Syncros

RR1.5 Carbon/Alloy Wheelset - Clincher

You really can't beat the powerful confidence of an aluminum brake track across any weather conditions, but those trusty box-rim metal hoops put you at a distinct disadvantage if you want to keep pace on race day against the herd of deep-dish, wind-cheating carbon rims. For riders not quite ready to jump to carbon brake tracks, the Syncros RR1.5 Carbon/Alloy Clincher Wheelset gives you the best of both worlds.

Syncros utilizes an aluminum bed for sure braking power and adds a 46mm carbon fairing for an aerodynamic profile. The combination rolls—and brakes—fast, so you can drive the breakaway or push your advantage into corners on a descent instead of just trying to hang on to the finish line.

Syncros opts for a 46mm rim depth for a balance of weight, speed, and stability. Super deep wheels are faster, but suffer from the push and pull of crosswinds and get heavy on the climbs. Featherweight shallow rims climb well and handle crosswinds, but fall behind pretty much everywhere else. The RR1.5's hit right in the middle with the versatility to fly on the flats, handle confidently in variable wind conditions, and keep rotational mass manageable on climbs. We've ridden a lot of wheels here at the office, and those with rim depths in the mid-40s stand out as the all-around rouleurs, worthy of nearly any road application.

The hubs actually incorporate DT Swiss internals, which have been long revered for an impeccably smooth ride and ability to withstand the test of time. DT Swiss' star ratchet system in the rear hub offers snappy engagement for a nearly instantaneous response when you put watts to the pedals.