Black Inc

Fifty Carbon Disc Road Wheelset - Clincher

If we were faced with the dilemma of only having one road wheelset to ride, 3 notable must-haves would standout: carbon fiber construction, 40-55mm depth, and disc brakes. By going carbon, you'd have a lightweight and stiff set of wheels that make any drop bar bike feel faster. The mid-depth would cover anything from fast crits to lumpy road races with an aero benefit that isn't overwhelmed in windy conditions. Disc brakes, well we're enamored with them and they provide consistent braking in all conditions removing any shortcomings with braking on a carbon surface. Black Inc's Fifty Carbon Disc Brake Road Wheelset features the depth we want, fantastic power available only from disc brakes, and the lightweight and responsiveness that can only come from rims crafted from the atomic number 6.

Each season, more professional cyclists are trading in their rim brake road bikes for discs. Those who have ridden them know, the braking performance cannot be matched by rim brakes and if you want to slow down quickly and with modulation, discs are where it's at. It's great to know that these wheels can scrub speed quickly because you're sure to be going fast on them. Using CFD optimization and real-world experience, the rim features an aerodynamic profile that slices through the air, adding free speed, but won't let you lose your confidence while descending a windy canyon road.

A wider rim profile is pretty commonplace these days and several wheel brands tend to go the open mold route for its rims and rely on a third-party for hubs. Not with Black Inc. It owns its own production facilities, so it has complete control over the wheels from carbon lay-up design to actual construction. Black Inc designs its hubs in conjunction with CeramicSpeed, so the hub's dimensions are engineered to exacting tolerances that work better with the ceramic bearings that come as standard and not simply an upgrade option.

Black Inc's in-house production also allows them to monitor quality control throughout the entire build process. This gives us peace of mind that no stone was left unturned and we never second guess the safety or performance of this wheelset while training or racing. These wheels really are a treat to ride and we have to admit that Black Inc did an admirable job packing in all this speed at this price. If you are looking for a set of wheels to upgrade your current ride or are building up a bike from the ground up, these wheels will fit the bill nicely.

Lastly, we are big fans of the understated, subdued black treatment and we feel it goes best with cyclists that let their legs do the talking. It also guarantees that it won't clash with any bike's paint scheme. Although new to the cycling scene, Black Inc's approach to no-nonsense, performance-oriented products ensures that it's making a name for itself in the industry for years to come.