HuntBikeWheels, Race Season Aero Wide (english)

Detailed technical analysis and 1.525 km test for these Aero Race Season Wide, tubeless ready aluminium wheelset of 1,480 grams, proudly produced by HuntBikeWheels. Stiff and precise, provide high-level performance in all situations, also thanks to their 24 mm wide rim.


The story of HuntBikeWheels is fairly recent. Born in August 2014 in the English county of Sussex by the will of Tom Marchment, assisted by his brother Peter, already owner of ITS Cycling Ltd, with the initial target of achieving strong, light, reliable, high quality and possibly cheaper wheels. Brand new factory, but many years of experience behind, because Tom can boast 12 years of work with the UK distributor i-Ride. The fund of knowledge and contacts with suppliers enabled Tom to start designing, prototyping, testing, and then beginning the production of a first aluminum wheelset for road bikes, in collaboration with the house Mason Progressive Cycles Ltd, called 4 Season Disc, which was followed by many others.

Up to now, Hunt catalog is divided into 8 wheel models with hub for disc brakes for road bikes, cyclocross and gravel (4 carbon and 4 aluminium alloy, one of which with a 650B rim or, if you prefer, 27.5″) and 6 models for traditional caliper brakes (2 carbon and 4 aluminium alloy), also for road bikes, cyclocross and gravel, all in 28″ diameter. The production is strictly handmade by Hunt, as well as the quality, without burdening the purchase price. Each wheelset is made to order, with technical implementation and delivery times that can vary from 2 days to 4 months, depending on the model chosen by the purchaser.

We at Tech-Cycling followed the evolution of HuntBikeWheels from the beginning, devoting timely attention to their innovations. The curiosity to try their set of wheels was high, and Tom Marchment rewarded us by sending our editorial office these Race Season Aero Wide wheels by 1,480 grams declared, tubeless ready aluminum, for caliper brakes, suitable for racing road and gravel bike, certified for cyclists up to 95 kg in weight (over 85 kg rider weight, Hunt suggests to use them with tires of 25 mm section at least, also carrying out regular reviews of the wheels by a mechanic).

Rims
They are made of aluminum alloy with heat treatment T10 and niobium, to increase rigidity and structural strength, CNC rectified braking track, 31 mm deep aero profile, hot-applied white decals, 19 mm rim bed and 24 mm external width. Fron rim has 20 holes, rear 24, with “off-center” flange to improve the camber and more uniform tension of 12 spokes on each side. Hunt provides to close the nipple holes with 23 mm wide tubeless tape, delivered with the wheels as a standard, which adds about 30 grams to each wheel. Claimed weight of 1,480 grams for this wheelset seems therefore entirely plausible and realistic. It is recommended the use of 25 mm tires, although you can go down to the classic 23 mm, with the faculty to mount tires up to 34 mm, also suitable for “gravel riding” not particularly technical.

Hubs
Hub body is made of 6061-T6 forged heat-treated CNC machined aluminium, polished anodized black finish, with laser graphics. The axle is 7075-T6 aluminium alloy, the freewheel has four pawls and 28 teeth of engagement. Freehub body is 7075-T6 heat-treated aluminium alloy, compatible Shimano/Sram 8-9-10-11 speed (with steel spline insert to prevent cassette sprocket damage) or Campagnolo. The hubs roll on sealed high precision ball bearings by EZO Japan, and have a dual sealed external face bearings to avoid dirt and moisture intrusion.

Provided with the hubs, the wonderful quick-releases “Hunt Super-light Race Season”, weighing only 76 grams per pair (36 grams front, 40 rear). Lever, head and lock nut are made of 7075-T6 heat-treated alloy, polished anodized black finish with laser graphics. The CrMo spindle could resist up to 1,000 kg, the springs are made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel.

Spokes
Swedish branded, cold drawn Sandvik stainless steel 18/10, with special patented Pillar reinforcement, straight-pull, aero profile. Front wheel bears 20 triple-butted radial spokes (2.0-2.0/0.95-2.0), rear wheel has 24 triple-butted laced 2 cross (2.2-2.0/0.95-2.0 on both sides), with black stainless surface treatment. The nipples have an alloy square body, 14 mm length, hexagonal head, black anodized finish.

Tech-Cycling tracking
• Front wheel weight (without quick-release, but with tubeless tape): 670 grams
• Rear wheel weight (without quick-release, but with tubeless tape): 875 grams
• Quick-release weight: 76 grams (36 front + 40 rear)
• Coplete wheelset weight (quick-releases and tubeless tape included): 1.621 grams
• Inner rim width: 19 mm
• External rim width: 24 mm
• Brake track width: 9 mm

List Price
Race Season Aero Wide are sold at a price of £ 419, shipping included, complete with inner tubeless tape, tubeless valves, quick-releases, cassette spacer ring for 8-9-10 speed, spare of 3 spokes and nipples, Pillar spoke key for hex and square fitment, Hunt aero spoke holder, quality control certificate signed by the wheel builder. The freehub body can be ordered as Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo configuration.

Sale conditions
The HuntBikeWheels commercial offer for these wheels is certainly interesting. They can be purchased directly on the manufacturer’s website HuntBikeWheels booking them on a deposit of £ 85, to make sure to receive them (Hunt production time can vary from a couple of days to 4 months from order date, depending depending on the model chosen by the purchaser). The deposit will be fully refunded if the buyer changes his mind prior to the reception of the wheels and up to 7 days after having received them, before the payment of the balance.

List price includes shipping cost, the buyer should thus not paying anything extra. The buyer has 60 days to return the wheels, new or used in good condition, should not remain satisfied of the purchase, seeing refunded all money paid. The guarantee of these wheels is 2 years from date of purchase. In case of damaged wheels, HuntBikeWheels offers special discounts for their replacement.

Ordering them, the purchaser may require the assembly of Schwalbe or Hutchinson tubeless tires, with desired size (here the link to the various choices). The cost includes rim taping, two tubeless valves, two tires and the insertion of the latex inside.

Rating
Each product submitted to our test receives aa assessment on the various functional aspects objectively determinable. Aesthetics and price are not considered, since they were deemed the result of a strictly subjective evaluation parameters.
This our scale of values.

Identikit
In alphabetical order the main features, with our review assessment.

• Braking performance
• Directionality
• Finishes
• Lateral stiffness
• Performance in the wet
• Reactivity
• Resistance to side wind
• Structural stiffness
• Torsional stiffness
• Versatility of use
• Vertical compliance
Star7
Star7
Star6
Star7
Star7
Star6
Star6
Star6
Star7
Star6
Star7

Our test
We tried these Aero Race Season Wide associated with Hutchinson Equinox 2 700x23c clinchers, 238 grams each, and Vittoria Corsa G + 700x25c clinchers, 257 grams each, (you can read our test here), with Vittoria butyl inner tubes, 105 grams each, for both combinations. Test period began in mid-January and ended on March 26, with first winter seasonal conditions which have been progressively migrated to the spring warmth. Distance traveled 1,525 kilometers, uphill climb 21,062 meters.

The weight of the Aero Race Season Wide makes them responsive from the first pedal stroke, their moment of inertia appears basically low. It is immediately perceived a very high lateral and torsional stiffness, thanks to the wide camber angle of the spokes, significantly above the average. All this leads to a strict driving precision and an excellent performance during acceleration and driveability, at the level of many high range competitors wheels, much more expensive.


Freehub after 1,525 km appears in perfect conditions

On the uphill, we are able to accelerate and change step quite easily, both in the saddle and on the pedals, without suffering power losses. In the plains and in the sections where a high-profile rim would be needed, these Aero Race Season Wide offer a good contribution, their inertial mass keeps cruising speed quite easily. The crosswind doesn’t influence them, except in very limited situations. In downhill, rim width allows to follow the desired trajectory without any snagging, and the 31 mm profile ensures the maintenance of high speeds with no requirements of continuous throwing back.

Merit marks about braking performance, both in the dry and wet conditions. Rim braking surface always showed reassuring decelerations, very sharp and precise, and the feeling is perceptually similar to those produced by a mechanical disk. Stopping distances are short, thus will increase safety margin. Lateral and torsional stiffness of this weheelset never cause unbalance under load.

The Race Season Wide Aero are not “Paris-Roubaix” oriented wheels, nor for rough offroad surfaces, because their structural stiffness doesn’t make them very plush. However, their great strength lets face easily dirt and compact off-road sections, as could be “Strade Bianche”, or “gravel” track although not overly technical. Mostly, however, depends on type and section of the clinchers you should want to use, the characteristics of which may broaden or narrow the application operating range of these wheels.

Clincher 700x23c, with inner tube
Mounted on these 24 mm wide rim, at a pressure of 7 bar our clinchers 23 mm were 25 mm wide, with a basically square shape and lowered shoulder. Perfect for making speed, with some limitations in bend lateral grip. A combination that we happily suggest for racing use and for the most experienced riders. It should however be said that a tubeless tire of the same section would be more suitable for these wheels, because it ensures greater adherence and roughness absorption in every situation, without sacrificing peak performance.

Clincher 700x25c, with inner tube
Inflated to 6 bar, our 25 mm clinchers resulted 27 mm wide, with a round shape that appeared to be similar to a tubular tyre. In our opinion, it is the most suitable combination for those who want to get high-level performance in any situation. Low rolling resistance, optimal grip, large roughness absorption, and aerodynamic benefit find their highest expression of balance with 25 mm clinchers, even better if in tubeless version.


HuntBikeWheels
30 Huffwood, Partridge Green, Sussex, UK. (RH13 8AU)
Tel. +44 (0)1403 711 813

Hunt_the_horizon


Article and pictures by Roberto Chiappa (Tech-Cycling)

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