GET WHEELY FAST DARKHORSE SLF 36C R17 595 • DARKHORSEWHEELS. COM

When it comes to significant upgrades, the industry’s unanimous answer is to look no further than your wheels. And when it comes to wheels, ‘upgrading’ means a set of hoops that are lighter but stiffer than the ones you have now, which simultaneously reduces your bike’s rotational weight and increases its stiffness – two of the most important factors in making you faster. Of course, the big drawback to upgrading your wheels is that they’re relatively expensive – especially the carbon variety.

Enter DarkHorse’s new Strong Light Fast (SLF) 36c carbon wheelset, which Bicycling has been riding over the past few months. At under R18k for the pair, the SLF 36cs offer some darn good value for money, considering that for many other brands – Zipp, ENVE, Roval – you’ll get only one wheel for the same price.

The 36cs are the shallowest of the three depths offered in DarkHorse’s SLF range, and we chose them for their versatility; most of us train and race on a range of routes, which require a balanced wheelset that will climb well, accelerate on a dime, and descend with confidence.

Our first ride aboard the SLF 36cs was a six- hour, 160km criss- crossing of the Cape Peninsula, where the wheels were forced to seriously perform. Fitted with a pair of Vittoria’s 25mm Rubino tyres, the 36cs offered noticeably sharp handling, while comfortably soaking up road buzz on rougher surfaces. Whether we found ourselves hurtling down the bends of Chapman’s Peak, outsprinting the group for line honours or chasing the guys up Suikerbossie, Bicycling’s testing revealed the SLF 36cs to be genuine value for money.