Xentis

XBL 2.5 Clincher Carbon Wheelset

The Xentis XBL 2.5 Clincher Carbon Wheelset addresses an unfortunate tradeoff that typically comes with lightweight carbon climbing wheels. We don't mean the risk of poor breaking (though they also address that) — we mean that a light wheel usually results in a light wallet. The XBL 2.5 is 86 grams heavier than the Austrian manufacturer's superlative climbing wheel, which is a mere pittance considering the difference in price. At a claimed 1,260 grams, the XBL 2.5 is ideal for aspiring cyclists who are looking to climb ranks by climbing mountains.

That isn't to say the XBL 2.5 is a bargain-bin, heavy wheelset; they still come in around 200 grams lighter than most other manufacturers' climbing wheels. You'll appreciate that low rotational mass while accelerating out of corners or powering uphill, when every watt counts. And as alluded to above, the rims also shine when you're coming down the other side. The full carbon brake tracks behave more like machined alloy, stopping with consistent, confident force in wet or dry conditions. They also resist wear better than your typical carbon rims and don't even require special pads, so you can eschew the manufacturer's kid-glove carbon brake pads in favor of that super light model for even more weight savings.

Please note that Xentis recommends a rider weight limit of 220lb (100kg).