Bontrager has today announced a number of key updates to its Aeolus range of aerodynamic carbon fibre road wheels. Clincher models get wider tyre beds, lower weights, and tubeless-ready rim shapes while disc brake-compatible hubs are now optional for 30mm and 50mm-deep tubulars and clinchers. All wheel models now also offer thru-axle compatibility, too.
Tubeless, wider, and thru-axles
The biggest news is on the clincher side, with the 30mm-deep Aeolus 3, 50mm-deep Aeolus 5, 70mm-deep Aeolus 7, and 90mm-deep Aeolus 9 all gaining broader 19.5mm-wide internal rim widths (up from 17.5mm). The wider rim profile should provide a better foundation for higher-volume tyres – which roll faster than narrower ones – while the new internal profile will allow riders to finally use tubeless tyres for fewer punctures and lower practical operating pressures.
Bontrager has boosted internal clincher rim widths to 19.5mm - up 2mm from previous versions - while preserving the aerodynamic external shape
Despite the bigger internal cross-section, rim weights have actually decreased up to around 100g per pair. Also, Bontrager hasn't changed its 'D3' external rim shapes, thus retaining the aerodynamic performance of the previous versions.
Bontrager will also offer the shallower Aeolus 3 and Aeolus 5 clincher models in disc brake-compatible variants, both with DT Swiss-made Center Lock hubs for use with Shimano's heat-resistant Ice Tech rotors (or six-bolt ones with an adapter) and optional thru-axle conversion kits.
The 30mm-deep Aeolus 3 and 50mm-deep Aeolus 5 models get the most variants with rim brake and disc brake versions in both clincher and tubular models
Sew-up fans now get disc-compatible Aeolus wheels as well with the new Aeolus 3 Disc D3 and Aeolus 5 Disc D3 tubular models. Rims are unchanged as compared to the previous version but the new disc-compatible hubs get the same thru-axle compatibility as the clincher models for use with the latest frames and forks.
Claimed weight and retail prices for all of the new Bontrager Aeolus wheel models are as follows:
- Aeolus 3 TLR D3 clincher: 1,356g; US$2,850 / £2,100 / AU$3,600
- Aeolus 3 TLR Disc D3 clincher: 1,454g; US$2,850 / £2,200 / AU$3,600
- Aeolus 5 TLR D3 clincher: 1,440g; US$2,850 / £2,100 / AU$3,700
- Aeolus 5 TLR Disc D3 clincher: 1,558g; US$2,850 / £TBC / AU$TBC
- Aeolus 7 TLR D3 clincher: 1,608g; US$3,000 / £2,200 / AU$3,900
- Aeolus 9 TLR D3 clincher: 1,812g; US$3,000 / £2,200 / AU$4,000
- Aeolus 3 Disc D3 tubular: 1,150g; US$2,400 / £2,000 / AU$TBC
- Aeolus 5 Disc D3 tubular: 1,295g; US$2,400 / £TBC / AU$TBC
For more information, visit www.bontrager.com.