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PRODUCT REVIEWS: ON TEST: REYNOLDS RZR 46 TUBULAR WHEELSET
Road Bike Action
June 9, 2010
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Reynolds Composite Studio is the Utah-based brand’s elite carbon fiber laboratory where, spearheaded by composite wheel pioneer Paul Lew, carbon fiber is carefully molded into the all-carbon RZR 46 Tubular wheelset. There is a lot of wild technology packed into the RZR wheels, but you only need to know four things about them: a pair weighs under 900 grams; the carbon fiber hubs, spokes and rims are bonded into a one-piece structure; they cost more than a pro racing bike; and they are foolishly fast.
STANDOUT FEATURES
RZR rims are squeeze-me-thin carbon layups with a special heat-resistant composite layer in the braking tracks. The 46-millimeter-deep profile has a pair of ridges near the rounded point of the airfoil that trip the airflow so it breaks cleanly away from the rim surface instead of ducking around the corner of the airfoil and creating speed-robbing drag. The feature is called a “swirl lip generator.” Knife-sharp carbon spokes are bonded into the hub flanges and also into the rim. The front wheel uses a 16-spoke radial pattern. The RZR rear wheel begins with an innovative, three-flange carbon fiber hub. The outer flanges support the lateral and compressive loads—the weight of the rider and cornering forces—while the spokes bonded to the third, central flange are angled to counter pedaling torque. Reynolds’ “Torque Flange” hub and bonded spoke system help to reduce weight because they places exactly the right amount of material directly in line with the forces that aggressive riders introduce into the wheels. Bearings are high-quality steel cartridge types (Reynolds does not recommend ceramic hybrid bearings). Reynolds sent us the RZRs with Swiss-made, 10-gram, titanium quick-releases; a rubberized computer magnet; and a note mentioning that RZR 46 Tubular wheels are weight limited to 185-pound riders. Aluminum Campagnolo and Shimano/SRAM freehubs are available, and the wheels come with a two-year limited warranty. RZR 46 Tubular wheels are weigh less than 900 grams without quick-releases and cost $6000.
SETUP
We used a BH G4 to test the RZR wheels. Reynolds sent us the RZR wheels pre-glued to Vittoria Corsa EVO CX tires and a set of Reynolds’ carbon-specific brake pads (they insist that their pads be used exclusively), titanium quick-releases, a digital presentation and a beautiful pair of wheel bags. The Reynolds-provided valve extensions proved to be problematic, with neither sealing well at the interface of the extensions and the Presta valves. We checked, and noted that the assembler properly wrapped the Presta valves with Teflon tape, so it took some finagling to inflate the Vittoria tubulars to 120 psi. We installed a Shimano Dura-Ace cassette using the recommended 1-millimeter spacer and noted that the drive-side axle protruded 5 millimeters too far. A call to Reynolds indicated that the wheelset had the wrong spacer kit for Shimano/SRAM, and they insisted on fixing the mistake. We were more interested in the wheel’s performance than perfect shifting, so we made do with what we had and readjusted the derailleurs to shift with an inboard chainline.
PERFORMANCE RATINGS (1 to 5 with 5 being best)
BEST USE: Elite racing, climbing and windy time trials—race day only.
Initial setup: 2
Tubular tires are time-consuming to mount up to wheels, and care must be taken to get the valve extensions mounted air-tight and secure before the tires are glued in place, otherwise the Presta valves cannot be accessed from outside the rim. Note: We didn’t score the improper spacer glitch.
Weight: 5
The entire wheelset, ready to ride with tires, quick-releases, an 11/27 Dura-Ace cassette and valve extensions, weighed exactly 1300 grams—less than most racing wheels weigh when stripped bare.
Acceleration/climbing: 5
Wow! What fun it is to power away without a care about lateral flex—with wheels so lightweight that the legs forget they are on the bike. Under full-power sprints, we could get the wheels to budge a tiny bit, but never so far that they touched the brake pads.
Road comfort: 4
The Vittoria tubular tires were supple rolling and very smooth, even at 120 psi or higher pressures, but the RZR wheels transmitted more of the road chatter to the bike than we expected from such a lightweight wheelset.
Cornering feel: 4
Fast and secure cornering was the norm, but you’ll have to be ready to take some of the bumps when you rail around a bend on rough pavement. The RZR/Vittoria combination sticks a tight line, but the stiff wheels let you know what’s underneath the tire’s contact patch.
Braking: 2
We tried many braking techniques but never found a sweet spot. The RZR’s carbon braking tracks and pads chirped and pulsed slightly. Braking was firm, but not optimal.
Windy conditions: 3
RZR 46 Tubular wheels are as aero as one would want to take to a road race or criterium. They hold an acceptable line in stiff crosswinds (25 mph at 45 degrees during one ride), but you’ll need a couple of rides to acclimate to them before you ride with a group.
Durability: 4
We rode the RZRs over some rank urban roads that could swallow mopeds, and bashed some awfully big sections of missing pavement—and they remained unphazed. To withstand the rigors of the ProTour, RZR wheels must handle worse situations, so we are not surprised.
BUYING ADVICE
Once in your life, you should ride a wheelset of this caliber, if only to understand why someone would spend more on a wheelset than the bike that he or she is attached to. Reynolds hit the center of the target for no-compromise racing wheels—the RZR 46 T has a liberal amount of aerodynamic profiling for solo breaks, and enough stiffness to handle a high-watt climber or sprinter, and all this at a mythological, sub-900-gram weight figure. If you’ve spent the money for a pro bike, for coaching and professional nutrition, you owe it to yourself to pony up for some race-day-only wheels like Reynolds’ RZR 46 Tubulars.
PRICE: $6000
WEIGHT: 895 grams (without QR’s)
COMPATIBLE: Campagnolo, Shimano/SRAM
INFO: www.reynoldscycling.com
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