$346.63

No-nonsense super-light aluminum rimmed everyday clincher wheels are something Shimano makes without fuss. The new Dura-Ace WH9100-C24 CL Clincher wheelset is amazing without calling attention to itself. This is the kind of wheel that you assume is a training wheel, until you drop your friends on that steep rise you always pretend you’re not actually riding hard.

Machined aluminum braking surfaces stop fast and consistently and work great in all conditions. Shimano has taken an aluminum rim, worked it down so it’s merely a skeleton, and reinforced it with carbon-fiber lamination. The rim is 20.8mm wide, 24mm deep, which is almost a traditional shape. The rear rim is designed offset to better balance out the uneven spoke tension emanating from the drive- and non-drive sides of the hub. It’s light and strong, and a bit wider than traditional, and is built to be beat up, and still come out for more. Racing?  Of course.

Befitting a traditional wheel, the nipples are external. The hubs, however, are a mix of modern and traditional. On the one hand, the flanges are set as wide as possible to maximize lateral strength. On the other, they’re designed for straight-pull spokes, though this newer design also is in place for maximal strength. The front wheel has sixteen radial spokes, while the rear has 24 cross-two. Hubs are still running on loose-ball bearings, for extremely low drag.

The hubs have been put on a diet to be as light as possible. The rear employs a titanium freehub body and re-worked internals for quieter coasting.

What is really amazing is how svelte these aluminum-rimmed hoops are. The front wheel is 593g. The rear 819g.

The wheels come with quick-release skewers designed for daily use.

The Shimano Dura-Ace WH-9100-C24 Clincher Wheelset is the lightest training wheelset you’ll want to race or the sturdiest racing wheelset you’ll want to train on.