Claremont Cycle Depot: bicycles & sporting goods

Replacement wheels

Claremont Cycle Depot sells a variety of wheels for all budgets from a number of builders, including Xero, Roval, Bontrager, Mavic and Rolf. Claremont Cycle is also carries spokes by Wheelsmith and DT and can rebuild or respoke most wheelsets. Both road and off-road wheels available.

Below are a few of the wheels we commonly stock.

Xero Lite XR-1

A brand-new company, Xero views the wheel set as a whole system. They define each wheel system with a specific purpose, and then choose individual components to serve its needs. The XR-1 weighs 1520g per pair, has 30mm tall aero rims, spoked 16 front/20 rear and comes with a Shimano 8/9, Campy 9/10 interchangeable freehub.

Roval Fusee

Roval (now distributed by Specialized) is one of the oldest names in “boutique” wheels. The Fusee has a low-profile 24mm aero rim, spoked 20 front/24 rear. Steel quick-release axles; Dura-Ace 9-10 spd compatible cassette body standard, Campy 10-Spd and Shimano 9-10 spd compatible cassette bodies available separately. 1550g/pair, Q/R 91g.

Bontrager Race Lite

Bontrager makes a wheelset for just about any rider, road or off-road — including the Discovery Pro Cycling Team. The Race Lite has low-profile aero rims, laced with bladed, stainless steel spokes (20 front/24 rear). The sealed cartridge-bearing hubs are easily convertible between Shimano and Campagnolo. 750g front/940g rear.

About replacement wheels

A few years ago, if you wanted some new wheels for your bike, you picked out some hubs and some rims and had your local bike shop build some wheels (or you did it yourself). If you were lucky, the mechanic had some experience and was a good wheelbuilder. These days, there’s a wide variety of prebuilt wheels on the market from manufacturers that specialize in wheelbuilding.

Today’s wheels are generally lighter, more durable, roll better and are far more aerodynamic than anything you or your mechanic can build. But why would you want another, or different, set of wheels?

Lighten your bike

Replacement wheels usually weigh less than than stock wheels. And because the weight saving is mostly in the rims and spokes (rolling weight), your bike will feel a little “zippier” and accelerate a little faster even on flat roads. On hills, you’ll feel the benefits even more. Some wheels even have carbon-fiber components.

Better aerodynamics

Your wheels account for a relatively large percentage of your bike’s aerodynamic drag. And over 15 mph or so, increasing aerodynamic efficiency becomes important than decreasing weight. Most replacement wheels have rim shapes that cut through the air better, have fewer spokes (often bladed) for less air resistance and often have aerodyamic hub shapes.

Increased durability

The strength of a wheel depends on its build quality as well as its components. All the spokes should be at about the same tension so that no one section of the wheel is under more stress than any other. The wheel will then remain true and round longer and will take more punishment on or off the road. This can be very hard to do; long experience in wheelbuilding and/or specialized equipment is necessary.

Special needs

You can now usually find a prebuilt wheelset that will fit your needs, whatever they are. Wheels for special events — very light wheels for hilly races or highly aerodynamic wheels for time trials, wheels for heavier/stronger riders or bad conditions, or just a set of all-around, everyday wheels are all available.

If you’re looking for some new wheels, need a wheel rebuilt or just need to get them round again, stop in at Claremont Depot and see how we can help.