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EB13: Profile Introduces Full Carbon Aero Road Bike Wheels

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2014-Profile-58-TwentyFour-aero-road-wheels

Profile has just introduced three new aero road bike wheels, each with a profile specific to the type of riding that particular depth might see. Called 38TwentyFour, 58TwentyFour and 78TwentyFour, the numerals represent the depth with all three getting a 24mm wide brake track.

The aerodynamics were done with CFD based on course data from Kona’s Ironman triathlon. They looked at wind speeds and angles to figure how that averages out over the course, then plotted that into the wheel design. Why Kona? Because if you’re gonna pick a race where performance needs to be at its best, Kona’s it. It can also have some of the windiest conditions…

2014-Profile-78-TwentyFour-aero-road-wheels

They admit the aero savings are going to be different for different levels of riders, whether that’s based on distance or speed.

Each size has its own shape tailored to the likely usage. 38’s get a rounded “V” shape with straight brake tracks. The 58’s have a straight brake track with flatter sides but a rounded nose. The 78’s have a more bulbous shape and non parallel brake track.

Tech wise, the carbon is a proprietary prepreg with a 220°C Tg resin to handle braking heat. That lets a fair amount of heat to go into the brake track, which allows for better braking, so they had to develop their own brake pad that’s a bit softer. They’ll wear a bit quicker, but Mark Vandermolen (head of product development) says the performance is similar to alloy rims.

2014-Profile-38-TwentyFour-aero-road-wheels

The manufacturing process uses an automated layup for the brake track and tire bed to provide more uniformity and compaction, then the rest of the rim is laid up by hand and it’s all cured together as one piece.

The spoke nipple bed has an alloy insert at the nose for better strength, more even tension and better seating.

They’re hand built with Sapim CX Ray spokes. They’re UCI approved and EN tested, and available as tubulars (no 38, yet) and clinchers. Weights are:

  • 38 clincher – 660g F / 818g R
  • 58 clincher – 730g F / 900g R
  • 78 clincher – 830g F / 990g R
  • 58 tubular – 624g F / 739g R
  • 78 tubular – 700g F / 875g R
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Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

What do you need brake tracks for on the rim? Disk brakes are the future.

Dr. Zed
Dr. Zed
10 years ago

Mindless is the right name for you.

As for the wheels… Clincher wights are not bad. I like how carbon deep sections seem to be maturing these days; either that or there’s lots of fools being separated from nice chunks of cash.

andrew
andrew
10 years ago

Mindless – discs may well be the future, but rim brakes are still now

yompan
yompan
10 years ago

Wow! Clincher wheels are lighter than tubular?

DerHoggz
DerHoggz
10 years ago

yompan, can you read?

Dave
Dave
10 years ago

Would like to see the prices on these. They could be good and Profile does do some very good products. The wheels to check out and ride are the new REYNOLDS AERO wheels. They come in:

46
58
72
90

They are all 26.2 wide and use DT 240 hubs with DT Aerolite spokes. Have had the 58 AERO’s for about a year and they are nothing short of amazing. Just waiting to buy the new 46 AERO’s.

Plus Reynolds offers a demo program to consumers so you can go and ride the wheels before you buy which is what I did. And if you buy the wheels from the shop you demo’d the wheels at you get $100.00 back from Reynolds and a free RAP (Reynolds Assurance Program) which is a 2 year almost no questions asked crash replacement policy. Basically if you race or ride some poorly paved roads and the wheels are damaged or crashed Reynolds will replace them for FREE.

This is one of the many reasons I bought Reynolds and have for years. They stand behind their product like few companies do.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Dr. Zed – retrogrouches are funny. Get on with the program.

pmurf
pmurf
10 years ago

@mindless it’s fine to call people who want rim brake compatible products retrogrouches, but most everyone else calls them by another name: The market majority. Disc brakes are still in a transitional period. Making disc-specific products cuts out a lot of your potential buyer pool, and likely will for another year or two.

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

Any word on any brake track treatment? Are the brake tracks ground to remove excess resin?What’s the distance between the bead hooks?

Devo
10 years ago

I haven’t owned a car for over 10yrs now. I ride everywhere. bikes are custom Hunter 29er, of which I rode 1000 miles in 7 days along the Divide, 12hr mtb races, etc… also a Surly Big Dummy, which of course I used for hauling. current road bikes, NP Diablo and VeloVie Vitesse 400.
also I happened to have worked with a new startup disc brake road bike co.

this is what I have to say about brakes. A rim brake has a lot to offer. On a MTB, where dirt and steep descents are the norm, I fully agree on disc brakes. Cargo Bike… also has a huge brake demand.

bake demand:
what is your brake demand?

here in Monterey, Ca, where my daily rides are thru Pebble Beach, which happens to also be my work commute, an alloy rim brake is more than enough. freaking awesome! I would be amazed if at anytime I ran a brake for 2 minutes. typically its just a touch here and there.

myke
myke
10 years ago

By making disc only road hoops your market is very limited. im not sure if Mindless has paid any attention to other cyclist on the road. i am betting disc road is around 1% or less. you simply don’t see it. BTW i live in LA which has a decent size cycling community and i have yet to see a disc equipped road bikes.

Roadbike
Roadbike
10 years ago

IMHO…Discs for the one day classics could be great idea; but outside of that I just can’t see the Pro Peleton wanting to give up an already low cost, highly efficient and virtually maintenance free caliper rim brake, not to mention that rotors needs to be affixed to each wheel. Multiply disc wheels needed over the course of a 3 week Grand Tour rider’s essentials and the lack of “on the fly” adjust-ability the Team mechanics will experience hanging from a car riding along- side the riders. I know it’s all still evolving, like all else go fast, but unless they can shave those cyclops master cylinders down I’m not a fan. Just my .02 worth.

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