Imagine slicing through the wind with unparalleled speed – that's the promise of Scribe's new Élan Ultra wheelset. They're claiming it's the 'fastest UCI-compliant wheelset available,' but is it just marketing hype, or a genuine leap forward in cycling technology? Let's dive in and see what makes these wheels tick.
The world of high-performance cycling wheels has been revolutionized in recent years. We've seen a dramatic reduction in weight, all while maintaining the deep, aerodynamic profiles that give riders a crucial edge against the wind. It used to be rare, but now it's almost commonplace to find deep-section, aero-optimized wheels weighing in at under 1,300 grams. And a key factor driving this weight reduction? The increasing use of carbon fiber spokes.
Enter Scribe, an Irish brand making waves in the cycling world. Their latest offering, the Élan Ultra wheelset, joins the ranks of carbon-spoked, aero-lightweight contenders. Scribe boldly claims these wheels are 'amongst the most aero on the planet.' Ambitious, right? Simultaneously, they're launching the Core Ultra range, offering a more accessible option.
The Élan Ultra wheelset will be available in two depths: 50mm and 65mm. The 50mm version boasts a claimed weight of just 1,149 grams, while the 65mm option tips the scales at a still-impressive 1,289 grams. These weights are highly competitive, and a significant contributor to this lightness is the innovative OSL8 (oscillate) carbon fiber spokes. But here's where it gets controversial... are these spokes really that much better than the competition, or is it mostly clever marketing?
So, what's the damage to your wallet? The Élan Ultra wheelset, featuring these new carbon fiber OSL8 spokes, comes in at £1,999 / $2,599 / €2,299. The more budget-friendly Ultra Core wheelset, which utilizes aero steel spokes, is priced at £1,499 / $1999 / €1,699. This price difference begs the question: is the performance gain of the carbon spokes worth the extra investment for the average cyclist? Where do you draw the line between marginal gains and diminishing returns?
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The Élan Ultra wheels feature T1100 carbon fiber hooked rims, with a 24mm internal width and a 32mm external width. They use a 20-spoke pattern both front and rear, and Scribe recommends using tires from 28mm up to 50mm. This wider internal rim width is designed to optimize the tire profile, leading to improved rolling resistance and comfort. And this is the part most people miss... matching the right tire width to your rim is crucial for maximizing performance!
Scribe didn't just pull these OSL8 spokes out of thin air. They collaborated with Alpina spokes to develop these flat, aerodynamic carbon fiber spokes specifically for these wheels. Carbon spokes offer the potential for increased torsional strength, resulting in a stiffer wheelset and improved power transfer. Plus, they save weight, which is always a bonus.
Interestingly, Scribe initially found that a standard Alpina Aerolite steel spoke was marginally more aerodynamic than the 5mm carbon fiber spoke they were initially testing. However, the team loved the ride quality provided by the carbon spoke during testing, as well as its aesthetics (check out the video!). But the spokes were slightly slower. So, Scribe went back to the drawing board.
That's where the new OSL8 spokes come in. These spokes tested faster than the benchmark 5mm wide carbon spoke, providing a small but measurable wattage saving. Scribe utilized these new spokes on the Élan Ultra wheels. I inquired about their testing methodology, and they confirmed that it was conducted at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub wind tunnel. Front-wheel-only testing was performed using a 28mm Continental GP5000 tire, with the Scribe Core 60-D wheel serving as the control.
The brand also clarified that while truing shouldn't be frequently necessary, the carbon spokes can be easily trued if needed, simplifying maintenance. This is a significant consideration, as some cyclists are hesitant about using carbon spokes due to concerns about repairability.
The more affordable Ultra CORE wheelset uses steel-bladed Alpina spokes, but shares the same rim profile and hubs as the Élan Ultra. This offers a more accessible entry point to Scribe's performance wheel technology.
Carbon or Steel: Which Spokes Are Faster? - YouTube
Watch On (https://youtu.be/8m9u3j5SjFQ)
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
So, what do you think? Are the Scribe Élan Ultra wheels a game-changer, or are they just another expensive upgrade promising marginal gains? Would you invest in carbon-spoked wheels, or do you prefer the reliability and affordability of steel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
