Chris King

R45/Ambrosio Nemesis Tubular Wheelset

Presented here is a mixture of champions -- the new breed mated with the old crown, if you will. With the Chris King R45/Ambrosio Nemesis Tubular Wheelset, you get a hubset that's won over 100 professional races in under two years of existence. And for the rims, the Ambrosio Nemesis flaunts 'La reine du nord' on the rim for a reason -- it truly is the Queen of the North when it comes to its sheer number of appearances in the Spring Classics. Together, you can expect the Nemesis and the R45 to present a ride a quality that's nothing but thrilling, and an aesthetic that's no less than timeless.

Starting with the hubs, the wheelset comes equipped with the relatively new, yet venerable, Chris King R45s on both the front and rear. Featuring a 20% weight reduction over the Chris King Classics, the R45 has proven itself to be the future of the King hub dynasty -- and this is attributable to more than just weight savings. King redesigned the hub shell bodies of the R45 to not only accommodate the new 17mm axles, but in proper King fashion, to sleek the aesthetics, as well. And on the subject of the axles, the new, broad 17mm design ensures a heightened resistance to deflection through hard cornering and powerful driving efforts.

Even the interior of the R45 has been improved upon. In fact, the R45 uses a redesigned driveshell with a twin bearing system. This not only shaves grams, but it also contributes to a faster engagement at the rear hub. Working in conjunction with the patented, 45t stainless steel RingDrive engagement system, the rear hub is more responsive and silent than ever. Further amplifying the speed and precision of the R45s are King's legendary stainless steel bearings. Produced and tested in-house in Portland, Oregon, the R45's exclusive bearings exploit King's proprietary bearing design for massive gains in the departments of speed, precision, and durability. Even better, the bearings use a feathery, low-friction seal that enables service with nothing but a 2.5mm hex wrench and a penknife.

So, for the rims, the R45s have been laced with 32 stainless steel spokes to the sturdy, 13mm box-profile of the Ambrosio Nemesis. Each rim has double Inox eyelets to reinforce each spoke joint. However, it wouldn't be an Ambrosio without a stealthy hard anodized finish. This treatment resists both brake track and aesthetic wear. And at only 430 grams per hoop, you can expect a lifetime of fast-rolling reliability for cyclocross, year-round training, or for simply drilling it across gravel parcours that punctuate your bully ride. This rim measures 21mm across, making it perfect for fitment with your favorite 23 or even 28mm tubular tire.

The Chris King R45/Ambrosio Nemesis Tubular Wheelset is available in the color Black and in a 700c sizing. It is also being offered with either a Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo compatible freehub body. Skewers are not included.