Scribe Elan Wide+ 32-D £1,190 | 1,356g
Andy Turner tests a lightweight wheelset with an all-rounder profile
Scribe is a relatively young brand from Northern Ireland, having started in 2019 with the aim of offering premium quality wheels at competitive prices and with a strong focus on customer support and aftercare. Its Elan Wide+ 32-D wheelset is one such example – a set of carbon hoops with a three-year warranty and crash replacement option for a little over £1,000 can certainly be described as competitively priced.
Construction
The Elan+ 32-D rims uses a mix of high filament Toray T700/800 carbon fibres with a ‘glass transition resin’.
Combining a 21mm/30mm internal/ external diameter, with a 32mm depth tips the balance slightly more in favour of low weight and stiffness, while still offering some aero gains – and Scribe says the rims were designed using wind tunnel testing. Interestingly the rim shape used was found to be fastest in the wind tunnel fitted with 25mm tyres but with a 28mm width the rolling resistance gains outweigh the small aero penalty, hence why Scribe suggests 28mm tyres as optimum.
The light and stiff theme continues with the use of carbon-fibre straightpull spokes. The hub uses Scribe’s own singleratchet drive system with a 36t engagement system as standard. A 54t upgrade is available which promises quicker engagement and quieter hub noise. A leaf spring is the only moving part to aid the longevity and ease of servicing.
The standard ‘Endurance’ bearings use contact seals externally and non-contact seals internally and are designed to be fast and usable in all conditions. There is also the option to choose ‘Race’ bearings which use oil rather than grease as well as noncontact internal and external bearings. This means in foul weather the bearings are exposed to the elements and increased wear, but in good conditions the wheels spin faster and experience less friction.
With rim tape – but without valves – the wheels tipped our scales at 1,356g.
Performance
The wheels were noticeably quick to accelerate. With deeper section and heavier wheelsets you have that feeling of inertia to overcome, but with the Elan Wide+ 32-Ds that was greatly reduced and gave a much more direct feeling to the ride. I imagine with the Race bearings and 54t ratchet, these would be incredible for criteriums. Indeed, the Elan range of wheels are used by the Scott Redding Cycling Team.
Handling confidence was high and
I felt no flex in the rims when banking over hard in the corners. Due to the fairly
shallow depth, even stronger gusts were not able to catch the wheels or make them feel unstable.
When cruising along, they held their speed well. When sprinting, they felt stiff and planted and were a joy to use. Going from 45kph to 60kph on my vanity sprint segment felt notably easy. The wheels also felt surprisingly comfortable over rougher road surfaces – perhaps this was the carbon spokes at work as advertised?
Where these wheels shine most, though, is accelerating on a climb. I did a lumpy route with a group of riders who have overtaken me in fitness this last year and, despite being both taller and heavier, I still put in a much more competitive showing than I had any right to expect.
The downsides to the wheels are minor. They are quite loud, probably the loudest freehub I’ve used, which is perhaps worth noting if your preference is for a quieter hub. Carbon spokes aren’t standard so getting hold of a pair could be difficult in a pinch. However, Scribe offers a free replacement in the event that one does fail.
Verdict
The Scribe Elan+ 32Ds are a supremely stiff and lightweight set of wheels. Performance is on a par if not better than many more expensive options. At 32mm deep they lack flat speed performance compared to deeper models, but acceleration at both high and low speeds, on the flats or uphill is exceptional. Bearing and ratchet upgrades for summer racing is also ideal to tease out further performance from the wheels while still being able to use them year round. A great set of warranty supports and multiple spares and adjusters included with the wheels really help make these a great full package with good long-term support.
■ scribecycling.co.uk