Add Some More Snap to Your Whip

Wheels that will make your bike ride better

“Part of that low weight comes in at the hub. It’s 60 g lighter than the previous iteration of the wheels.”

Shimano WH-RS770

There’s a bridge I cross when I’m riding my local gravel loop. Half the time it’s clogged up with hikers and dog walkers, which can seriously ruin my flow. On my first ride with these new Ultegralevel disc wheels from Shimano, my speed was reduced to something that resembled a bad track stand. Then I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I made the uphill right-hand turn back onto my trail. The Shimano WH-RS770 wheels accelerated swiftly and easily on the sandy surface. I felt the subtle but incredibly enjoyable sensation of the wheels spinning back to life immediately after I put some energy into the pedals.

Often stock wheels are capable, but hardly the best-performing models out there. Going with an option such as the RS770 will make a big improvement to your bike. With a claimed weight of 1,639 g, these hoops will definitely lighten up whatever bike you put them on. With their width of 23 mm, they’re versatile enough to do double duty on the road and on your gravel adventures.

Part of that low weight comes in at the hub. It’s 60 g lighter than the previous iteration of the wheels. Inside, the hub continues to use the cupand-cone tech that Shimano wheels are known for. You’ll get that same performance you’ve come to expect as you pedal around corners. This setup is especially useful for those slowerspeed turns you get in gravel racing. The rims shed another 80 g compared with the older version thanks to a lighter carbon layup.

At this price point, these are a great value upgrade whether you have all-day groad adventures planned or you’re looking for a set of rims that’ll help you ride up those rollers on your next group ride. ($ 1,150; bike.shimano.com)