Wheels
Ask almost any cyclist what the first upgrade should be and 95% will give the same answer: wheels. On most new bikes, the stock wheels are where manufacturers quietly cut costs to keep the overall price attractive — which means there’s usually a lot of performance left on the table.
Of course, this brings us to the age‑old debate: handbuilt vs. machine‑built. As always, both have their pros and cons, and I’m more than happy to talk through them. What’s certain is that wheel building is an art. Every component — rim, hub, spokes, lacing pattern — works together, and a great wheelset requires real thought and understanding.
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Rims
Carbon or alloy — that part’s easy. But construction method, material layup, rim shape, internal and external dimensions, and drilling patterns all play a huge role in how a wheel performs. These details influence stiffness, comfort, aerodynamics, and even durability.
Hubs
At first glance, a hub looks like nothing more than a shell, an axle, and a few bearings. In reality, factors like bracing angles, bearing size and type, axle diameter, and compatibility standards all matter. As one of our favourite wheel builders likes to say:
“A well‑designed hub should outlast the rest of the wheel.”
Spokes
Carbon spokes are making a comeback after a rocky start a decade ago. They’ve always existed at the high end — think Lightweight or Reynolds — but carbon isn’t always the right answer. Metal spokes (bladed, butted, double‑ or even triple‑butted) remain the most reliable choice for long‑term performance and serviceability. Choosing the right spoke for your next wheelset is more nuanced than most people realise.
WHAT MOST RIDERS REALLY WANT TO KNOW
Let’s be honest: most road cyclists want to know two things — how much do they weigh, and are they fast? Weight is easy to verify. Aerodynamics… not so much. Marketing claims rarely tell the full story, and independent testing isn’t always easy to find.