Kit Upgrade: Wheels
When it comes to kit upgrades you can’t make a smarter move than a new set of wheels
Strada 50mm Hand-built Carbon Tubular Wheelset
Type: Full carbon tubular
SRP: £940.00 pair
Weight: 1,354g (claimed)
Tyres used: Continental Competition
Features: Strada is a small company specialising in building wheels to order. This pair of 50mm carbon-fibre tubular wheels give the powerful rider an advantage for time trial and triathlon.
The Ride: Strada offers wheelsets that are produced and tuned for specific types of event and rider characteristics. It's a truly bespoke service at an affordable price. They come with titanium quick-release skewers and the package includes a free 'truing-for-life' service.
We ordered a set of the hand-built, carbon deep-section tubulars laced via Sapim spokes to simple yet efficient-looking hubs. Rider weight was 67kg and the wheels were tensioned accordingly. Out on the road the hand preparation was apparent - the wheels felt responsive and lively.
The aero effect was noticeable in a straight line and this setup would be great for out-and-back 10- or 25-mile time trials. In the slow corners the stiff, deep sections took a bit of getting used to but once mastered they were still pretty nimble. All in all we were impressed with this set of wheels.
Buy them if: You want to go faster, on a budget
Forget them if: You're a big brand chaser
Info: stradawheels.co.uk
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