Reynolds

Solitude

A medium-profile, 24mm depth, and durable aluminum construction may appeal to riders looking for a quality training wheel. But, the Reynolds Solitude's sub 1600 gram weight makes it just as appealing to riders looking to upgrade their stock wheelset.

The deep, aluminum rim makes these wheels just shallow enough to minimize rotational weight, and just deep enough to cut through the air. In terms of both compliance and rigidity, the aluminum composition creates an efficient interface between pedaling forces and the road. You'll find that the wheels spin up rather quickly, and hold their speed well on both the flats and descents.

And, speaking of descents, the 20mm rim width of the Solitude creates a sturdy platform for cornering through windy canyons. There are 20 radially-laced front spokes and 24 rear spokes laced in a two-cross drive/radial non-drive pattern. And new for 2013, the nipples have been moved to the exterior of the rim, finally easing your service and maintenance. As for the hubs, you'll find that Reynolds selected a lightweight, yet sturdy, aluminum hub set, with easily serviceable sealed cartridge bearings.

The Reynolds Solitude Clincher Wheelset is available in the color Black with White labels and as a 700c clincher. Reynolds is offering this wheelset with either a Shimano- or Campagnolo-compatible freehub body, and yes, the Shimano-version is compatible with 9-, 10-, and 11-speed group sets. It's also worth noting that each wheelset comes with Reynolds Cr-Mo Black skewers and a pair of Reynolds rim strips.