Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 Tubular Wheels
The brand new 2012 Aeolus wheel range from Bontrager features an option for every road racer, triathlete and time trial rider with options from the superlight 35mm Aeolus 3 wheelset all the way up to the deep dish 90mm Aeolus 9, that just so happens to be the fastest non-disc wheel in the world. In each wheel, you will find the revolutionary aerodynamics that Bontrager & Trek have been busy developing over the last few years, drawing on the experience gained from building the incredible Speed Concept time trial bike. Sitting at 50mm deep, the Aeolus 5 D3 wheelset is designed to be the best all-round racing tubular option available, with acceleration, stiffness and aerodynamics that surpass all others. While the Aeolus 7 and 9 wheels are the flat course champions, the Aeolus 5 will suit riders who frequent hill climbs and are looking for the fastest set of hoops for all course conditions. The clincher version of the wind defiing Aeolus 5 wheels tip the scales at 1550 grams, a mere 250 grams more than the tubular version.  For many this will be a small price to pay for the ease of working with standard clincher tyres. 

The impressive weight must be accredited to the aerospace-grade OCLV carbon fiber rims that Bontrager handbuild in the US, featuring an attention to detail and level of quality that just cannot be matched by the Chinese factories. While there are many deep dish carbon wheels available on the market that often look very similar to each other, experienced riders will be well aware of the ride and durability differences between a cheap carbon construction and a quality option like the OCLV Aeolus rims. Not only are the Aeolus range built from the worlds best carbon fiber, they also pack in the worlds best aerodynamics to produce a better wheelset that is genuinely faster than the competition. Period.

D3 Dual Direction Design One of the main problems that Bontrager found with the majority of deep dish wheels and their claimed aerodynamic properties was a distinct omission of data and testing for use in sub-optimal wind conditions, i.e; cross winds. This was to say that as soon as your $3k set of tubular wheels experience a wind direction that is not head on, the drag drastically changes and all aerodynamics pretty much go out of the window. Featuring an extensively tested unique rim profile, Bontrager were able to create a faster set of wheels that perform with less overall drag across a wider range of conditions. In a nutshell, the D3 design reduces drag on both the tyre-trailing and the rim-leading edge of the rim, which not only makes you faster but offers you more control in crosswinds.

High Tech Hubs & Spokes Although much of the hype around the new Aeolus wheels is around the new D3 rims, the innovation didn't stop there. The rims are laced with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes to maintain the aerodynamic properties of the wheelset, with 18 radially laced on the front and 24 spokes stack-laced on the rear for improved stiffness and load dispersion.   Due to their impeccable reputation for precision-built components, the Swiss were called in to produce a superlight hubset for the Aeolus wheels. In order to whittle down weight further, the hubshell is made from Carbon Fiber, resulting in a stiff but lightweight construction that can handle high spoke tensions better. The guts of the hubs are provided by DT Swiss 180 hub internals, so you're getting a proven Star Ratchet freehub and quality sealed cartridge bearings front & rear.

From Bontrager:

"The best all around wheelset on the road today. Period. This 50mm D3 profile is light enough for mountain races, handles great in a crosswind, yet performs aerodynamically like a deeper section wheel. A full carbon, made in the USA rim laced to silky smooth, Swiss-made hubs".

"Stiff, light, aerodynamic—I'm very happy with a wheel that can be all three at the same time. Aeolus D3 is all these things, with no compromise. This is why I prefer this wheel to any other".

Fabian Cancellara
LEOPARD TREK 


The Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 Tubular Wheelset features:

• OCLV Carbon fiber rims that are Handmade in the USA
• Revolutionary rim profile produces the most aerodynamic wheel on the market
• D3 - "Dual Direction Design" for aerodynamic performance at all angles
• 50mm rim depth
• Tubular design for use with tubular tyres
• DT Swiss manufactured Carbon Fiber hubs with 180 internals
• Star Ratchet freehub mechanism
• DT Swiss Aerolite spokes (18 front, 24 rear) 
• Stacked lacing pattern for wider bracing angle and stiffer wheels
• Weight: 1295 grams
• Includes: Quick release skewers, Wheel bags, Carbon Stop brake pads and alloy presta valve extenders

The Bontrager wheel range has stepped it up a notch for 2012 with some impressive features at an even more impressive pricepoint