These hand-built Belgian wheels aren’t outstanding but they’re a solid all-round set of tubs at a very good price. The 50mm-deep, high-modulus carbon rims are gently rounded but traditional in width. Build quality is excellent, with top-quality Sapim CX-Ray aero spokes, and we’ve worked 4ZA wheels hard in standalone tests and complete-bike tests with no tracking or tension-loss issues.
Quick freehub pick-up means they always feel prompt to get going out of corners. Braking is okay – if, typically for carbon, less predictable in the wet – and cornering accuracy is usefully obedient. They’re slightly more gusty than ‘smarter’ shaped wheels, though, and considering these are the tubular rather than clincher tyre version, overall weight is okay rather than anything special, even at just over £1,000.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.