ENVE has expanded its Foundation range to include two new carbon gravel wheelsets, the 700c AG25 and 650b AG28.
Foundation wheels are priced lower than ENVE’s flagship offerings, although at £1,850 / $1,600 / €1,800 / AU$2,899 / CAD$2,250, these are far from being entry-level wheels.
With wide, hookless rims designed explicitly for tubeless, the AG25 and AG28 aim to offer the best possible combination of performance, durability and comfort in their price bracket.
“AG” stands for Adventure/Gravel, and the new wheels are low profile for vibration damping and compliance built with chunky tyres in mind.
That means large internal widths – 25mm for the AG25 and 28mm for the AG28. They’re also hookless, meaning tubeless tyres are essential.
The rims have particularly wide beads at 4.5mm across, a design ENVE says significantly improves pinch flat protection – essentially because the rim leading edge is blunter – and increases impact strength.
Durability is a theme here. Like previous ENVE rims, the new Foundation wheels feature moulded spoke holes rather than drilled ones, meaning no cut fibres to compromise the integrity of the rim.
ENVE says it tested over a dozen distinct carbon layups for the AG25, with test riders reporting that the heavier ones did a better job of damping road vibrations and data collection confirming this.
The AG25 are AG28 are built on ENVE’s own Foundation hubs, which use ID360 DT/Mavic-style ratchets and offer a choice of SRAM XDR or Shimano 11-speed freehubs. US buyers also have the option to choose Industry Nine hubs.
With the own-brand hubs and Shimano freehubs, claimed weights for both wheelsets are 1,480g, a respectably low figure for such wide rims.
Either way, the wheels are laced with Sapim CX Sprint spokes and brass nipples, the latter a welcome detail for long-term durability.
The AG25 and AG28 wheelsets are made in the USA and come with lifetime ‘incident protection’ that covers a variety of potential mishaps, plus a five-year limited warranty.
They are available to buy now from ENVE dealers.
ENVE Foundation gravel wheels specs
| | AG25 | AG28 |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 700c | 650b |
| Claimed rim weight | 360g | 372g |
| Claimed wheelset weight (Shimano 11spd f/h) | 1,480g | 1,480g |
| Inner rim width | 25mm | 28mm |
| Outer rim width | 33.5mm | 36.5mm |
| Rim depth | 21mm | " |
| Hole count | 24 | " |
| Minimum tyre size | 32mm | 45mm |
| Recommended tyre size | 36–50mm | 47–57mm (2.25in) |
| Rim ERD | 597mm | 559mm |
| Spokes | Sapim CX Sprint | " |
| Nipples | External brass | " |
| Hubs | Enve Alloy Foundation (AF), I9 1/1 (not available in UK) | " |
| Freehubs | XDR, Shimano 11spd | " |
| Disc rotor mount | Centerlock | " |
