Quick Spins – January 15, 2008 Edited by James Huang Got Tech? Send press releases, news, and tech questions to the Cyclingnews tech-heads. Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 clincher wheelset The Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 A sizeable drain hole prevents water buildup. Bladed spokes effectively slice The Aeolus 5.0 uses Bontrager's now trademark Aluminum quick release levers are mated to titanium shafts. Bontrager includes cork pads, valve extenders Bontrager's surprisingly versatile Aeolus 5.0 clincher wheelset is a perfect example of why aero-profiled wheels are quickly becoming a staple in the diets of even everyday riders. Their Steve Hed-designed 50mm-deep all-carbon clincher rims effectively slice through the air to yield noticeably faster speeds in nearly all conditions. According to Trek, the rounded tail also performs better in crosswinds than the sharp trailing edges we've often seen. True to billing, these wheels held speed exceptionally well and accelerate quickly even when you're already on the rivet. Crosswind stability is still about what you'd expect for a relatively deep section rim relative to a box-section, but it was still better than we'd expected. We can't verify Bontrager's claimed aerodynamic performance at varying yaw angles, but we also don't have much of a reason to dispute it, either. At 1598g for the pair (698g front/900g rear) without skewers, the Aeolus 5.0 also still qualifies as light enough for climbing. Backing out the rough weight of the DT Swiss-made bladed spokes and cartridge bearing hubs (which are based on the excellent 240s and include DT's star ratchet driver), rim weight works out to be an impressive 500g or so. Few sprinters will likely characterize the Aeolus 5.0 as ultra-stiff what with just 16 paired spokes up front and 20 in the rear, but they're far from flimsy and still spin up nicely especially for those with power outputs that fall more within the range of mere mortals. Ok, so far we've got fast, pretty light, and reasonably rigid. If that wasn't enough already, the Aeolus 5.0 wheels also surprised us with their fantastic ride quality. We're used to magic carpet-like rides with carbon rims for the most part, but deep-section models still usually ride noticeably harsher than non-aero ones. In this case, we arguably get the best of both worlds: Bontrager's shallow-section Race XXX Lite OCLV carbon rim is shipped off to HED's facility in Minnesota where a paper-thin carbon cap is bonded on. Trek insists the cap serves a structural role (maybe for UCI purposes), but its flimsy walls suggest that it's little more than a fairing. Be that as it may, the result is a rim that offers the buttery ride of a shallow section but the aero benefits of a deep one, all with an overall weight light enough to make it appropriate for nearly any course. Sound like a winning combination? It does to us. Gripes are relatively minor: we experienced a smidgeon of brake pulse on the front wheel that wouldn't go away no matter how much cleaning we did, the supplied Bontrager cork-based pads don't offer as much bite as we'd prefer, and the hidden nipples require tire removal for truing. The super deep rim channel also demands more attention when installing tires to prevent a blowout, and the softness of the cap should be considered if hanging the bike from a hook or when mounting on some car racks but otherwise is no cause for concern. The 120psi maximum pressure rating might also be a bummer for Vredestein users, too (and riders in mountainous terrain should bare that figure in mind on long descents where heat buildup and subsequent pressure increase may occur). Gripes and all, though, the Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 clincher has still rapidly shaped up to be one of our overall favorite wheelsets and currently tops our 'go to' list for when we need to have a fast pair of hoops but don't necessarily know what we're in for. They're a bit pricey, but as always with speed, you can either earn it the hard way or just take the (partial) shortcut and buy your way there. With the Aeolus 5.0, at least you won't have to explain to WADA why you hold a steroid prescription for your dead grandmother… Price: US$2249 (pair, including titanium skewers, valve extenders, and cork brake pads) Weight: 1598g per pair (698g front/900g rear), not including skewers (78g/pair) Pros: Free speed in nearly all situations, sublime ride quality, light enough to climb on, excellent and reliable DT Swiss hubs and spokes, also available in a lighter tubular variety Cons: Truing requires tire removal, deep rim channel demands extra care during tire installation Cyclingnews rating: More info: www.bontrager.com Photography For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com The Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 has proven to be a fast and versatile clincher wheelset Bontrager starts with a shallow Race XXX Lite OCLV rim and then HED bonds on the aerodynamic cap. A sizeable drain hole prevents water buildup. There are seams in the brake track but they didn't contribute to our minor pulsing feel at the lever. Bladed spokes effectively slice through the air. Hub flanges are reinforced for use with radial lacing. The Aeolus 5.0 uses Bontrager's now trademark paired spoke lacing pattern… …which yields a correspondingly unique pattern at the hub. Hubs are made by DT Swiss and are based on the excellent 240s model. DT Swiss also makes the bladed stainless steel spokes. Aluminum quick release levers are mated to titanium shafts. Bontrager includes cork pads, valve extenders , and the tool required to install them.