FFWD F9R FCC DT180
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The Draw: Heavy Hitters
The FFWD F9R wheelset is a deep, full-carbon wheelset built with DT Swiss ceramic hubs. The wheels felt the stiffest of any we tested in accelerating and climbing, making them a good choice for a heavier or more powerful rider (note the maximum rider weight is 220 pounds). The F9R wheelset felt a bit heavier than others, particularly when cornering, but keep in mind that these wheels are really meant to be ridden fast in a straight line, and they excel at that. Dry-weather braking was on par with other wheelsets, but wet braking was not very confidence-inspiring. FFWD wheels are not distributed as widely as other brands listed here in the U.S. but do have a strong presence in Europe.
90mm rim depth; ~$3,000; clincher; 1,775g
Review by Jonathan Blyer and Colin Tanner