Opinion
Tubed or tubeless? I’m actually Team Tubeless, but…
by Patrick Bardelli
Christmas gift for the man who doesn’t treat himself: new gravel bike wheels
6.11.2024
So, you want to spoil the man in your life this Christmas – be it your husband, boyfriend, brother or dad. He deserves it and loves cycling. Then why not put two DT Swiss wheels under the tree? Perhaps the new GRC 1400 with carbon rims for gravel bikes.
If you google the most popular Christmas gift ideas for men, you usually find socks, tobacco, beer and other types of alcohol. I mean come on. Surely they’d like something else for Christmas other than drinking and smoking with warm feet. I have another idea.
Swiss wheel manufacturer DT Swiss gave me their new carbon model for gravel bikes for to test out. The wheels come with 30 and 50 mm rim heights. The former are suitable for longer adventures, while the aerodynamically optimised 50 mm rim is designed with sports in mind.
DT Swiss explains that all road wheels with hooked-bead rims are now equipped with wheelsets for gravelly areas. According to the manufacturer, wind tunnel tests show an aerodynamic advantage over rims without hooks.
DT Swiss’s GRC 1400 and Schwalbe’s G-One RS
Immense agile handling comes from a combination of lightweight DT-Swiss wheels designed for speed (rear wheel 880 g, front wheel 650 g) and what Schwalbe dubs its fastest gravel tyres. But bear in mind that in windy conditions, as is often the case in autumn, high 50 mm rims are quite difficult to ride.
There’s a tangible difference in terms of air resistance compared to Hunt’s 25 mm rims. I noticed this on my first ride with the new wheels at the end of September. Gusts of wind hitting you head on can be really dangerous.
Aero+ technology
When developing the new wheels, DT Swiss focused on higher speed, amongst other things. This encompasses translational resistance, sail effect, rotational air resistance, steering torque and rolling resistance. The manufacturer’s umbrella term for this is Aero+.
New carbon mould technology
In conventional manufacturing, the individual components in a carbon rim are produced separately. But DT Swiss points out that this can lead to irregularities during assembly. Thanks to a new method, the Biel-based company is able to produce a more resilient rim.
The outer layer fibres aren’t cut, meaning rims have continuous fibres in areas that take a lot of the stress. This should result in a consistent structure with fewer irregularities.
DT Swiss spokes
Time to treat him
Quality comes at a price. The new DT Swiss GRC 1400 involve both quality and price. A wheelset for the cost of a complete bike is pretty intense. But so is the calibre of the wheels. When wind isn’t whistling around corners like a hurricane, riding on these gravel wheels is great fun.
You see, they’re not just for husbands, boyfriends, brothers and dads; they’re equally suited to bike-fanatic wives, girlfriends, sisters and mums. They’ll enjoy the benefits of these wheels more than beauty products or wellness weekends, which is what usually pops up if you google the most popular gifts for women.
Side note for my family: I have to return these wheels after this review. Just saying. But I’ll take the socks as a back-up gift.
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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