Wheels

These are QUICK RELEASE WHEELS!

Unlike Western BikeWorks usually good product descriptions, this excellent inexpensive wheelset isn�t fully described. This is a wheelset for disc brake bicycle frames which utilize standard quick release spindles, not thru-axles. The hubs utilize the Centerlock splined attachment for the disc rotors. The hubs use traditional cup and cones with loose ball bearings rather than sealed bearings. These wheels are extremely robust- I have used them through 3 Portland, Oregon winters and anytime there is rain. Robust and inexpensive equals heavy, but they roll exceptionally well and provide good performance for what they are. The simple, traditional hubs are easy to maintain yourself. Find a good You Tube tutorial on maintaining cup and cone bearings. Until quite recently, most hubs were made like this and they can be easily maintained by a novice home mechanic without any cost beyond a cone wrench and hub grease. With occasional cleaning and regreasing, these hubs will roll beautifully for many years. The wheels arrived true and remained true until I recently slammed into one of Portland�s notorious 8 inch deep potholes at speed. Even then, the rear wheel wasn�t bad, just required a minor spoke adjustment. The front was still true. There are inexpensive wheel sets that are lighter, but none that I have used would have survived what these Shimano RX010 wheels have. It�s great to ride on wheels that cost 10 times as much, but I keep those for the sunny days on smooth pavement. If you don�t want to spend a lot of money for riding in bad weather on atrocious roads and have a frame that takes quick release, disc brake wheels, then I feel these are ideal.

Bought these wheels to build my Spot Ryve XC bike. Wheels are a nice combination of price and weight, although they did come in at 40 grams over the published weight. The wheels look good and are relatively stiff. One minor issue is the rear hub centerlock spline was slightly oversize, causing me to have to file a little on the disc rotor splines. Talked thru this issue with Western Bike Works and they were very helpful with options to address this.

They call this 36mm size a climbing wheel, but with big Midwest crosswinds here, these wheels are the perfect choice for all around riding too. Light and fast on the transitions and rock solid. I ride 130 to 170 miles a week, and these wheels have livened up my solo workouts and group rides. I also use them on gravel running 32mm Continental 5000 TR tires at 50psi. These wheels are the perfect blend of size, quality and appearance (the subtle graphics really pop with transparent tires). I expect to be riding these wheels for many years.

This is my second set of HED Ardennes, and I love them! I had the Ardennes Plus SL, but when those did not survive a collision with a car, I replaced with these RA Black versions. Firstly, they look really great with the blacked out braking surface. Secondly, they really do have exceptional stopping power - startled me at first. You do have to get used to the whistling of the machined surface when braking, so if you can give up your dreams of stealthy stopping, you'll be impressed with the stopping ability of these wheels. As with other Ardennes Plus wheels, they ride really, really nice. These are some really great all around wheels! I do wish HED had finished these differently as the slightly textured finish attracts more dirt. I would like to give these five stars because the wheels themselves deserve it, but I received my set with the front wheel out of true, right out of the box. If I had not waited three months for the wheels, I would have sent them back for another pair. I need to ask WBW if they can true the up for me.