bc original Loamer MK2 Long-Term Test – Wheel K...
Product manager Chris rode with the Loamer over Canadian trails for 2 weeks in September and put it through its paces.
Wheelset Tuning for Your Bike
Boost your bike's performance with a tuning wheelset. We'll show you how to find the right one.
The better is the enemy of the good. That applies to your bike as well. There's hardly any part with which you can tune your road bike, gravel bike, or mountain bike as easily and effectively as with a new wheelset. We’ll show you the benefits of wheelset tuning and what matters most.
Why wheelset tuning can noticeably improve your bike!
Depending on the application, the reasons for a new wheelset can vary greatly. The good news: Such aftermarket wheelsets, wheels not sourced from the original equipment manufacturer (usually the bike manufacturer, also referred to as OEM wheelset), are available for every conceivable need on the bike: Lighter or more robust, wider or narrower, more aerodynamic, easier rolling, more durable, more exclusive, colorful, as a high-quality carbon wheelset: Everything is possible.
New wheels unleash the tiger in your bike’s tank. © bc GmbH
What does system wheelset mean?
The term system wheelset comes from a time when individually and hand-built wheels were the norm – and pre-configured ones were the exception. That's long gone. However, the term still lingers in the cycling world today. Generally, wheelsets in which all components – hubs, rims, spokes, and nipples – come from the same manufacturer and form an integrated system are referred to as system wheelsets now. Often, system wheelsets are distinguished by proprietary solutions that may save weight or increase stiffness, but are not replaceable with standard parts if they fail. On the other hand, many aftermarket wheelsets, such as those from our own brand bc original, use standard parts that are easy to replace.
Either way, with a wheelset: Everything's ready, you just have to worry about selection and installation.
"System" wheels like the DT Swiss G1800 can be easily mounted, and you're ready to ride. © bc GmbH
The e*thirteen Sidekick wheels are a very special kind of wheel tuning. © bc GmbH
Wheelset tuning on a mountain bike
Modern mountain bikes mostly roll on 29-inch wheels, less often on Mullet (front: 29 inches, rear: 27.5 inches) or 27.5 inch wheels (also known as 650b). Tip: In our shop navigation, you can easily search by size. Typical reasons for wheelset tuning on a E-Mountainbike and Mountainbike include:
- Weight: The wheelset on a mountain bike is unsprung mass. The lighter the wheel, the better the suspension elements respond. Plus, lighter wheels are easier to accelerate because their rotating mass is smaller. This is especially true if weight is saved on the wheel's outer part, i.e., the rim. A popular way to reduce weight without decreasing stiffness is wheelsets with light carbon rims or particularly high-quality aluminum rims.
- Rim width and tire volume: Wheelsets with wide rims are trendy. They allow the mounting of wider tires or give the same width tires more volume compared to narrower rims. The increased volume translates into better damping, comfort, and control and permits lower tire pressures. Plus, the wider rims increase stiffness and stability. Attention: Be sure to check the tire clearance of the fork and frame beforehand! Read more about rim width here.
- Life span and durability: Dirt is always involved in mountain biking. Unfortunately, many OEM wheelsets leave much to be desired in terms of hub quality. A new wheelset with particularly high-quality hubs means less maintenance and longer durability. Read more about hubs here.
- Response and freewheel sound: Every freewheel, whether it's a ratchet or pawl system, has engagement points. The finer the teeth of the freewheel, the smaller the engagement angle and thus the free play your crank travels without drive when you, for example, use a pedal kick. Side effect: The finer teethed your freewheel, the more aggressively and at a higher frequency your hubs will sound when rolling. Some love it, some hate it. Either way, more about freewheels here.
- Stability: You're a big hitter, park rat, or weekend warrior? Your motto is “Work hard, play hard”? You're heavier than average and really give it your all? Then a freeride or downhill wheelset is just right: Stable rims, many spokes, and robust hubs will endure tens of thousands of meters of depth or jumping and are more valuable to you than low weight or fancy materials.
- Tubeless: If your bike's rims are not yet tubeless-ready, then a wheel upgrade is definitely worth it. Because tubeless is a real game-changer: less pressure, less rolling resistance, fewer flats. You can read here how this works with tires: Tubeless Tyre Conversion.
Anyone who frequently pushes the limits on an MTB will see wheels as a kind of wear-and-tear part. © bc GmbH
Wheelset tuning on a road bike
Nowadays, road bikes almost exclusively have 28-inch wheels, also known as 700c or 622. There can be many reasons for a tuning wheelset on a road bike as well:
- Weight: Reducing rotating mass is crucial for road bikes. If you often ride in the mountains, lighter wheels can be revolutionary by saving energy during acceleration. The steeper the terrain, the more critical is low weight. In addition to lighter carbon wheelsets, road bikes also commonly feature fewer spokes made of especially light material.
- Aerodynamics: From around 20 km/h, air resistance becomes the dominant force against you – and it increases exponentially with speed. Any effort to reduce air resistance makes you faster. An Aero wheelset is particularly effective. Higher rims with corresponding Aero profiles, narrow bladed spokes, hidden valves, and spoke nipples contribute to better aerodynamics. But beware: These measures often lead to increased weight and more susceptibility to crosswinds.
- Lifetime and Durability: If you ride on the roads during winter, not just on a trainer, a winter wheelset can be a great idea. Salt and constant wetness can significantly damage delicate high-end wheelsets. Lucky are those who own a robust training wheelset with indestructible aluminum rims and well-sealed hubs, saving their precious race wheels for the big day.
- Tubeless, Clincher, and Tubular: Tubeless is becoming increasingly popular for road bikes, similar to mountain bikes. The benefits include lower tire pressure, lower rolling resistance, and fewer flats. Not every OEM wheelset is tubeless-ready. A special feature on road (and cyclocross bikes) are so-called tubular tires (also known as Tubular). A unit consisting of tire and tube is glued onto a special rim. Thanks to modern and lightweight TPU tubes, traditional clincher setups continue to compete in road biking. Depending on which system you prefer, you should choose your wheelset accordingly.
"Zipp" doesn’t just sound fast – the wheels from this US brand also make the hearts of road cyclists race. © bc GmbH
Lighter hubs, better bearings: There are many reasons for better wheels. © bc GmbH
For his Flint, Kai chose wheels from DT Swiss. © bc GmbH
Wheel tuning on a gravel bike
Depending on how you define yourself as a gravel rider, many of the reasons above may already apply to you. The more you venture off-road and onto epic adventures with your gravel bike, the more you should look into mountain bike wheel tuning. This also applies to the growing number of e-gravel bike users. However, if you ride your gravel bike more like a racer, then road bike wheel tuning reasons are more relevant. Regarding wheel sizes, 28 inches dominates over 27.5 inches. If your gravel bike leans more towards a mountain bike feel, also look into 29-inch wheels, as their rim diameter is the same as 28-inch wheels. However, keep an eye on the axle dimensions!
Nevertheless, gravel bikes form their own category with unique reasons for wheel tuning:
- Versatility: Gravel bikes are true all-rounders. With a second set of wheels, you can further enhance this versatility. How about a fast road bike wheelset for the streets and a sturdy wheelset for off-road and bikepacking adventures? Then your gravel bike is truly a bike for (almost) everything.
- Everyday and Travel Suitability: If you use your gravel bike for commuting or long bikepacking trips or rides through the night, a wheelset with a hub dynamo might be just right for you. It allows you to power a fixed lighting system, GPS, head-unit, or smartphone while riding.
For her gravel dream build, Svenja also wanted premium Zipp wheels. © bc GmbH
Pay Attention to Compatibility
Before you hit the order button, please make sure to check the compatibility of your dream wheelset: wheel diameter, hub width, axle standard, as well as brake and cassette mounting standards must all match. Also consider the wider tire width that may come with wider rims and check the maximum tire width allowable for your bike.
If you’re getting new wheels, you should know the axle dimensions and freehub standard – and your brake rotors must also fit. © bc GmbH
Anyone who wants to build their own wheels has to make many decisions. © bc GmbH
Custom-built Wheels
If you've really got the bug and want to go a step further by combining the perfect hubs, spokes, rims, and nipples for your specific needs, check out our article series on custom wheel building:
If you want to dive deeper into the wheel game, you can, of course, build your dream wheel from individual parts yourself. We provide the ingredients! © bc GmbH
More about this topic
Bicycle inner tubes for road bikes or MTBs: Wha...
Bicycle tube or tubeless tyre? Butyl, TPU or latex? Find out which system is best for you and your bike here.
Hubs, Axles, Dimensions – State of the Art
Which thru axle is the right one for your hub? We give you an overview of the common dimensions of hubs and axles on MTB, road bike and gravel bike.
The Physics of Wheel Building
Perhaps you’re familiar with the basics, but do you want to learn more about the physics behind a wheel? Allow us to give you an in-depth explanation.
Wheel Building for Road Bikes: Finding the Perf...
Is it worth building a custom wheelset for a road bike when there are so many good system wheels available? Absolutely! Read on to learn more.
Your Custom Wheel with a Hub Dynamo
A hub dynamo provides power for lights and charging smartphones and GPS on the bike. We’ll show you what to look out for when building a dynamo wheel.
The Right Rim for Your Bike
Looking for a new rim for your bike? We’ll show you what to look for when choosing the right rim for your MTB, road bike or gravel bike.
Wheel Building 101: Basic rules for crafting a ...
The question: system wheelset or build your own wheel? We explain the basics for picking out rims, spokes and hubs.
Individual MTB Wheel Construction
Have you ever thought about building your own MTB wheelset? We’ll give you ten reasons to build your own custom wheelset.
Custom Wheel Building for Gravel Bikes
A gravel wheelset has to withstand a lot of hard use. Can't find the right one? Build it yourself! We’ve put together some tips to help you get started.
Wheelset FAQ
Are carbon wheels worth the money?
Yes. Carbon rim wheels are popular for mountain bikes, road bikes, and gravel bikes alike, making them an excellent upgrade option! However, you should always check for possible weight restrictions and manufacturer guidelines regarding their intended use.
What are the benefits of a lighter wheelset?
The lighter the wheelset, the lower the rotating mass. This allows the bike to accelerate more easily. On a mountain bike, it also reduces the unsprung mass, improving the responsiveness of the suspension components.
Can I make my bike faster with new wheels?
Yes! Whether it’s a mountain bike, road bike, or gravel bike, upgrading to a lighter or more aerodynamic wheelset is a great way to make your bike faster.
Which wheels are best for a gravel bike?
Depending on the intended use, gravel bikes can be equipped with fast and lightweight road bike wheels or strong and durable mountain bike wheels. A wheelset with a dynamo hub provides light and power for your smartphone and bike computer.
