Columbus is legendary the world over for providing some of the best steel tubing to frame builders and bike brands, but now it has launched a four-strong range of carbon road wheelsets.
When I spoke to Columbus and Cinelli chairman Victor Luis at the start of the year, he mentioned the brand was finalising the development of wheelsets as part of an expanding range of Columbus components.
I can't say the idea of one of the most historic steel tubing makers in the bike industry moving into cutting-edge carbon wheels was on my list of 2026 predictions. However, that is exactly what Columbus has done with the launch of the Cento, Gara and Spirit wheelsets.
The new wheels feature rims optimised for modern wide road tyres and some smart tech at competitive prices.
Luis says: “For over a century Columbus has been a champion of Italian engineering and quality. We were an early pioneer in Carbon tubing and now after years of study and rigorous testing, we are excited to expand our range of Columbus Components to meet the exacting needs of performance brands, the frame building community and exacting riders across the world.
"Our goal is as always superior performance with uncompromising Milanese design.”
New Columbus wheel designs
All four wheelsets share a rim shape developed by the Columbus in-house engineering team around a hooked profile with a 23mm internal width optimised for tyres from 28mm to 30mm. Road tyre sizes up to 35mm fit within the scope of the rim shape, according to Columbus.
The rims share the same 30mm external width, and Columbus offers 50mm depths across the three models, with the Cento also available in a time-trial specific 62mm depth.
Columbus Cento 50
The Cento 50 is designed to offer a balance between performance and everyday durability.
The £1,200 / €1,599 wheelset looks to offer a lot for the money, with the 50mm-deep rim combined with Columbus’ own hubset with straight-pull spokes and machined flanges.
The freehub is a dual-sided 36-tooth ratchet system, providing rapid 9-degree engagement. The hubs have ceramic bearings as standard, and the wheels are built with 21 Vonoa carbon spokes front and rear.
Columbus claims a complete weight of 1,440g a pair. We have a set of the Cento 50 wheels on test, weighing in at 647g and 799g front and rear (1,446g) including tubeless valves and tapes.
- Weight: 1,440g
- Rim depth: 50mm
- Rim width: 23mm internal, 30mm external
- Hub system: Columbus Ratchet
- Bearings: Ceramic
- Spokes: 21x carbon Vonoa, 2:1 spoke lacing
- Price: €1,599
Columbus Cento 62
The 62mm-deep version of the Cento features the same ceramic bearings and carbon spokes, albeit with a deeper 62mm rim profile.
Columbus claims a weight of 1,470g a pair, which compares well to its rivals. Zipp’s 404 Firecrest, at 58mm deep, weighs in at a claimed 1,470g and is priced at £1,688 / $2,005 / €1,899.
The Cento 62s are priced the same as the 50 version, at €1,599.
- Weight: 1,470g
- Rim depth: 62mm
- Rim width: 23mm internal, 30mm external
- Hub system: Columbus Ratchet
- Bearings: Ceramic
- Spokes: 21x carbon Vonoa, 2:1 spoke lacing
- Price: €1,599
Columbus Spirit
The Spirit is the lightest wheelset in the Columbus range. It features a full-carbon hubshell with integrated carbon spokes, much like the top-end wheelsets from Cadex and Syncros.
The Aero hub design uses a single-cast monocoque with carbon spokes fused directly to the hub flanges.
Columbus says the Spirit 50 is designed to give you the edge on mountain climbs, thanks to its 1,249g claimed weight, while still bringing the advantages of a 50mm-deep aero rim.
The Spirit-specific rim features hidden nipples for its 18-count spoke system and ceramic bearings.
- Weight: 1,249g
- Rim depth: 50mm
- Rim width: 23mm internal, 30mm external
- Hub system: Integrated Aero
- Bearings: Ceramic
- Spokes: 18x carbon, 2:1 spoke lacing
- Nipples: Integrated carbon
- Price: €3,999
Columbus Gara
The Gara 50 is a collaboration between Columbus and DT Swiss. The Gara is designed as an endurance wheelset, combining long-distance comfort and high durability.
Built around DT Swiss 240 hubs, it includes innovative internal nipple seats made of glass-fibre reinforced polymer, ensuring accurate alignment and reduced stress on the rim.
Like the Spirit and Cento, the Gara wheels feature Vonoa carbon spokes, combined with titanium spoke nipples.
With a claimed 1,315g weight, these endurance-specific wheels are also impressively light for a 50mm depth.
The €2,399 price looks keen compared to rivals such as Zipp’s 454 NSW at £3,400 / $4,200 / €3,600, or Hunt’s new 5AM Limitless Ti UD Carbon Spoke wheels at £2,489 / $3,199 with the ceramic bearing upgrade.
- Weight: 1,315g
- Rim depth: 50mm
- Rim width: 23mm internal, 30mm external
- Hub system: DT Swiss 240
- Spokes: 24x Carbon Vonoa, 1:1 spoke lacing
- Nipples: Titanium
- Price: €2,399
