Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D CS Road Bike Wheels

The Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D road bike wheels for disc brakes are the most aerodynamic wheels in the Elitewheels range. With a special and recognisable rim structure, these wheels have a very stable feel even when you're experiencing crosswinds. The undulating rim profile provides the rigidity and power transfer of wheels with high rims, as well as increased stability in windy conditions due to the lower parts of the rim.

The Evolution hubs contain ceramic bearings from the Taiwanese TPI brand, providing an extremely low rolling resistance and great durability. The hubs are sealed well to keep dirt and water out, the titanium body is protected against wear caused by the cassette, and contains a a completely redesigned ratchet system. The Evolution Helical Dual Ratchet body system has an engagement angle of only 3° and features 120 points of engagement.

The width of the rim differs between the front and the rear wheel. The wider rim on the front wheel improves airflow and stability, while the narrower rear wheel is optimised to drain airflow. It's hard to believe that Elitewheels has created a wheelset with such an amazing combination of rigidity, wind stability, and low weight, but it's true! The set combines an external rim width of over 30 mm with a rim depth between 55 and 68 mm, and all that weighs less than 1500 grams!

Rims
The Drive Helix 68D wheelset is optimised to meet the requirements of the modern road cyclist. Aerodynamic, lightweight, rigid, strong and stable in crosswinds, these wheels have everything you need to get your speed and performance to the next level. The rims are made of uni-directional carbon fibres. Consisting from a mixture of Japanese Toray T700 and T800 fibres, these rims perfectly combine rigidity, weight and strength. The patented undulating rim profile is inspired by nature and improves stability in windy conditions. The wheels are optimised for 28 to 30 mm tyres. The wider rim on the front wheel improves air flow and stability. The combined depths of the front and rear rim combine aerodynamics, a low weight and improve control over the bike.

Spokes
The 5.2 mm carbon spokes are the most aerodynamic ones available and contribute to the speed and efficiency of these wheels. They're replacable and don't experience spoke twist, so they're always in the most optimal position. Every single aspect of wheel design was carefully considered in producing the Drive Helix 68D wheelset. Elitewheels made the decision to use newer, more aerodynamic carbon spokes without compromising on weight or durability, so they weigh about 3 grams each. They're even the most aerodynamic spokes available. These spokes are even more special because, in contrast with most carbon spokes, they can be replaced just like traditional steel spokes. Their advanced design means that the Drive Helix-spokes don't lose their tension over time and don't experience spoke twist.

Evolution Hubs
Every detail was considered in the design of the Evolution hubs. The freewheel body is made from a titanium alloy, making it both lightweight and resistant to damage from the cassette. Elitewheels decided to use high-precision TPI ceramic bearings to improve durability and decrease rolling resistance. The CNC machines used in the production of these bearings have 0,02 mm tolerances, guaranteeing bearings which fit perfectly, decrease rolling resistance and have increased durability.

Evolution Helical Dual Ratchet system
The Evolution Helical Dual Ratchet system is unique in comparison to other available ratchet body systems. This freewheel mechanism uses a spiral-shaped driving mechanism, which uses pedalling power to make the ratchets engage. This prevents the skidding and slipping that can occur when wear is combined with high-power pedalling on other ratchet systems. This system also features a spring with a relatively low tension, which lessens the wear and tear experienced by the ratchet teeth, so they'll last longer. The hub also uses two separate ratchet mechanisms with a 60-teeth offset, making this hub the hub with the lowest engagement angle available on the market, at only 3° or 120 points of engagement.

Testing aerodynamics
At Elitewheels, they understand how important it is that your wheels feel as good out on the road as they look on paper after aerodynamic testing. Aside from over 20 laboratory tests in the factory, Elitewheels also uses CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tests and has their wheels tested by professional riders and teams in races. CDF allows the wheels to be optimised for aerodynamics before the first prototype has even been produced. During the design phase, a series of highly advanced computer simulations were performed, which lasted hundreds of hours each. The wheels are ready for stress tests in the laboratory only when the engineers are satisfied. After development was completed, the wheels were then tested both by Elitewheels themselves and professional road cyclists. Elitewheels collaborates with sponsored, continental professional teams and UCI cyclists. Their experience, combined with the hundreds of thousands of kilometers they spend cycling on these wheels, gives Elitewheels a unique perspective on wheel design.

• Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D wheelset
• Tubeless rim tape (preinstalled)
• Tubeless valves (preinstalled)
• 4x Spare carbon spokes