ELITEWHEELS Marvel G36 carbon gravel wheelset

Long distance or racing: Elitewheels designed the Marvel G36 for both sides of gravel. Its hooked 36 mm carbon rim measures 25 mm internal, and the wheelset is claimed at 1,426 g. It runs tubeless or with inner tubes, on disc-brake frames with thru-axles.

Its strong point is in how the spokes are laced. A Sapim CX-Ray is bladed, and it tends to twist on itself when its nipple is tightened. That stored twist releases over the first rides, and the wheel goes out of true. Elitewheels' builders take care to limit it while tensioning. They then load each wheel sideways to release the rest, true it, and repeat the whole process.

The Kinetic hub drives through two 50-tooth star ratchets, so it engages every 7.2 degrees. On a 170 mm crank, with chainring and sprocket the same size, the pedal moves about 21 mm before the wheel picks up. Elitewheels recommends tyres from 30 to 40 mm. The wheelset carries 125 kg, rider, bike and kit included.

The Kinetic hub comes out of Elitewheels' own factory, and only a freehub body from the brand fits it. For gravel, MAAKE chose it as the way into carbon.