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The Draw: All-Around Awesome
The Aeolus 9 wheelset from Bontrager provides everything you would expect from a wheelset made by the same people who make Trek Bicycles. These wheels are light in weight—considering their deep depth—and handle better than any other wheels tested in the deep carbon- wheel category. These wheels are tubeless- compatible and use a thin plastic rim strip, which is tricky to install and remove, making the strips a bit of a nuisance compared to other simpler solutions (tape, plugs, etc.). Braking performance with the included cork brake pads was good in dry conditions and only slightly degraded when wet. These wheels feature a 20mm inner rim width—slightly wider than most other brands— which translates to a smoother and more efficient ride.
90mm rim depth; $2,600; clincher; 1610g
*Editor’s Choice*
Review by Jonathan Blyer and Colin Tanner