American Classic have always produced lightweight wheels and even this semi-aero alloy set is low on mass. They’re not the stiffest around though.
The flat-sided 30mm rim looks deeper than it is, and the broad-bladed spokes and super-narrow bobbin front hub on the 18-spoke radial front wheel leave little to create head-on drag. Rear flange spacing is narrow, although large flanges make it look like a power measuring hub from the side.
Neat touches include a red spoke next to the valve hole for fast fixes and the freehub has three neat steel inserts to stop cassette gouging. Skinny, narrow stance hubs do mean they’re noticeably wayward and flexy when cornering hard or stamping up climbs.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine.
