CyclistBig Ride: Land of the green giants on the Lagos de CovadongaThey call this northern part of the country Green Spain, and when I look out of the window of the plane as it nears Asturias airport, I can see how it got its name. Verdant forests spread back from the coast, creating a dense strip of dark green that rises into wreaths of mist on the higher ground. In the distance I can make out the bald, white rock turrets of the Picos de Europa mountain range, and I know that hidden somewhere in this prehistoric-looking landscape are some of the most feared climbs in cycling. Related Posts Big Ride: A grande day out in Asturias, Spain Big Ride: The divine gorge in the Picos de Europa Big Ride: Pain in Spain on the Angliru I imagine the organisers of the Vuelta a Espaa, having arrived late to the Grand Tour party compared to their French and Italian counterparts, set out to make their race the toughest of the three, featuring the steepest, most notorious climbs. And when they went on the hunt for those climbs, they found what they were looking for in Asturias.These gentle slopes are just a foretaste of the Sotres climb proper.Patrik Lundin / CyclistOur plan is to take on two of them in one ride. The first is a beautiful but little-ridden road that winds upwards between vertiginous walls of limestone to the village of Sotres; the second is a blockbuster climb a regular of the Vuelta that heads up to the picturesque lakes of Covadonga. All going well, in the course of 132km well rack up just over 3,000m of climbing.Into the valleyWe havent turned a pedal yet and already Im worried. My guide for today is local rider Joaquin Alfonso Garca Llaneza, who has expressed his concern that our attempt to double up on climbs might be taking on a bit too much this after casually slipping into conversation that he averages more than 10,000km a year. Such notoriously steep climbs make even seasoned riders wary.Patrik Lundin / CyclistI figure his disquiet is more for my benefit than his, so I wave away his concerns and try to look as though I eat HC climbs for breakfast.Our starting point is the town of Cangas de Ons, which sits close to the foot of the Lagos de Covadonga climb, but were saving that one for later. We begin by heading eastwards along the valley on a wide road that follows the path of the Ro Gea river. Along its banks, holidaymakers are emerging from tents and a few early risers are already out in canoes and kayaks.Tunnels blasted through the mountainside help pin the road to the valleys vertiginous sides.Patrik Lundin / CyclistWe pass through several pretty villages as the road rises gently but not yet in a way that requires me to break a sweat. The further we ride, the more the trees recede and the valley opens up, until after 30km at the town of Las Arenas we turn right off the valley floor and onto a narrower road that marks the beginning of the climb to Sotres.From here its about 17km to the top. In between well ascend 910m at an average gradient of around 5%, but this figure doesnt tell the real story of the severity of the climb. The first 6km tracks the cleft cut by the Rio Cares as it runs down from the high ground, and although spectacular it gains us a mere 100m of height. Precarious rocks overhang the road as it carves its way through the hillside.Patrik Lundin / CyclistIts only when we arrive at an abandoned hydroelectric plant at the junction with the Rio Duje that the road swings left, getting narrower again, and the climbing begins in earnest.Long road, high villageThe slopes come on strong, with gradients around 10% for the next 4km. Soon were passing through a series of tunnels blasted into the rock, before the route swings across the valley on a bridge over a waterfall and starts levering itself back up via a series of switchbacks. The gradient eases just enough to allow a moment to appreciate the scenery, with views far off into the high ground. From here the road proceeds balcony-like, clinging to the cliff edge and following the kinks and curves of the river below.Joaquin leading the way up the days first big climb.Patrik Lundin / CyclistFrom out of this maze of rock, the village of Sotres appears suddenly. First I notice a building perched high on a cliff, then we turn a corner to find a gaggle of houses and within moments were pulling up outside the Restaurante Pena Castil. The road continues upwards for a while, but we decide that this is our summit point and reward ourselves with a lunch of tortos asturianos, a fried corn tortilla with eggs and ground pork seasoned with paprika.Patrik Lundin / CyclistWhile we eat, I tally up the number of other riders weve seen on the way up. I think it was two and about as many cars. I also think about the one time that the Vuelta visited these parts. It was in 2015 when the likes of Fabio Aru, Nairo Quintana, Tom Dumoulin and Joaquim Rodrguez were battling it out for GC honours on Stage 15, with just a handful of seconds between them. The stage ended here in Sotres, and after numerous attacks and counterattacks, Rodrguez managed to get the jump on his rivals on the final climb to finish 12 seconds ahead of second place Rafa Majka. Aru came in 15 seconds down, meaning he held onto his GC lead by just a single second over Rodrguez, but he would extend that out to almost a minute by the end of the tour to win the red jersey.On the big hillOne climb down and Im feeling uncharacteristically spritely. Turning around and heading back the way we came means weve already reconnoitred all the corners, and with little traffic theres scant reason not to let off the brakes and enjoy the speed. As we ride back along the valley, Joaquin does his best to dampen my enthusiasm by explaining that the approaching climb to Covadonga is the twin of the Angliru, another Asturian climb thats widely regarded by many as the most difficult in professional cycling.Patrik Lundin / CyclistAn hour or so later were back close to where we began, except with 90km and a category one climb in the legs. We take the turning towards Covadonga and are soon met by barriers and park rangers who ensure that the occasional tour bus is the only motorised traffic that can pass. The popularity of the Lagos de Covadonga as a tourist destination means that no private cars are allowed onto its slopes something else to recommend it to cyclists.Patrik Lundin / CyclistThis isnt a climb that reveals itself from the start. Theres no way of looking up to the summit, only of following the road into the folds of the surrounding landscape. As such, its easy to underestimate the Covadongas severity, but the reality is all there in the stats: more than 1,000m of vertical gain over 14km with an average gradient of 7.4% and slopes up to 16%.Even if the summit was more visible, we wouldnt be able to see it today as a thick bank of cloud has descended, and the higher we climb the more limited our visibility becomes. With little sense of our elevation, and the fields beside the road having a gentle, pastoral feel, it would be easy to believe we were on a climb in the UK, not Spain, except here the hills go on for hours, not minutes.The parish of Las Arenas sits at the junction of the Casao and Cares rivers.Patrik Lundin / CyclistAfter a few kilometres, the viewpoint at Mirador de Los Cannigos is the first landmark to pass, though on this day it does so unseen. Beyond it, and all too painfully visible, is the signpost cautioning ramps of 15%.The clanking of bells attached to cows somewhere in the gloom around us is the only accompaniment to my increasingly laboured breathing, and in my tired mind the climb takes on a surreal quality. Visibility is now down to a couple of bike lengths and measuring progress is all but impossible. The soupy conditions obliterate everything, dulling sound and rendering the road in an eerily flat light. I have no sense of what lies beyond the edge of the tarmac, yet the sensation isnt unpleasant. My GPS means Im unlikely to get lost and the soaking mist has a cooling effect.The mist sets in somewhere just below Sotres, the highest village in Asturias.Patrik Lundin / CyclistMy mind drifts to races of the past, and I think about Thibaut Pinot and Demi Vollering, both of whom emerged from a similar mist to claim victory atop the Covadonga in recent years. Im pulled from my reverie by the bellowing of an enormous bull, which rears from the gloom and watches indifferently as we tack past. I keep an eye out behind to ensure its not about to come charging after us.About 7km from the top comes the toughest section, La Huesera, which rises at an average of 15% for 800m. Joaquin explains that its the ideal springboard for attacks, and demonstrates as much by haring off into the mist. From here, the gradient wont drop below 10% for another 1,500m so I let him go and focus on simply turning the pedals.Patrik Lundin / CyclistOne facet of the Covadonga that adds to its star quality is the way its final three ramps are interspersed with short descents, requiring the exhausted rider to shift into the big ring and navigate several tricky corners at top speed. Its a profile that guarantees tension right until the line. The downward trajectory of my front wheel tells me Ive reached the first of these, yet with the days total ascent approaching 3,000m, I eschew any thought of heroics and concentrate on staying upright.I realise Im now properly, mind-bogglingly tired. After each moment of respite comes a ramp of first 9% and then 12%. The poor visibility means Ive been relying on my legs as much as my eyes to work out where I am on the mountain, and its only as the last slope mellows that I realise I must be adjacent to the twin lakes of Enol and Ercina. Im at the summit.The opening ramps on the way up to the Lagos de Covadonga are crowded with abundant greenery.Patrik Lundin / CyclistA moment later Im scrambling into the Bar Maria Rosa as fast as my cleats will allow me. Mercifully, Joaquin has already lined up a hot chocolate and a bun.When the Vuelta arrives this year, the riders day will end here. Im mid-way through my drink and reflecting on a grand day out in the Asturian mountains before the realisation hits me. I still have to ride back down.The Vueltas favouriteNo climb has featured as often in Spains Grand Tour as the road up to Lagos de CovadongaRiding into the clouds and a total whiteout from about 300m into the climb.Patrik Lundin / CyclistAt 14km long and with over 1,000m of ascent, the Lagos de Covadonga has been a feature of the Vuelta a Espaa since its debut in 1983, when Basque rider Marino Lejarreta was first to the top. So successful was its inclusion that the race came back the next year, and the next, and the next. It has now featured a total of 22 times in the mens race an average of once every two editions since that first appearance and famous winners include Robert Millar, Pedro Delgado, Lucho Herrera and Laurent Jalabert.The most recent riders to win at the Covadongas summit have been Nairo Quintana (2016), Thibaut Pinot (2018) and Primo Rogli (2021) and the climb will return again in the mens race this September on Stage 16. By comparison, La Vuelta Femenina has only visited Lagos de Covadonga once, with Demi Vollering of the Netherlands winning there in 2023.A short detour to see the Baslica de Santa Mara la Real is worth it before heading onto the lower slopes of the Covadonga.Patrik Lundin / CyclistHow we did itTravelAsturias OVD is the regions only international airport. Vueling operates flights from London Gatwick, which start from around 160 return. Another option is a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander. It takes a day and half but means you can take a car, which will be vital as the hilly Asturian terrain means theres not much in the way of rail connections when you get there.AccommodationCyclist stayed at the luxurious Narbasu hotel and restaurant (narbasu.com), which is situated handily close to Cangas de Ons, where we began our route. It not only provides excellent accommodation and superb food using ingredients grown on-site, but has secure bike storage, a full workshop and a fleet of e-bikes for visitors.ThanksMany thanks to our supremely patient guide Joaquin and driver Guillermo. Excellent mechanical assistance was given by Juan at Carma Bike (carmabike.es) and our splendid itinerary was composed by Onofre at Turismo Asturias (turismoasturias.es).The post Big Ride: Land of the green giants on the Lagos de Covadonga appeared first on Cyclist.

Lotto Dstny's Alec Segaert has taken a big win on stage 2 of the 2024 Renewi Tour, winning the individual time trial inTessenderlo, moving into the overall race lead as a result.After a day for the sprinters yesterday, stage 2 saw the time trial specialists get their chance to shine. Among the quic...

Reserve sent us a promising candidate for our big aero wheel group test with the unspectacularly named 52|63. They promise balanced handling, an innovative aero approach, and good value for money, setting them off to a good start. How do they stack up against the competition?Reserve 52/63 | 2,299 | 1400 g | Manufacturers websiteWe tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.Reserve wheels on a road bike? The rather young wheel brand is yet to make a name for itself in the world of aftermarket road bike upgrades. Nevertheless, the wheels can already look back on an impressive racing history. As early as 2023, the wheels won all three grand tours on the bikes of team Jumbo-Visma. That should make them good enough for us, right? But the big tour wins arent everything. With their innovative Turbulent Aero approach to obtaining realistic wind data, Reserve developed a wheelset that doesnt just promise to excel in the wind tunnel, but also in real world conditions. The specially developed rims are laced to DT Swiss hubs, offering a range of models from affordable to distinctly less affordable. But can they hold their own against the uncompromising high-performers on test?Mixed rims for optimum aerodynamics? The specs of the Reserve 52|63With a price tag of 2,299 and a weight of 1,455 g, the Reserve 52|63 wheelset is ideally positioned. The rims also match perfectly with modern tire widths. Measuring 35 mm wide and 52 mm deep up front, Reserve take a similar approach to Roval, though with a more classic, bulbous geometry. The deeper rear rim is similar, too. With a depth and width of 63 mm and 34 mm, however, its both deeper and wider than the competition from Roval. Thanks to the classic hooked rim design, the wheels are also significantly more versatile in terms of tire choice and pressures than the competition from the likes of Syncros, HUNT and CADEX.Proven and covetedReserve rely on DT Swiss hubs for their wheels, which arent just highly reliable, but also easily serviceable.Light and aeroThanks to mixed rim depths, the Reserve 52|63 promise the perfect compromise between aerodynamics and weight.UnderstatedReserves matte carbon finish makes for a classy look.Our test wheels spin on DT Swiss 240 hubs, with straight-pull spokes and steel bearings ceramic bearings are not necessarily to be expected at this price. The Reserve 52|63 wheels make a very high-quality impression, looking restrained and simple with their discreet matte finish, but its all in the details. The black-grey carbon finish with a simple glossy Reserve logo lifts every bikes look to the next level. The concept is rounded off with the matching Reserve Fillmore valves, which dispense with a classic valve core, promising to make clogged valves a thing of the past.Thanks to a lifetime warranty and a crash replacement scheme for the original owners, youre guaranteed long-lasting fun.Down to the finest detailThe Reserve 52|63 wheels come with Reserve rim tape as standard, allowing for an easy tubeless setup.InnovativeIts not just the Turbulent Aero approach thats new Reserve also set the bar with their specially developed Fillmore valves.The devil is in the details the Reserve 52|63 on testAero through and through: this is the easiest way to describe the handling of the Reserve 52|63 wheelset. But these aero gains dont come at the cost of the rest of the ride. With just enough compliance, especially for a high-performance road bike, Reserves aero wheels also cater to longer and more leisurely rides. Nevertheless, the wheels are stiff enough to navigate tight corners with precision and convert every watt of input into propulsion when you stomp on the pedals. In contrast to the competition from Roval, they never feel soft or vague. However, you might notice the slightly higher weight and deep rims when climbing, where youll feel that it takes a little more effort to get the wheels spinning. Thankfully, they make up for it on the descents and flat terrain. Thanks to their incredible smoothness and high level of efficiency, the Reserve 52|63s allow you to hold your pace with minimal effort. They also deal well with crosswinds. On par with the more expensive competition from Roval, the deep Reserve wheels behave slightly better than expected, and were easy to control in all test scenarios.Almost miraculous The Reserve 52|63 in the wind tunnelThe Reserve 52|63 wheelset doesnt just feel incredibly fast it also benefits from a noticeable sail effect. The wind tunnel reveals the big surprise: with an average value of 92.79 watts, the Reserve wheels are less than a watt behind the test winning Syncros models, at almost half the price. This puts the wheels in second place, just ahead of Roval and Vision, despite some of their rims being deeper. Reserve achieve this outstanding average thanks to the wheels excellent performance at steeper yaw angles. In the middle range, the wheels are about on par with the competition. The innovative Turbulent Aero approach seems to have paid off, as the performance speaks for itself.Our conclusion on the Reserve 52|63The Reserve 52|63 wheelset doesnt just provide a real surprise in the wind tunnel, but also on the road. With just the right combination of compliance, stiffness, and precision, the wheels cut a damn fine figure in every scenario. Pair this with a high quality, classy finish, and relatively affordable price of 2,299, and youve got a deal you dont want to miss. As such, the Reserve 52|63 is the well-deserved best buy of our 2024 aero wheel group test.Topsvery balanced, racy feelingexcellent aerodynamicshigh quality finish with an understated lookfairly pricedFlopsnoneFor more information, visit reservewheels.comThe test fieldWe tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.All wheels in test: Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 TLR (Click for review) | Cadex 50 Ultra (Click for review) | DT Swiss ERC 1100 Dicut DB 45 (Click for review) | Hunt SUB50 (Click for review) | Lightweight Obermayer EVO (Click for review) | Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Disc (Click for review) | Reserve 52/63 | Roval Rapide CLX II (Click for review) | Syncros Capital SL Aero 60mm (Click for review) | Vision Metron 60 SL Disc (Click for review) | Zipp 454 NSW (Click for review) Der Beitrag Reserve 52|63 on test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Hunt takes their wheel sustainability one step further with the launch of fully recyclable H_Cyclo carbon wheel tech. The secret is a unique resin that can be chemically broken down and separated from the carbon fibers. Then both the used carbon AND resin can be made back into new products afterward.And to launch the new recyclable carbon, Hunt updated one of their most popular gravel wheels the 40 CGR 40mm deep Carbon Gravel Race and added an all-new 40 CGD version that gets a dynamo front hub for ultra-distance racing.Hunt H_Cyclo recyclable carbon fiber techHunt already teased a desire to build more eco-friendly wheels with their Hunt Sustain wheels this past spring. There they added 10% recycled content into carbon rims, 75% recycled content in alloy rims, and built wheels without harmful aesthetic-only spoke & nipple coatings. Now, H_Cyclo carbon takes it a bit of a step further.This new recyclable carbon fiber tech revolves around a new thermoset resin developed by Taiwanese composites company Swancor. They actually developed it to make massive wind turbine blades more eco-friendly. And the secret comes down to the EzCiclo thermoset epoxy resin that is chemically broken down by adding the CleaVER solution with heat & agitation to separate the carbon and resin. And yet, it still performs just like a conventional 2-part thermoset epoxy resin, that up-to-now had hardened in a 1-time chemical reaction that could not be broken down and used again.Whats really interesting here is that both the resin and fibers can be extracted and used again.The carbon fibers themselves are cut shorter as the rim is cut into smaller pieces to put into the CleaVER reactor. So theyll end up in other products than Hunt wheels. Think: injection-molded carbon-reinforced composites like you might see in shoe soles, for example. But the shorter chain oligomer (as opposed to longer-chain polymers) that come out of the resin breakdown process can go directly back into the next generation of EzCiclo resins that Hunts next H_Cyclo wheels will be made from.The implementation of recyclable H_Cyclo resin has no impact on the structural integrity or strength-to-weight attributes of the carbon layup, making the technology ideal for precision, high-performance rims. HuntEnd-of-life recycling & more recyclable wheels to come?For the new wheels, Hunt will offer free recycling collection service for all H_Cyclo wheels at end of life, or in the event of accident or crash replacement. And Hunt will give riders a 250 credit towards a new set of wheels when they recycle an old H_Cyclo wheelset.Those recyclable H_Cyclo carbon will eventually get processed in 1 of 3 recycling facilities within the next two years two in Asia, one in Europe. Its all new tech though, so in the meantime, Hunt will store all the end-of-life carbon until those facilities are up and running.Now, Hunt is introducing H_Cyclo tech on just two gravel wheelsets, both sharing the same 40mm deep carbon rim. But they say this is a direction the brand is moving in. And they are moving forward with plans to implement this unique new resin across more of the carbon range over time.Versatile & light Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race & Dynamo wheelsThe lightweight and popular 40 CGR gravel bike wheelset seemed a perfect fit to implement the new H_Cyclo technology. And Hunt saw it as a good way to start to reduce the environmental impact or one of their best-selling wheels. Designed for 29-60mm tires, the 40 CGR is a versatile gravel wheel platform.This new version is 48g heavier than before (claimed). But thats not just about different carbon. This new generation of CGR now features an updated hubset with improved durability, too. The new wheels get a next-gen Hunt H_Ratchet hub optimized for road & gravel with a pair of 40-tooth ratchet rings for quick 9 freehub engagement.New to the CGR family is a Dynamo hub version, too. Hunt has been one of few reliable options for pre-built wheels with dynamo generator front hubs for many years powering & lighting the way for plenty of ultra-distance racers. And also for riders like us, we just love having lights on, powered up as you pedal. Adding a recyclable Hunt carbon x SON dynamo option just seemed like a logical fit. The front Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo H_Cyclo wheel will also be available separately for riders looking to upgrade their current setup.Tech specsBoth Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race H_Cyclo & Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo H_Cyclo wheels:40mm rim depth x 30mm external width25mm internal, hookless tubeless rimrear hubs: 40-tooth H_Ratchet for 9 engagement, 12x142mm thru-axlebearings: sealed precision cartridge40 CGR H_Cyclo wheels:spokes: 24/24 straight-pull Pillar PSR XTRA 1420 Aero Butted 2.0-2.2/0.95-2.0, with alloy nippleshubs: Hunt forged & CNC machined 6066-T6 alloy straight-pull centerlock disc hubsfront hub: oversized bearings for QR, 12mm & 15mm thru-axle compatibilityweight: 1431g per pair (claimed)40 CGD H_Cyclo wheels:spokes: 28/28 J-bend Pillar Aero Butted 2.0-2.2/0.95-2.0m, with brass nippleshubs: Hunt forged & CNC machined 6066-T6 alloy traditional flange centerlock disc hubsfront hub: SON 28 Dynamo, 6082-T6 aluminum with alloy dust shields, rubber lip seals & pressure compensation system; 12x100mm thru-axle only, includes SON 2x Spade Connector with heat shrink cable protectors; 5-year warrantyweight: 1834g per pair (claimed)Hunt H_Cyclo carbon gravel wheels Pricing, options & availability40 CGR H_Cyclo40 CGRD H_CycloTo get the new recyclable Hunt H_Cyclo carbon tech, you can now pick from two different wheelsets:The Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race H_Cyclo replaces the original 40 CGR that launched two summers ago. It updates those wheels with this more eco-friendly carbon. These new 40 CGR H wheels sell for 1100 / $1400 / 1400 and weigh a claimed 1431g.The 40 CGD H wheels in the new hub generator version with a SON 28 dynamo in the front wheel sell for 1490 / $1850 / 1850.Both share the same recyclable carbon rim and 40 POE ratchet rear hub, with Shimano HG, MicroSpline, SRAM XDR & Campagnolo N3W freehubs available. The standard wheels are available in stock now in limited numbers direct from Hunt. The first new dynamo wheelsets ship out before the end of this month.HuntBikeWheels.comThe post Hunt H_Cyclo Brings Fully Recyclable Carbon Tech to New & Updated Gravel Race Wheels appeared first on Bikerumor.

Caroline Groot of the Netherlands won gold in the women's C4-5 500m time trial

Fully recyclable carbon fibre and resin technology initially to be available on updated 40 Carbon Gravel Race and all-new 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo wheels

Stage 2 of the 2024 Renewi Tour saw the riders take on an individual time trial. An early key stage for those with plans of winning the general classification.One of those riders touted as having potential race winning capabilities is world champion Mathieu van der Poel and whilst the Dutchman's ti...

Promised performance should be equal to delivered performance at least, in an ideal world. And CADEX make some big promises with their 50 Ultra wheels: carbon everywhere, modern rim geometry, and a loud freehub. A perfect candidate for our big wheel group test then?Cadex 50 Ultra | 2,799.80 | 1315 g | Manufacturers websiteWe tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.CADEXs self-proclaimed aero weapon, the 50 Ultra wheel set, offers everything that makes a roadies heart beat faster. With carbon spokes, hookless rims, and specially developed hubs, everything is sourced in-housed. Like many of the other wheels on test, the CADEX wheels are used by a well-known professional team. In this case, its team BikeExchange, running CADEX wheels on their GIANT bikes. Depending on the route and race, they also use the 50 Ultra. The Taiwanese manufacturers excellent reputation and their cooperation with GIANT results in a huge wealth of expertise. On paper, therefore, theyve got everything it takes to beat the competition.Aero everything The hard facts of the CADEX 50 UltraAt 1,315 g, the CADEX 50 Ultra belongs to the elite category of lightweight wheel sets, beaten only by the 20 to 40 g lighter full carbon wheels from Lightweight and Syncros. However, CADEX offer the wheels for 2,799.80, which is less than half the price of the Lightweight Obermayer EVO an impressive combination for wheels of this calibre. The hookless rims are bang on trend with an internal width of 22 mm, ensuring that our 28 mm wide Continental GP 5000 S test tires sit perfectly on the rim and offer a clean, aero-optimised transition.Frskunst purDer groe Nabenflansch ist nicht nur echt schick anzusehen, sondern sorgt auch fr krzere Speichen und damit eine bessere Kraftbertragung.Carbon wohin das Auge reichtDie CADEX-Carbonspeichen sorgen nicht nur fr ein extrem steifes Laufrad, auch die extra Flche sorgt fr einen hheren Segeleffekt.Clean gelstDas schwarze CADEX-Logo ergibt auf den 50 Ultra-Carbonfelgen einen edlen Look.CADEXs in-house hubs are eye catchers too with their remarkably tall hub flanges. Compared to the competition from HUNT, this is intended to achieve even more stiffness by effectively shortening the spoke length. The hubs are also aerodynamically optimised to avoid wasting unnecessary wattage on the wheels. Despite the subtle black on black branding, the carbon wheels are visually striking, and immediately recognisable on every bike. The special hubs and the extremely wide carbon bladed spokes make them stand out from the crowd. CADEX offer a two year warranty, plus five years of crash replacement on the wheels, which is a good deal, though other manufacturers offer more.HakenlosCADEX setzt auf moderne Hookless-Felgen, das soll nicht nur eine bessere Aerodynamik bringen, sondern auch fr eine stabilere Felge sorgen.Vorsicht!Trotz hookless gibt CADEX einen maximalen Reifendruck von 8,6 bar an, aber Achtung: Die meisten Hookless-Reifen sind nur bis 5 bar zugelassen!The thoroughbred racing wheelset CADEX 50 UltraRacing is what its all about, and the CADEX 50 Ultra handles accordingly: with carbon spokes and a tall hub flange, the wheel set is extremely direct and quick to accelerate. This means they perform brilliantly on the sprints and are highly responsive, but lack a little compliance. In return, their low weight and high stiffness allow the wheels to excel on the climbs, leaving the competition behind on high mountain passes. Furthermore, the wide rims and tubeless 28 mm tires help to compensate for their lack of compliance. For a little more comfort, we recommend fitting a 30 mm tire at the rear if your frame allows.The combination of wide tires and stiff wheels makes them really stick to the ground and offer precise handling through the corners. Thats perfect for racing as well as fast, winding descents, though theyre a bit too harsh for longer tours.CADEX 50 Ultra Loud and fast, 50 for the win?The CADEX 50 Ultra wheels certainly feel like theyre capable of delivering with their 50 mm deep rims and carbon spokes. They even perform surprisingly well compared to the deeper rims on the test, especially when it comes to the sail effect, which offers a clearly noticeable performance gain. The wide carbon spokes do offer benefits, but they also come with certain disadvantages: the 50 Ultra wheels are particularly susceptible to crosswinds, requiring a trained and steady hand.At 94.35 watts needed to keep the bike going at 45 km/h, the CADEX wheels slightly outperform the HUNT SUB50 and DT Swiss ERC in the wind tunnel, though there arent any significant differences in fact, the three wheelsets are separated by just 0.14 watts. Youd be hard-pressed to feel the difference between them. The similar performance of the HUNT SUB50 isnt surprising, considering the near identical specs. The only noticable difference is the brands aerodynamic priorities. However, the CADEX perform much better at medium yaw angles of up to 10, while the HUNT wheels perform a little better at higher yaw angles. Its also clear that 10 mm deeper rims offer a significant performance gain. Both the HUNT and the CADEX 50 Ultra are easily outdone by the deeper models on test.Our conclusion on the CADEX 50 UltraFast and solid: the CADEX 50 Ultra dont just look fast, theyve also got the performance to match their impressive looks. Theyre capable of delivering both in the wind tunnel and on the road. Their extremely light weight results in a wheelset that excels in almost every situation. Its only the below-average performance in crosswinds and the lack of compliance that limits them somewhat, but thats no problem for experienced racers.Topsfast look and clean designracy feelingFlopssomewhat lacking in compliancevery loud freehubFor more information, visit cadex-cycling.comThe test fieldWe tested these wheels for our big 2024 aero wheel group test click here for an overview of the test field or to check out the individual reviews.All wheels in test: Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 TLR (Click for review) | Cadex 50 Ultra | DT Swiss ERC 1100 Dicut DB 45 (Click for review) | Hunt SUB50 (Click for review) | Lightweight Obermayer EVO (Click for review) | Mavic Cosmic SLR 45 Disc (Click for review) | Reserve 52/63 (Click for review) | Roval Rapide CLX II (Click for review) | Syncros Capital SL Aero 60mm (Click for review) | Vision Metron 60 SL Disc (Click for review) | Zipp 454 NSW (Click for review) Der Beitrag CADEX 50 Ultra on test erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.

Last weekend at the 2024 MADE Bike Show in Portland, Oregon, nearly 200 frame builders and brands gathered to display their work. Filmmakers Tom Powell and Tom Norman, photographer Tyler Dawson, and host Josie Suhan were there to capture the events highlights. In the part two of their video series, they check out a variety of parts, racks, bags, and accessories. See it here...The post Made Bike Show 2024: Components & Accessories (Video) appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

British wheel brand Hunt lays the foundations for a move toward recyclable wheelsets