Dangerholm’s latest project is these prototype aero rims with ludicrous proportions that may shape the future of gravel wheel design.
The new gravel wheels feature a massive 52mm width and 70mm depth, and are said to be optimised around 2.1 to 2.25in mountain bike tyres.
Dangerholm, whose real name is Gustav Gullholm, says the project is purely experimental, blending aerodynamics and new ride characteristics, with zero production plans.
The prototype was done in collaboration with the Canadian design and engineering firms Faction Bike Studio and Lx Lab.
While the wheels aren’t for sale, they may break the ice for more radical designs down the line.
Wide and deep
We have seen gravel tyres becoming wider and wider over the past couple of years, with brands and racers seeing the benefits of increased grip and a more cushioned ride feel.
The theory came from road tyres, where the traditional thought of thinner tyres being faster due to less drag was put to bed.
Dangerholm says tyre size has been something that’s left him scratching his head when it comes to regular gravel bikes.
“Sure, I get that a 40-45mm tyre can be really fast on fine hardpack, but otherwise I didn’t really see the appeal of trading away the wide yet relatively lightweight MTB tyres,” he says.
This new prototype has been designed around 2.1 to 2.25in mountain bike tyres, with Dangerholm saying: “I have nothing but positive things to say. So much so that I don’t want to move back to 30mm rims no matter the weight savings.”
“Going with a 45mm internal width is pushing it to the extreme end of the spectrum, but I’d rather test the max size option right away and learn from it.
"Oftentimes, when experimenting, you want to find the limit by pushing a tiny bit too far, then step back a little. My guess is that a 40-42mm internal width rim with thick sidewalls to maintain a 50-52mm external width would be the optimal numbers.”
We’ve seen a few riders experimenting with using mountain bike tyres in gravel racing, with comfort, grip and puncture resistance listed as benefits.
This puncture resistance enables riders to run lower tyre pressures, meaning they can achieve a more cushioned feel on rough gravel surfaces.
Dangerholm says he has to give credit to Zipp’s XPLR wheels, which opened his eyes to using wider tyres.
“The aero aspect was a big deal, but I’m one of those riders who really dislikes a squirmy feel from my tires which has had me riding some pretty high tyre pressures," he says.
"But now, with 32mm inner width rims paired to 40-45mm tyres, I could suddenly drop the pressure while having improved stability, along with better comfort, grip and rolling speed on the rough stuff.”
In this project, Dangerholm has also focused on aerodynamics, saying: “The aerodynamics is quite self-explanatory, with the 52mm-wide and 70mm-deep rim profile hopefully improving the aerodynamics enough to provide some gains.
"Sure, you’re fighting an uphill battle from the start with a knobby wide MTB tyre, but that also means that you have a big reason to improve it.”
Explaining how Faction shaped the industrial design and overall look of the wheels, Dangerholm says: “I was expecting maybe 2-3 options, but early on I was presented with a whole bunch of different rim shapes to consider. And not only that, but various graphics too, which were surprisingly helpful as it accentuated the designs even further, making them easier to compare.”
Only four rims are being made and there are no plans to go into production.
