>> Technical Info
The ultimate objective of Shimano’s new wheel design is to create faster, more durable wheels for all types of riders through a strategic balance of key factors -- aerodynamics, lightweight, rigidity, compliance, comfort, durability, price and style – plus the Quality Control manufacturing standards that have forged the Shimano legacy.
Summarizing eight years and three generations of Shimano wheel R & D isn’t easy. A lot has been learned: in the lab, the shop, and in the field. But one thing is certain: Shimano next-generation wheel sets are a revolution closer to the “perfect ride.”
A true revolution in wheel design is never about just one thing. It’s always about a balance of key elements: materials, rim design, hub and bearing design, spoke configuration; it’s about a perfect equilibrium between aerodynamics, lightweight, torsional and lateral rigidity, stiffness and compliance, dependability and of course style and price; all in the service of one overriding demand by pro racers and amateurs alike: enduring speed.
Shimano’s material and design innovations contribute to a dramatic increase not only in ride quality and speed, but also in the durability and confidence that comes with the Dura-Ace pedigree. Combined with a wider flange, offset rim, titanium freehub with Shimano’s proven internals, reduced butted and bladed spoke count (16/20), and new rim materials, Shimano achieves the ultimate balance between lightweight, rigidity and ride quality; which is the key to enduring speed.
The new straight pull, plus 2x spoke configuration on the driveside has optimized torsional rigidity necessary for quick acceleration and power transmission. So the wheels catapult off the line, and transfer more power throughout the ride. The wider flange and off-set rear rim creates a stabilizing lateral rigidity that reduces flex, enabling even larger riders to pedal hard off the saddle without brake pads digging into rims. It’s a new feel. A new kind of ride in the straights, turns and climbs. The unique stiffness-to-compliance ratio causes the wheels to roll faster with less road resistance, over a wider range of road conditions. It’s a perfect balance that leads to the “perfect ride.”