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Product Test: Shimano Ultegra C36 - An everyday aero wheelset for modern road bikes
Jonas tested the Shimano Ultegra C36 carbon wheelset on his Specialized Tarmac at the training camp in Mallorca. Here are his impressions.
With the Ultegra C36 wheelset, cycling giant Shimano adheres to the tried-and-tested trickle-down principle: innovations from the costlier Dura-Ace line at the lower Ultegra price. Does that necessarily indicate, however, that compromises have been made in terms of performance? To answer this question, I put the new wheelset to the test on my Specialized Tarmac.
One thing up front: my riding style is "turbo diesel" – lots of punch and long distances with a certain start-up period. That's why my aero wheelsets have to be lightweight. Otherwise it's just no fun riding through the mountains, where I happened to test the Ultegra C36 wheels: namely, at the training camp in Mallorca. Nine days and 1,100 kilometres later, I encountered no problems or defects, and left with several good impressions. By the way, "C" stands for "carbon", "36" for the rim depth in millimetres. Kudos, Shimano, for the clear designation.
The Shimano Ultegra C36 wheelset is a lightweight, aerodynamically optimised all-rounder for road bikes.
Jonas, Category Manager at bc, tested the wheelset extensively at the training camp on Mallorca.
He describes his riding impressions and gives an overview of the C36's features.
Key Data on the Wheelset:
- High-performing all-rounder
- Weight: 1,488 g (set, front wheel 12x100 + rear wheel 12x142, manufacturer's specification)
- Tubeless-compatible
- For eleven- and twelve-speed drivetrains
- 21 mm-wide (jaw width) carbon rim: recommended tyre size 25-622 to 32-622
- 36 mm rim depth, aerodynamic profile
- E-Thru thru-axle
- 24 straight pull spokes each, rear wheel with 2:1 spoking for more uniform spoke tension
- for disc brakes with center lock mount
- all other details under the product description in our shop
Highlight Features: Thanks to the 36 mm rim depth, the C36 remains stable and predictable even in windy weather on Mallorca.
The E-Thru thru-axles allow you to easily and quickly install and remove the wheels.
For the rear wheel, Shimano uses 2:1 spoking for even spoke tension. Another plus: unlike the Dura-Ace wheels, the Ultegra wheels are 11- and 12-speed compatible.
Moderate aero wheelset: "Conspicuously inconspicuous" in the wind
Like many Shimano products I have come across over the years, the Ultegra C36 wheels are strikingly inconspicuous. I mean that of course in the best possible way! Good products allow me to fully concentrate on riding and not think so much about the technical aspects of my components. This case is no exception. With a rim depth of 36 millimetres, the wheelset is in the moderate aero range and enables absolutely stable riding and offers reliable performance in crosswinds. (There were indeed a few windy days between the Mediterranean and Massanella.)
Wide tubeless tyres on road bikes: An eye-opener
I have to confess that I considered myself a "typical" road cyclist until now. Lots of pressure helps a lot is my philosophy, and also helps to prevent breakdowns. After riding the Ultegra C36 tubeless for the first time ever, I am completely changed. I was able to ride the 30 millimetre-wide Grand Prix 5000 S tubeless ready tyres from Continental on the rear wheel with only 3.8 bars of pressure. Route MA12 between Felantix and Manacor has finally managed to impress me. Also, despite (or because of) the low pressure, it just rolls well. The extra comfort feels almost odd at first – it’s strange to no longer feel every bump reverberating through your spinal cord. You might think you’re going slow at first, but you’re actually riding at pretty fast clip! If I’m able to rave about the grip of the wheel-tyre combination even on slippery Mallorcan roads in spring, that's seriously a great sign! Due to the wide rim, the tyre sits securely on the wheel even at low pressure.
"A lot of pressure helps a lot" is a thing of the past. Thanks to the C36’s tubeless system, the tyre pressure can be significantly reduced.
The 3.5 bar tyre pressure rolls superbly and increases comfort on bumpy roads.
A stiff yet lightweight wheelset
I had the opportunity to ride the big Dura-Ace sister at the product presentation, and I can say that the stiffness of the Ultegra version is in no way inferior to the high-end model. With a body weight of 84 kilograms, this is an important factor for an all-round wheelset that is still lightweight, if not ultra-light, at under 1,500 grams. The Ultegra C36 wheels are thus also light enough for interval training on winding Mallorcan roads. I could accelerate on the bike quite well with them. The wheels were only somewhat lacking in terms of agility, especially in combination with the wide, stable and puncture-proof tyres. As a road cyclist, I’m always on the lookout for less weight without sacrificing stiffness and durability. For that, however, there’s always the Dura-Ace with its 1,350 grams!
Conclusion: Shimano = a long-term, worry-free investment
The sealed conical bearings run absolutely smoothly and are even superior to commercially-available cartridge bearings in terms of load capacity because they distribute transverse forces more evenly. The wheelset is impressively stable and also very tame in crosswinds. Thanks to the E-Thru thru-axle, mounting and dismounting them on a road bike is quick and easy work. The weight is fair, as is the price. This is simply Shimano at its best. The Ultegra C36 is not the lightest or the fastest wheelset in the world, but a light and fast "fit and forget" solution for people who rack up a lot of kilometres and have one less thing to worry about in the future: that the wheel might cause any problems.
PS: You should really try tubeless!
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