These Wheels Have Incredible Specs For Half Price

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Elite Wheels has been on the scene for 10 years, but the brand has something all-new called the Drive Mono 65-d. It’s got amazing specs and a potentially bargain price.

That bargain is even more impressive because, at this point, wheels are starting to look a bit like a formula. Look at any wheelset on the market, and the first question is always the internal width. If it’s 23mm or wider, you know you have something worth looking into further.

You could also look at external width, but it tends to track with expectations, so the next question is depth. There’s no wrong answer here; this spec is merely about understanding intent. Are you looking at an aero wheel, an all-around wheel, or a climbing wheel?

Next up is weight. If it’s wide, deep, and light, you’ve got something intriguing. But it all depends on the final question: how much? High-technology wheels that offer big volume and aero advantages at a low weight can easily cost more than a reasonably priced bike. That last part, however, is starting to change.

The latest offering from Elite Wheels isn’t quite ready for purchase, but the specs are highly impressive. The width sits at 25mm between the beads, and those beads are hooked with an external width of 36.5mm.

When it comes to depth, these sit firmly in the aero wheel category at 65mm front and rear. The most interesting part, though, is the weight: a staggering 1245g. There might be a lighter wheel out there, but finding something that wide and that deep, featuring both a hooked bead and a sealed rim bed, is worth taking note of.

Furthermore, the whole wheel—including the carbon spokes—is a single, solid, finished piece of carbon. You can expect a highly reactive ride with fantastic lateral rigidity, but you also have to know that if you break a spoke, the wheel is done. Whether you like that or not, the appeal all hinges on the price. Are we talking the top of the “regular” range around $4,000, or are we pushing into the exotic territory of $6,000-plus?

Actually, neither. The exact pricing isn’t finalized, but Elite Wheels expects it to land in the $2,000 range.

For more information, check the Elite Wheels website and if you’d like to hear a review of these, please let me know in the comments.