As for durability, we tested them over 200 miles of flint packed bridleway. They delivered plenty of lateral stiffness too, with no discernible flexing under the pressure of a steep climb. On review we found the 650b wheels to accelerate well - not as zippy as carbon offerings but still better than many alloy wheels we've ridden. The DT Swiss GR 1600 sits in the middle of the Swiss brand's aluminium gravel range and are offered in both 700c and 650b sizes. At over £2000 / US$2500 they are among the more expensive on the market. The downside to the Roval Terra CLX hoops is their price. Better still, Roval backs them by two-year no-fault crash replacement policy and a lifetime warranty. While the hub shell may say Roval, on the inside are DT Swiss' new EXP internals for easy maintenance. If you're looking for a wheelset that can be swapped between bikes or you like to change your tyres often to match the terrain, then the versatility of the Roval wheels is a big plus. Said to work with tyres ranging from 28-47mm, the rim's 25mm internal rim width, and a hooked bead to ensure performance with the widest cross-section of tyres. This hopefully should mean that, unlike some carbon hoops, they aren't too flexy, which can really comprises performance when cornering or riding technical terrain. We haven't yet reviewed the Roval Terra CLX but if you're concerned at the durability of carbon gravel wheel they have been tested to pass Roval's Mountain Rim standard. If you're keen to significantly reduce the weight of your gravel bike then these clinchers, at under 1,300g a pair, will certainly do that. Tipping the scales just 48 grams heavier than Roval's ultralight climbing wheels, the Alpinist CLX, this gravel hoops are as feathery as they come. The obvious selling point of the Roval Terra CLX wheels is their weight. This makes the 101 XPLR somewhat niche - but also a good match if you want wheels that inspire confidence over tough, techy terrain. It's also the reason that they weight north of 1,600 grams (in the 700c size) as the single-wall approach required the use of a thicker material.Ĭombine this flex with an internal rim width of 27mm and you have a gravel wheel that's far more attuned to riding rough tracks than many of its competitors (many of which are really all-road' wheels). Zipp achieves this in part by using a single wall construction. The intentional flex in the rims is aimed at providing control and grip in the corners - and it does just that. When reviewing the 101 XPLR wheels we found they excelled in this kind of gnarly terrain. However, they provide bags of control, which is far more useful when you're navigating rocks and tree roots than a few grams saved in weight. They aren't the lightest set of wheels by any means - 1,620g - nor do they offer many aero benefits. Zipp 101 XPLR gravel wheels are best suited to riders who spend the majority of their time tackling rough and technical trails. Heat dissipation: Aluminium and other metals transfer heat quite well, but carbon fibre does not. This has a massive impact on carbon frame design and also makes it very difficult to construct a carbon clincher. Since only the carbon fibres give the material its stiffness, it is only stiff in the direction the fibres are oriented. The carbon fibres themselves are very stiff and resist bending, but the resin that holds them together is relatively soft and does not contribute significantly to the material’s stiffness. Shaping the material with a mould, rather than welding tubes together, allows a manufacturer to develop components with clean aerodynamic shapes that are unattainable with metals.ĭirectional stiffness: Metals are equally stiff in all directions but carbon composites are not. Shaping: A carbon fibre rim is formed by laying the material in a mould to give it its shape and is cured at high temperatures. Carbon fibre is different from metals in a few key ways. The long strings of carbon fibre resolutely resist bending and give the material its stiffness, and the resin acts as the glue that holds them together. "Unlike aluminium, the carbon fibre used to build wheels is made of two different materials, carbon and resin, which is why it is called a composite. Looks like CF rims have potential - However to use an Ali profile as the mould and that is the solution is surely the 1st step - CF is much easier to mould hence it does not have to be the same shape - In fact it should make use of this benefit and introduce a shape that completments its attributes - Maybe include a sandwhich design - I see the weakest point is where the nipple meets the rims - I have seem nipple wear holes in ali rims if run to loose to long - How quick will a lose spoke in a CF rim wear through ? Much quicker I assume.
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