wheel that will improve and develop their performance. Constructed using a carefully formed UD carbon the SRAM S80′s 82mm patented rim profile guarantees an increased level of stiffness unfound on any other wheelset for more effective power transfer. This effective power transfer helps riders reach and maintain remarkable speeds for a more impressive performance. While this patented rim shape helps to
improve a rider’s performance, more impressively it also guarantees a more comfortable ride, making the SRAM S80 wheels ideal for longer competitive road races. The SRAM S80 wheelset also features SRAM’s advanced aerodynamic design, which upon testing worked perfectly with the wheels gliding effortlessly through strong crosswinds.

As with most SRAM wheels the S80 wheelset divided our testers slightly, especially when it came to the wheelsets weight. With the rear wheel weighing 1130 grams and the front weighing 960 grams, the SRAM S80 wheelset is relatively heavy compared to other sets on the market. Yet while some testers found their weight troubling, especially when tackling inclines, other powerful riders found the additional weight meant that the wheels were able to withstand their extra power and deliver a faster performance. While the weight of the SRAM S80 wheels divided our testers, all of our testers did agree that the wheels look fantastic, are robust and their amplified rigidity did help to improve their performance overall, which is why they continue to be considered a fantastic addition to SRAM’s wheelset range.

Designed for speed the DT Swiss RR 1850 wheelsets are part of the company’s RR range which have been created and produced for enthusiast riders who want to ride the best possible wheels that include the latest aerodynamic designs and features. These Swiss made wheels possess extremely strong rims that have been created using DT Swiss’ SBWT welded technology. This process is where the rim joint seams are carefully jointed using CNC machined technology. This welding process creates an extremely strong rim making it incredibly rigid, this careful design and construction of the rims promises that the rims of the DT Swiss RR 1850 wheels are both aerodynamic, as well as being able to effectively transfer a cyclist’s power to road in order to help riders achieve incredible speeds more easily.

The DT Swiss RR 1850 wheels also feature bladed spokes in both a radial and 2-cross pattern, which have been constructed using DT Swiss’ cold-forging process. The high strength of the spokes ensures they remain in tune as well as successfully transfer a cyclist’s power to the road. While their flat middle section design and pattern guarantee the DT Swiss RR 1850 wheel will slide through crosswinds easily, enabling riders to maintain fast speeds with less effort. One of the most impressive features of the DT Swiss RR 1850 wheels are their quick release high quality hubs, which features DT Swiss’s patented ratchet system. This star ratchet design is able to withstand a higher load capacity, while the cartridge bearings promise smooth rolling and little maintenance.

Available in a sleek black or a minimalist white, these wheels performed flawlessly through our tests, with many of our testers impressed with every aspect of these wheels, from there aerodynamic design to their fantastic strength and rigidity. The DT Swiss RR 1850 is arguably the stiffest, aerodynamic wheelset available and ideal for cycling enthusiasts who only want the very best wheels for their road bike.

This wheelset features some of the advanced technologies of the more elaborate models but still retains a very affordable price of just over £400. These wheels have a combined weight of roughly 1550 grams with the radially 18 spoked front wheel being the lighter of the two at 690 grams.

The 20 spoke rear wheel incorporates the unique Mavic branded ‘Isoplus’ style lacing which is two-crossed on the non-driving side compensated by a more radial type pattern on the other side. In addition to the polished aluminium finish there are silver or black versions. The spokes of are of the straight-pull bladed variety which when combined with fully adjustable cartridge bearings allows for greater smoothness in the ride.

One extra feature of the wheelset is the lack of spoke holes on the rim underside which alleviates the need for rim strips, while the spoke nipples are connected to threaded ares within the rim interior. The front rims have a 23 mm depth compared to the 25 mm at the rear, and the brake tracks have been milled for greater efficiency.

When tested, the Elite scores top marks for stiffness despite its lightweight feel, but there tends to be a slight but acceptable jarring on rougher terrain. On the more even stretches of road, the bike handling is faultless with a very smooth ride and any attempts at sudden prolonged acceleration are rewarded with an equally dynamic response.

As Mavic test all their wheels next to their main base in the French Alps, it is no surprise that hill climbing can be more than adequate with the Elite although the general stiffness can mean that more pedalling power is required. With some of the Mavic products there is a whistling sound around the spokes on fast downhill stretches, but this is not apparent with the Elite. Also, there is no discernible rub on the brake pads when pedalling harder.

Mavic also offer some basic tools as part of the price, but they are plastic and do not seem too robust. They are free so it is worth accepting a bladed spoke holder and a spoke wrench made specifically by the company. There is also a rear bearing adjusting tool, but perhaps the least useful of the freebies are an assortment of advertising stickers, some which have an extremely shiny silver taint.

Depending on your taste, these stickers can be thrown away, but this should not deflect from the notion that these wheelsets can give a responsive smooth ride at half of the price of many of the competitors, on the background of years of research at the Mavic testing area.

They are one of the heaviest wheels weighing in at approximately 1735 grams with the front wheel set at 800 and are available in clincher mode only. The aluminium rims have a sleeve joint which has helped to reduce the weight by up to 60 grams and have a black anodised finish. With a depth of 24 mm they have been pinned and machined to allow for greater efficiency in braking.

The traditional steel spokes are straight-pull and bladed with a good high tension, while the nipples are brass and use the self-locking concept. There are 20 spokes on both set of wheels with radial lacing at the front and on the non-drive rear with crossed lacing on the rear drive. The spoke holes are drilled through the rim and extra durability is provided by hammer hardening for the eyelet area.

Extra pluses are the aluminium cartridge bearing hubs which are very reliable and smooth and the steel reinforcement between the hub body and the two pawl mechanism, which can generate quite a bit of noise.

As for road worthiness, their weight generally rules them out of racing and they do not fare particularly well on aerodynamics, but they are stiff and durable over multiple surfaces. The wheels can stay true over the roughest of terrain and would seem to be perfect for training rides or touring. Even over smooth surfaces speed attained can be up to 5 mph higher than for the average mass produced wheels.

For climbing, once again the weight tends to lead to an increased level of pedalling power, but nothing of great significance. When riding on the downhill stretches the wheels run smoothly with greater speeds than expected. As the wheelsets are tried and tested for quality control in the French Alps close to the Mavic factory, it is wise to assume that hill work will be an essential part of the trials.

The wheelsets are sold with a range of freebies including a pair of tyres with tubes, some rim strips, a user guide and a warranty card. Another factor which may be important is that the wheels do have striking good looks, for those riders interested in looking the part.

The Mavic Aksiums may not be the fastest and most lightweight wheels on the market, but for the price charged, they perform many of the functions available from many of the top of the range models, which is all that is required for those cyclists who will be buying them. With high quality spokes and rims fitted, any difficult maintenance tasks should be kept to a minimum and for touring riders this is an essential factor.

These latest Red Wind wheels are offered at a price below £1,000 and have an integrated aluminium/carbon fibre rim structure. Added to this is an aluminium hub body to which are attached aerodynamic steel spokes which are of standard length and have self- locking nipples allowing for the easy adjustment of spoke tension. The wheels are built to basic principles and while the tyres fit almost perfectly, Fulchrum do like to emphasise some of the technical wizardry in their brochures.

The 50mm rim is considered by Fulchrum to be ideal for any route and these are further supplemented by an alloy braking surface and a pair of hub bearings weighing a total of 1,858 grams (not the 1,755 specified) which are very versatile and maintainable. Either a Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo can be used with these bearings.

Another good feature of these wheels comes with the quick release mechanisms, which have been completely redesigned to give a lighter wheel. Regular spoke keys can be used for any adjustments and the material used is rust free and more resilient to wear and tear. Add in a pair of good quality wheel bags and Fulchrum certainly do offer a good product for the price.

It is on the road where the value of the product is measured and in this respect the Red Winds score top marks. Although there is some criticism levelled at aerodynamic wheels as a result of exhaustive laboratory tests, wheel performance should be more suitably measured out on the road. Cyclists do not ride their bikes through wind tunnels and are certainly less concerned with the statistical figures associated with height and weight of the rims and other more complex formulae.

Riders place more emphasis on the ability of a wheel to handle various types of terrain and in negotiating gusty cross winds especially on the open moorland roads. Sidewinds are handled in an exemplary manner by Red Winds and their general road handling ability is more than adequate. The wheels allow a cyclist to have a good confident ride at any desired speed and this is a more important factor than data derived from logarithms and technical jargon in wheel simulation tests.

Cyclists are also interested in value for money and at under £1,000 for a basic set of wheels from a very reputable manufacturer, there can be little doubt that Red Winds are a very attractive proposition. There may be more expensive products on the market which claim to offer better performance, but these wheels can be just as good and can offer greater flexibility on maintenance time.

At a weight of 1850 grams they are fairly heavy and Fulchrum have added twice as many spokes to the right side of the rear wheel as to the left to create a greater balance. The rear spokes connect from the hub to the rim via an elbow bend, while at the front radial spokes allow the bike to perform more efficiently. This allows adequate stiffness in the front tyre and the ability to withstand any jarring at the rear.

The steel spokes seem quite durable with consistency high levels of stiffness and tension, and with holes in the spoke seats, tension can be adjusted.

Fulchrum have also provided a wear indicator on the rim to allow for constant monitoring. Other features include machined brake surfaces which allow for safe and steady braking in various road and weather conditions, and sealed cylindrical bearings containing high quality steel balls. This gives a good wheel spinning action and helps to reduce friction but on the downside loose ball bearings can be much smoother, and the cost of upgrading can be cheaper. On the plus side the fairly simple hub design allows for the bearings to be maintained and serviced much easier. This is particularly important for novice and touring bike riders who are more likely to buy these wheelsets.

On the drive side there is quite a large falange which helps with overall stiffness and the quick release aluminium lever and steel spine seem easy to use and resistant to wear and tear.

Out on the road, the wheels give a good feel, hold the road well and are more than adequate at climbing. They can be a slightly loud which has its advantages in heavy traffic, but it is their reaction to potholes which can be quite troublesome. Small to medium holes are handled with no problem, but larger versions can impact upon the trueness of the wheel in addition to giving the rider a fairly hefty jarring experience.

Another slight problem with these wheels is tyre replacement. This process seems to take longer than expected with standard wheels and may be particularly annoying to the novice.

Overall, these wheels may be heavy but for the price they are certainly value for money. The added attraction of a red anodised finish covering a good part of the rim and hub give the wheels a really sleek appearance, although the free stickers supplied can be detrimental to the entire look.