Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D SS Road Bike Wheels
- Delivery in 3-4 working days
- Free tracked delivery to Ireland
- Trustpilot rating 4.7/5
- Easy returns
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Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
- This is Elitewheels' most aerodynamic wheelset. It retains its stability in windy conditions and weighs only 1490 grams!
- Its 55-65 mm rim profile retains the rigidity of a high rim and combines it with the wind stability of a low rim.
- The wheels are optimised for 28-30 mm tyres to minimise rolling resistance and air resistance.
- The Surface hubs have steel bearings. Thanks to their 0.02 mm tolerances, they get close to the rolling resistance and durability of ceramic bearings.
- The Star Ratchet system engages quickly and results in immediate power transfer.
- Stainless steel spokes are relatively heavy, but they do provide these wheels with extra lateral rigidity.
Specifications
Specifications
Brand
|
Elitewheels |
Wheelset | |
1490 grams | |
Rim Material
|
Carbon |
Rim Depth
|
F:55-61MM R:62-68MM |
Rim Width (internal)
|
21 mm |
Rim Width
|
F:31.8mm R:30.8mm |
Folding tyre / Tubeless | |
Aerodynamic wheels |
The Surface hubs contain bearings made by the Taiwanese TPI brand. These bearings have an extremely low rolling resistance and good durability. They're made with such precision that they rival the rolling resistance and durability of some ceramic bearings. These bearings are well-sealed from water and dirt, and come with a Star ratchet freehub body system. This system engages quickly and is commonly used on Elite Wheels MTB and time trial wheels.
The width of the rims varies between the front and rear wheel. The wider rim on the front wheel improves airflow and stability, which the rear wheel helps drain away this airflow. It's almost hard to believe that Elitewheels has created a wheelset with such a great mixture of rigidity, wind stability and low weight. A combination of an external rim width over 30 mm, a rim height between 55 and 68 mm, and all that weighing less than 1500 grams!
Lightweight Sapim CX-Ray aerodynamic spokes are excellent in terms of performance and rigidity, though they weigh only 4.4 grams a piece. These spokes are special: they're available worldwide and are trusted and used by professional road, gravel and MTB riders all over the world. They've proven their value and in terms of steel spokes, Sapim CX-Rays are simply the best.
Rims
The Drive Helix 68D wheelset was perfectly designed to meet the demands of modern road cyclists. They're aerodynamic, lightweight, rigid, strong and stable in lateral winds: everything you need to push your speed and performance to the next level. Consisting of a mixture of Japanese Toray T700 and T800 carbon fibres, these rims are optimally balanced for rigidity, weight and strength. Their patented wave shape was inspired by nature and improves their stability in windy conditions. These wheels are optimised for 28-30 mm tyres. The wide rim on the front wheel improves airflow and stability, while the mixed height of the front and rear rims combines aerodynamics, low weight, and improved control over your bike.
Surface hubs
Surface hubs are designed and produced with 0.02 mm tolerances, to guarantee a perfectly fitting bearing. High-end TPI steel bearings were chosen to improve lifespan and to reduce rolling resistance. TPI bearings are precise and have a low rolling resistance, and are even compatible with some ceramic bearings.
Star Ratchet system
Like other hubs, the Surface hub is produced using a 5-axle CNC machine. This Surface hub is unique because of its Star Ratchet engagement system, which has been used on mountain bikes and time trial bikes for years.
Aerodynamic tests
At Elitewheels, they know it's important that wheelsets feel as good on the road as they look in the aerodynamics test results. Aside from performing more than 20 laboratory tests in the factory, Elitewheels also used CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) tests, and racing tests with professional cyclists and teams. CFD tests help aerodynamically optimise wheels before the first prototype is even produced. During the design phase, a number of advanced computer simulations were performed, of hundreds of hours each. After the engineering team is satisfied, the wheels are ready for stress tests in the laboratory. Then, after the design phase, the wheels weren't just tested by Elitewheels themselves: they were also sent to professional cyclists. Elitewheels collaborates with sponsored, continental professional teams and UCI cyclists, and gets feedback from them. Their experience, combined with their hundreds of thousands of kilometres of cycling with these wheels, provides Elitewheels with a unique perspective.
• Tubeless rim tape (preinstalled)
• Tubeless valves (preinstalled)
Reviews
Reviews
5 / 5
Nice competition set at a great price.
After about 4500km very satisfied. Used wheels in my BMC Teammachine, on all different terrain. Two weeks climbing in Spain up to wind force 5 on the dyke. For depth they are quite stable, in that fairly comparable to the Scope R5.A (57mm) I had before. Had few problems with fast and windy descents in Spain, but with very strong winds on the dike I prefer lower wheels. Low weight, hubs are also good so far. 28mm P-Zero are almost 29mm due to the relatively wide internal width. I personally find it a plus to have a lower wheel at the front than at the back.
Pros & Cons
5 / 5
Great looks, super fast, at a neat price!
I have had the wheels for just under 3 months now and have ridden about 4000km on them, including a week of climbing in Spain. It was quite windy at the coast, but still these wheels were a lot more stable than my old 55 mm deep carbon wheels. The wheels move quickly due to the light rim combined with the 36T ratchet (very similar to Dt swiss 350 hubs). I swap the wheels between my road bike and TT bike, and in both cases they perform super, and that for under 1500 grams. No drawbacks so far, bearings are still super smooth after 4000km!
Pros & Cons
5
Nice competition set at a great price.
After about 4500km very satisfied. Used wheels in my BMC Teammachine, on all different terrain. Two weeks climbing in Spain up to wind force 5 on the dyke. For depth they are quite stable, in that fairly comparable to the Scope R5.A (57mm) I had before. Had few problems with fast and windy descents in Spain, but with very strong winds on the dike I prefer lower wheels. Low weight, hubs are also good so far. 28mm P-Zero are almost 29mm due to the relatively wide internal width. I personally find it a plus to have a lower wheel at the front than at the back.
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DT Swiss style ratchet
-
Rigid
-
Wide so stable
-
With strong winds, deep wheels are less
5
Great looks, super fast, at a neat price!
I have had the wheels for just under 3 months now and have ridden about 4000km on them, including a week of climbing in Spain. It was quite windy at the coast, but still these wheels were a lot more stable than my old 55 mm deep carbon wheels. The wheels move quickly due to the light rim combined with the 36T ratchet (very similar to Dt swiss 350 hubs). I swap the wheels between my road bike and TT bike, and in both cases they perform super, and that for under 1500 grams. No drawbacks so far, bearings are still super smooth after 4000km!
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Good 36T ratchet (also fits 54T)
-
Smells very good
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Very light for 68 deep wheels
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Loud ratchet (you have to love it)
-
Very glossy for my matt bike though
Frequently bought together
Frequently bought together
Recommended by the product specialist
Recommended by the product specialist
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Elitewheels Drive Helix 68D SS | Shimano Ultegra R8170 C60 Disc | Shimano Ultegra R8170 C50 Disc | Scope R5 Disc | |
2 reviews | 4 reviews | 12 reviews | 6 reviews | |
Type of wheel | Wheelset | Wheelset / Front Wheel / Rear Wheel | Wheelset / Front Wheel | Wheelset |
Weight provided by manufacturer | 1490 grams | 1642 grams | 1562 grams | 1675 grams |
Rim Material | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
Rim Depth | F:55-61MM R:62-68MM | 60 mm | 50 mm | 57 mm |
Rim Width (internal) | 21 mm | 21 mm | 21 mm | 21 mm |
Rim Width | F:31.8mm R:30.8mm | 28 mm | 28 mm | 28 mm |
1,208.65 | From 508.21 | From 508.21 | 1,522.76 | |
This product | View product | View product | View product |