I was present and involved, but definitely not in charge of the wind tunnel.

We limited our testing to wheels ranging from 50 to 65mm, and our efforts resulted in the following list of 10 wheelsets:Īn admission: I didn't perform the testing myself. They strike a Goldilocks balance and make for the ideal choice for most riders, who are looking for extra speed, without sacrificing handling ability or adding too much weight.įor that reason, we focussed our attention on mid-section wheels for our testing. Averaging around 50- to 65mm deep, these wheels aren't as aerodynamic as their 80- to 90mm deep counterparts, nor are they as light or responsive as the best lightweight wheels, which are often 30- to 40mm deep. That's where mid-section wheels come into their own. For example, a solid wheel known as a disc wheel will regularly produce the lowest CdA numbers in a wind tunnel, but they are also considerably heavier than a spoked wheel and more affected by wind, which makes accelerating slower, the overall bike heavier, handling more difficult, and crashes more likely. Returning our focus to road bike wheels, there's an important balance to be struck with reducing CdA while also ensuring the wheels perform well in other areas, such as handling, comfort, and weight. Put in simple terms, the less you can disturb the air through which you pass, the more aerodynamic you'll be. To go faster, you need a lower CdA (in the context of aerodynamics, at least) and this can be achieved by making your area smaller, or by making it easier for air to pass over your surface - by adjusting your shape, making your surface smoother or by using clever fabrics.

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