Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D CS Surface Road Bike Wheels

The Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D CS Surface road bike wheels are the version with carbon spokes and are the most aerodynamic wheels in the Elitewheels range. The unique, highly recognisable rim structure ensures a stable ride even in strong crosswinds. The undulating (high-low) rim profile gives you the advantages of a wheelset with higher rims in terms of stiffness and power transfer, and more wind stability thanks to the lower parts.

The Surface hubs contain steel bearings from the Taiwanese brand TPI for extremely low rolling resistance and high durability. These bearings are made with such precision that their rolling resistance and durability approach those of ceramic bearings. The hubs are well sealed against water and dirt, and use the Star Ratchet body system, which engages quickly and is used on many Elitewheels mountain bike and time trial wheels.

The rim widths are different front and rear. While the wider rim of the front wheel improves airflow and stability, the rear wheel rim improves airflow dissipation. With a rim width over 30 mm and a rim height that varies between 55 and 68 mm, it is quite amazing that the whole set weighs only 1455 grams!

Rims
The Drive Helix 68D CS Surface wheelset has been perfected to meet the demands of modern road cyclists. Aerodynamics, low weight, high stiffness, strength and stability in crosswinds - these wheels offer everything you need to take your speed and performance to the next level. The rims are constructed from uni-directional carbon fibres, which consist of a mix of Japanese Toray T700 and T800 carbon fibres for an optimal balance between stiffness, weight and strength. The patented wavy rim profile, inspired by nature, improves stability in windy conditions. The wheels are optimised for 28 - 30 mm tyre widths. The wider rim of the front wheel improves airflow and stability. The mixed depths of the front and rear rims improve aerodynamics, weight savings and bike control.

Surface hubs
As for the Surface hubs, manufacturing tolerances of 0.02 mm are used for a perfect bearing fit. High-quality precision TPI steel bearings were selected to improve longevity and reduce rolling resistance. With high precision and low rolling resistance, they are very similar to some ceramic bearings.

Star Ratchet system
Like its other hubs, Elitewheels makes the Surface hubs using 5-axis CNC machines. What makes the Surface hub unique is the Star Ratchet engagement system, which has been used for years on mountain bike and time trial wheels.

Spokes
Aerodynamic 5.2 mm carbon spokes, the most aerodynamic ones of their kind, contribute to the wheels' speed and efficiency. They were chosen for their low weight (3 grams each) and durability. Unlike the most commonly used carbon spokes, they are replaceable just like traditional steel spokes. Plus, Drive Helix spokes do not experience spoke twist, so they are always in the most aerodynamic position and do not lose spoke tension over time.

Aerodynamic tests
At Elitewheels, it is believed that a wheelset should feel just as good outside on the road as the aerodynamics tests show on paper. In addition to more than 20 lab tests at the factory, Elitewheels also uses CFD testing and race testing by professional riders and teams. CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is used to optimise the wheels aerodynamically before even producing the first prototype. During the design phase, a series of sophisticated computer simulations are carried out, each lasting hundreds of hours. When the engineering team is satisfied, they wheels are ready for stress tests in the laboratory. Once development of the wheels is complete, they are not only tested by Elitewheels itself but also sent to professional cyclists. Elitewheels works with sponsored continental pro teams and UCI riders and receives feedback from them. Their experience from covering hundreds of thousands of kilometres on these wheels gives Elitewheels a unique perspective.

• Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D CS Surface wheelset
• Tubeless rim tape (pre-installed)
• Tubeless valves (pre-installed)
• 4x Carbon spare spokes