ELITEWHEELS Helix SS carbon road wheelset

The Elitewheels Helix SS addresses one specific problem: crosswind on a deep rim. It is for the road rider who wants depth without being pushed around by gusts. It comes in three pairings, with the front always shallower than the rear.

Its rim has no fixed depth: it rises and falls all the way around its circumference. In 52 / 57 mm, the front varies from 47 to 52 mm, the rear from 52 to 57 mm. The principle comes from the tubercle effect, the bumps on the leading edge of humpback whale flippers that delay stall. On the rim, Elitewheels describes airflow that winds in a helix along the sidewall. The brand claims a wheel that is more stable in crosswinds, which matters most at the front, the wheel that steers.

This profile changes how you choose depth: you can go deeper before crosswinds become a problem. The front wheel is also wider, 31.8 mm externally, for the same reason. On the workshop side, the hub runs on TPI 6802 and 6902 steel bearings, two standard sizes, and CX-Ray spokes can be found everywhere. The 21 mm internal rim is optimised for 28 to 30 mm tyres, and the rider must weigh 125 kg at most.

The wave profile is patented by Elitewheels, moulded in its UNI fibre: its own resin combined with Toray T800 and T1000 carbon. To riders whom the wind has put off deep rims, MAAKE offers this one.