ENVE

SES 5.6 Carbon Wheelset - Tubular

Tubeless compatible road wheelsets might be getting all of the hype lately, however, racers or anyone looking for the highest performing and lightest weight setup know that tubulars still rule the roost. They become even sweeter when you construct the rims from carbon fiber and build them with a wind-cheating profile netting you the trifecta of stiffness, aero, and lightweight. These elements help set the course for ENVE Composite when creating the tubular version of its SES 5.6 Carbon Wheelset with the goal of providing wheels that offered exceptional gains while virtually eliminating tradeoffs over its popular 4.5 wheelset. We figure will see these wheels more under its sponsored athletes and Team Dimension Data than most of its usual customers, but we urge those that aren't tubular initiated to give them a look, as this version knocks off over half a pound, or 260-grams of rotational weight over the clincher version, and that ride, it's so sweet it'll bring a tear to your eye. Sprinters, triathletes, or anyone who likes to go fast on their bike should give these wheels a look and experience speed without compromise.

Starting with the disc 5.6 rim, already a staple in its disc brake wheelset lineup, ENVE created a rim brake version utilizing the proven 5.6 shape that was honed in both the wind tunnel and on race courses around the world, building up a lightweight set of hoops on a platform that's satisfies the pro's choice of running rim calipers and tubs. ENVE added in its excellent molded-in brake track featuring its latest heat-resistant resin, providing plenty of braking power and modulation in both wet and dry conditions and it provides peace of mind and confidence while descending steep, switchback descents so much so, you'll begin to question the merits of disc brakes on road bikes.

This all-new rim is slightly deeper than it's ever-popular 4.5, 6mm more on the front and 7mm more in the rear to be exact, helping to further smooth airflow and reduce turbulence which in turn creates less drag, allowing you to go faster with less effort. As much as outright speed at a wide range of yaw angles developed the profile of the rim, ENVE didn't forget that most rides occur outside the wind tunnel and as such, optimized its shape to help increase stability in both steady and blustery wind conditions for confident handling and predictable descending making it an excellent choice during windy tri's or early spring training races where riding on 7.8's might get you pushed around a little too much. It's also designed with a rim bed and external width to accommodate the current trend towards slightly wider road tubulars (it's optimized for 25mm rubber) with a nod towards more tire support, better handling, and less rolling resistance.

As with the rest of ENVE's SES line, the 5.6 rims aren't subjected to static, arbitrary NACA shapes. Instead, the engineers let each wheel's location dictate the ideal depth, width, and profiling in order to reduce lateral forces and increase aerodynamic benefits across a wide range of yaw angles. This approach is apparent in everything from the rim's rounded spoke face up front to a more V-shaped profile in the rear to the different depths and widths seen on the front and rear wheels. SES takes the shallower, more stable front wheel and deep, aerodynamic rear wheel philosophy to its logical extreme.

As the SES name implies, these wheels are built using the Smart ENVE System to create a rim that's as strong and stable as it is aerodynamic. ENVE wheels enjoy the reputation of having one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios in the industry because of a jealously guarded process of molding in spoke holes, nipple seats, and valve stem holes rather than drilling them after the fact. ENVE routes the carbon fibers around each hole to maintain continuous fiber integrity, which results in both increased rim rigidity and lower weight versus the industry standard of drilling the holes post-curing which cuts and abrades carbon fiber.

The rims are laced to a house favorite, DT Swiss 240 hubs that offer bombproof durability, smooth spinning, proven star-rachet engagement design, and tool-free maintenance. You'll also enjoy a top-quality wheel build with high, uniform spoke tension that keeps the wheels on your bike and out of the truing stand. ENVE is also able to remove the inner bladder once the molding process is complete, which results in a lower overall weight and better wheel balance than processes that leave the bladder in place. This is a lengthy and costly extra step, but it results in a wheel that spins smoother and is significantly lighter than it would be if the bladder was left inside.