VISION METRON 40CC
Price £ 1,499.95 | $2,499.99 > Weight 1,612g > www.visiontechusa.com
IF THESE WHEELS look familiar, it’s perhaps because we’ve been treated to a great view of the tubular version crossing finish lines with the front one a metre in the air. Team Cannondale’s superstar, Peter Sagan, rode and won on the latest Vision wheels throughout last season. Now there’s a clincher, too.
Like the latest carbon wheels from Zipp and Enve, Vision have chosen to go down the wider rim path. The 25.5mm rim, shaped with lots of CFD and wind tunnel time, has a rounded profile that’s very different from older Vision wheels.
The rims are built onto carbonshelled hubs running ceramic bearings. Lightweight bladed spokes are laced radially with 18 at the front and 21 at the back, seven radially on the non-drive side and 14 crossed on the drive side. They are assembled by hand in Italy. Our test set weigh in at 885g for the rear, 727g for the front. The overall weight of 1,612g compares well with the significantly more expensive Zipp 303 Firecrest CC (1,579g, £2300) but lags behind the Enve 3.4 clincher (1,463g, £2,500) and also the claimed weight of 1,495g. Despite the price difference, the 303 and 3.4 set the bar for these wheels.
Vision’s new hub features a big 17mm axle and ultra-smooth ceramic bearings. In the smoothness of the spin we’d say they have the advantage over the Zipps. In blustery conditions we found the Metron is influenced by the wind with a little more force than its rivals. It’s a feeling of pressure at the bars more than anything and it’s easy to hold your line by applying a little countersteer. Thankfully, it’s never a violent jolt like we’ve experienced on plenty of budget Fast, balanced and well built Rapid brake pad wear Performance that’s close to the very best at a much lower price aero rims that are based around the simpler and very dated V-shapes.
The braking is sharp and positive without feeling overly grabby. After a few hundred miles of all weather use they aren’t showing any signs of wear, though the pads are going down fast.
Under hard sprints they remain rock solid; we haven’t noticed any brake rub or flex even when pushing hard. We’re seriously impressed by the 40s. In my opinion, the 303 Firecrests are still king of the carbon clincher but the fact that the Metrons come so close to matching their performance yet cost £800 less will make it an easy choice for many.
This level of performance has never been available before at this price point. That makes the Metron 40CC a remarkable achievement.