Spokes lace the hub to the rim. Generally, wheels with higher spoke counts are stronger and more durable, but this comes with a weight and slight aero penalty. Rim: The outward hoop of the wheel that holds the tyre and acts as a braking surface for rim brakes That said, it looks like the industry has finally settled on one unifying standard for disc brake road bikes: 12mm thru-axles with 100mm spacing in the front dropouts and 142mm spacing at the rear. I couldn’t notice a difference between Mavic Yksion Pro UST 25mm tyres and the Continental GP5000 28mm tyres I’m now running, though there’s no real lightbulb effect and the tyres seem to fit fairly flush to the rim. The 28mm tyre definitely offers more comfort at lower pressures, though. The Vels are a really great way to upgrade your standard wheels, which are typically the main component scrimped on when big brands are speccing bikes.

I guess this is because the Wave wheels series are not as ‘premium’ as the Farsports Ventoux S, for example. Bladed spoke: A flattened spoke that’s designed to cut through the wind with less resistance. Bladed spokes are common in high-end wheels and also help to provide an edge for a tool to hold onto, which can allow for a higher spoke tension to be achieved. Top spoke brands DT Swiss and Sapim both claim that their best bladed spokes are not only their lightest option, but also the strongest and most durableCompared to the other carbon wheels I’ve reviewed, the internal rim structure of the Wave wheels looked good. Hub: Sitting at the centre of the wheel is the hub, which contains the axle, bearings and rear freehub and holds the spokes While speed, low friction and low weight are a priority for racing wheels, training or ‘everyday’ wheels must be durable and able to take a beating. Trueness: This refers to how straight a rim runs, adjusted via spoke tension (hence the expression to ‘true’ a wheel)

Machined sidewall: A finishing process to a rim brake wheel after the rim is made, which helps ensure its braking faces are parallel and even Nipple: The nipple is the nut of the spoke. Typically the nipple sits at the rim, though some wheel designs place the nipple at the hub In every test thrown at the Cadex 50 Ultra, both with and without the new aero tyres, they come out on top. As you dive into the charts deeper and scrutinise the numbers, you'll see that in some cases the advantage is very small. There are other fast wheels and tyres available and the results align with what we found in our own wind tunnel testing. In the case of one of those fast wheels, the DT Swiss Arc 1100, the difference is only .61 watts. It highlights just how good the options out there are but a win is a win and, at least in these tests, Cadex wins the day.

Returns and Refunds

When Campagnolo went 12-speed it simply reduced the width of the 12-speed chains and cassettes to fit on existing 11-speed Campagnolo compatible freehubs. Hallelujah. At 54mm deep, you do have to be a bit more careful on windy days, should a gust catch your front wheel. However, we didn’t experience any problems with handling.

The Aeolus Elite 50 TLR is a stiff wheelset that holds speed well (Image credit: Josh Ross) VerdictTypically a spoke is made from a piece of stainless steel wire that’s been cold-forged and then had a thread added to it. Some higher-end wheels may use spokes made from aluminium, carbon fibre or even titanium. The results positively surprised me because both wheels were perfectly true (lateral and radial-wise). The wheelset is also impressive on descents. This is in part due to the 21mm internal rim width, which enables you to fit wide tyres. On the flat, the wheelset isn’t as fast as a deeper-rimmed alternative, but anyone looking at climbing wheels should be well aware of this. The Bontrager Aeolus 50mm wheelset is a budget wheelset that doesn't feel like it. There is a precision in the manufacturing that makes for easy tyre fitment and the profile works well with modern 25mm and 28mm sizing. For those that are looking to go tubeless, the fact these wheels come taped up is a bonus.

The carbon spokes help save weight and provide loads of lateral stiffness, which makes these wheels good for climbing, despite their depth. However, Hunt says it’s best to return the wheels for truing. At 50mm deep, the wheels offer an aerodynamic advantage but are still versatile enough for a range of riding. The Zipp 303S wheelset brings the brand’s tech to a more affordable price point. Steve Sayers / Our Media Just like with road bike frames, carbon fibre has become the standard material for performance race wheels, where stiffness, weight and aerodynamics are the priorities. Despite the climbing ability, the Speed 25 would still be a great choice as an all-round wheelset, with the overall design and ceramic bearings providing a smooth ride. Just watch out for the 120kg rider weight limit.My first impressions were great. I particularly noticed that the stability of the wheels in crosswinds is pretty good and predictable. Although not as good as shallow wheels, they are definitely one of the best 50mm wheels I have tested. I did not observe any wobbling at high speeds (60km/h+), which gave me confidence when descending.