Reviews of Products: Wheels

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Manufacturer Profiles (company philosophy, engineering & manufacturing techniques):

Easton
HED
Lightweight
Mavic
Reynolds
Zipp

Outside of your frame, no other single piece of equipment has as dramatic an effect on the way your bike rides and performs than your wheels. Well matched wheels can make a sluggish frame feel reasonably snappy while poorly matched wheels can make even the nicest of frames feel anemic or harsh. Wheels are that important.

While some wheels work better for a wider range of riders than others, there are no universal wheels that we recommend for everyone. Wheels, like frames, are also not commodities; if you want the best results, you need to select your wheels based on your individual needs, desired ride characteristics and what other equipment you will be using them with.

There are a lot of wheels out there. Hopefully we can help narrow the playing field for you by representing only the very best in each category and providing you with detailed ratings and information on how each does across a variety of performance variables. Every year we review what is available and how well each brand’s addresses customer service, product development, overall quality, price, innovation and performance. We then select the brands and models that are the very best in each category. This helps us guarantee the quality of our information and that people are as satisfied as possible with the wheelsets they buy from us. We hope that you find this information helpful and, if you are buying wheels, that you consider getting them through us.

events race wheels

An Event/Race Wheelset might be a wheel you ride on daily, but could also likely be the wheels you bring out on those special occasions when you want your body or bike to perform at their fullest. These wheels not only tend to look fantastically fast, they are the most important piece of equipment when it comes to actual speed. A well matched performance wheelset can add over 1 mph of speed for a rider who averages 20 mph compared to a basic All Purpose Performance Wheelset.

Event/Race wheels are built to maximize aerodynamics and minimize weight and rolling resistance. Like most things designed around maximizing performance, they can require a little more maintenance and care than an All Purpose wheel.

With this in mind, we use a 110 point rating system to rate Performance/Race Wheels, but rank the importance of the variables being considered completely different from our Multi-Purpose scale. Click here to view the results or read below to find out how we rate Event/Race Wheels:

Aerodynamics: From a performance perspective, improved aerodynamics compared to all purpose wheels is what distinguishes an event wheel. It is a heavily weighted factor. Just remember that frequently the most aerodynamic wheels are not the best performers in regards to versatility – which we rate as equally important for most riders to aerodynamics. Especially for smaller riders, the most aerodynamic wheels are also the most demanding when it comes to handling and stability in windier conditions. Our aerodynamic rating is based upon combining manufacturer based and independent wind tunnel test results with real world TT testing protocols by Fit Werx’ staff.

Versatility: This refers to how many different riding conditions, rider types (weight, speed…) terrain the wheel works well for. A balanced wheel that does everything well for the widest range of riders will score high, while a focused specialty wheel that may work ideally for a more limited number of riders or course types, but not as well on others, will score lower. Disc wheels, for example, can be exceptionally fast under the right rider on the right course, but can be a handful for a lighter or not as fast rider in windy or hilly conditions and thus do not have a high versatility rating.

Weight: Weight’s primary effect is on acceleration. Simply put, heavier wheels take more energy to accelerate and thus will frequently not sprint or climb as well as lighter wheels. A heavier wheel can still be a very fast wheel in conditions where there may not be a need for much acceleration or climbing (distance triathlon on flatter courses, for example) as long as it is aerodynamic. In our ratings, we look at weight from both an absolute standpoint (1100g a pair) and also take into account where the weight is distributed. Wheels with less external rotational mass score better than those with heavier rims. Make sure you do not choose a wheel based purely on weight, a wheel needs to meet the strength and stiffness characteristics you need as well to perform as desired.

Braking: Unlike aluminum rims, where there are frequently negligible differences in braking performance, carbon rims can have a wide range of braking performance. We assume the you are using a pair of pads recommended by the manufacturer with each rim (i.e. SwisStop carbon specific, standard Shimano…) with the wheels and are using the full carbon rim version of the wheel whenever possible. Our rating is based on consistency of modulation (how smooth the brake feel is) and overall stopping power compared to a machined aluminum rim. In some cases (like with Zipp) the clincher version uses an aluminum rim while the tubular is carbon and the clincher version would rate higher than the tubular.

Lateral Stiffness: Often related to compliance and comfort, lateral stiffness is the amount of deflection between the rim and the hub under load. Too much deflection and the wheel will not transfer power to the road as efficiently as it could. Heavier or more powerful riders need a stiffer wheel than a lighter or lower power rider as they will put more leverage on the wheel under pedal load and thus deflect it more. Our rating is based on a number of studies done within the cycling industry by publications and manufacturers on this topic as well as in-house testing.

Compliance/Comfort: Frequently the least compliant wheels are some of the most responsive and laterally stiff. This being said, modern material’s technology is overcoming this and some of today’s finest wheels are comfortable and stiff. A wheel’s compliance should be matched up well with the frame the rider is using it with; the more compliant and comfortable the frame, generally the less compliant the wheel needs to be and the stiffer it can be. Vibration damping ability is a hard variable to test in a wheel and we currently resort to our (and our athletes) experience and general impressions of the wheel to quantify this category.

Bearing/Hub Quality: Event wheels are about performance and therefore this number is a reflection of the bearing component’s hardness and smoothness. The higher the grade of the bearing and the better the hub components and alignment, the higher this number will be. Note: Bearing and seal durability is reflected in the overall durability rating and not this category. A wheel can receive a high rating for bearing quality, but may not have as durable a bearing as a lower rated bearing/hub that is sealed up more.

Durability/Serviceability: We can hear it now, “Only ten points! This is what Fit Werx rates as one of the most important variables when selecting a Multi-Purpose wheel! What are you thinking?” Well, this is one big place where Event/Race wheels and Multi-Purpose wheels differ. If durability and reliability are your most important variables, you may want to consider an Multi-Purpose Performance wheel instead or an Uber wheel (Mavic’s Cosmic Carbone Ultimate, Lightweight, Lew Racing…) as these are as close to wheel perfection as you can get. A good dealer and a strong and stable manufacturer can play a big role in your long-term satisfaction with your new wheels as well – so choose where you buy as carefully as what you buy.

Finish Quality: In some cases, wheels that rate at the very top in terms of versatile performance wheel are on the rawer side of things in terms of finish quality as cutting edge technology frequently requires hand manufacturing techniques. For most riders considering an event/race wheel, performance trumps finish quality and if a wheel offers a free mph of speed at the expense of a rough edge, that is fine. We have weighted the category according to this thought pattern. This being said, if you want the most refined and finished appearance, this category ranking is here to help you find those wheels that are as aesthetically refined as possible.

multi-purpose wheels

Click here to view the results or read below to see our 110 point All Purpose Wheel rating scale.

Durability/Reliability: For most riders, durability and reliability are the most important variables in an all purpose wheel and we weight it accordingly. An all purpose wheel has to be durable for a wide range of riders and be as trouble free as possible. The higher the rating, the more durable the wheel tends to be over a wider range of rider weights and riding styles.

Bearing/Hub Quality: In the case of all purpose wheels, bearing and seal durability as well as bearing hardness and smoothness are all taken into account. Bearings and hubs that are smoother, harder, better aligned and last longer through a variety of riding conditions score best. Even if a bearing or design is superior in all other regards, if it is compromised in one area to the point where it require more frequent service, it will score lower.

Serviceability: Wheels that get ridden need to be worked on periodically. Ease of being able to true the wheel, replace and service bearings and pawls, and whether any special tools are needed, are all factors in this rating.

For a given rider, the rest of the variables will hold varying levels of importance to their end decision and we do rate any significantly more important than the others. All are worth 7-10 points each.

Compliance/Comfort: As long as there are not significant compromises on lateral stiffness, who doesn’t want their wheel to absorb vibrations and smooth out the ride? Lighter riders and/or those riding stiffer/harsher riding frames will usually want to look for more compliant and comfortable wheels.

Lateral Stiffness: As long as comfort is not compromised in the process, laterally stiff wheels tend to be more responsive, accelerate quicker and simply ride better. Generally, the heavier and/or more powerful the rider, the stiffer the equipment usually should be while lighter or less powerful riders will not feel as big a difference.

Aerodynamics: While not the dominant variable it is in event specific wheels, it is an important performance variable and thus deserves points.

Weight: Like aerodynamics, this is not the most important variable in an all purpose wheel for most riders. This being said, no one wants to be pedaling extra weight around if they can help it. We look at weight from both an absolute standpoint (1600g a pair) and also take into account where the weight is distributed. Wheels with less external rotational mass score better than those with heavier rims.

Braking: Unlike race/event wheels, the majority of the all purpose wheels use machined aluminum rims which tend to have strong braking and modulation characteristics – thus the lower importance rating compared to the race/event wheels. In general, we have found that welded rims have a more consistent braking surface than pinned rims and thus rate higher and that almost all aluminum rims have a higher degree of modulation than carbon rims.

Finish Quality: Hey, who wants decals falling off or unsightly welds when you can have a smooth and refined finish? Our ratings do not comment on the color of the wheels or how well it matches up with the latest bike models. This is a rating of the quality of the finish itself and how well that finish should endure.

Associated Tech Articles on wheels:

Happy searching and please do not hesitate to call or email if you have questions or want to order.