A wheelset is arguably the single biggest performance upgrade you can make to a bike you already love. Changing wheels is not just about weight saving; it's the stiffness-compliance balance and durability of the wheel too. With so many specifications and options out there though, it can be hard to choose a wheelset. We spoke to one of our technicians to see what to consider when choosing new wheels.
It goes without saying that discipline is the first factor in selecting your new wheelset. Gravel and road wheels are rightly different. However, there are a few things that are common to both that we wanted to cover before going into the specifics.
Steel vs ceramic bearings
Ceramic balls are harder and rounder than steel, which reduces friction and rolling resistance. In a nutshell, 9 times out of 10, ceramic bearings are better for performance bikes. However, the gain is marginal at typical club and group ride speeds, but it does grow more noticeable the faster and longer you're riding.
Our flagship tiers run ceramic for exactly this reason whereas our more accessible tiers use premium steel bearings instead. The choice between steel and ceramic is almost entirely a cost - performance trade off.
Ratchet vs pawl freehubs
Freehubs can be classed into two categories: Pawl and ratchet.
A pawl system uses a small number of individual spring-loaded teeth that catch on a ratchet ring.
A ratchet system uses two full circular rings of fine teeth pressed together.Because of the two rings, the ratchet system provides a higher number of engagement points around the wheel. In practice this means less "dead spin" between when you put power down and when the wheel actually responds - most noticeable when you want to accelerate quickly.
Both ratchet and pawl remain relevant and supported today, but ratchet is considered to have the edge in terms of performance and are the dominant force in terms of new wheels being produced. Our mechanics also find ratchet easier to service too.
Hook vs hookless
Hookless wheels have straight vertical rims - what this means is that, if you look at a cross session of the wheels you’ll find the sides are straight up. Hookless rims are usually tubeless only.
By contrast, the hooked wheels have a bead hook on the edges. Hooked wheels can be tubed and tubeless ready.
Why are hooked better?
- Stop the tyre popping out if over inflate
- You can ride a higher PSI if desired
- You have models that provide the option for tube or to go tubeless
Number of spokes and angle
Spokes add a small amount of weight to a wheel, so reducing the spoke count can save a few grams and slightly improve aerodynamics. However, fewer spokes also means each one carries a greater share of the load, making spoke count an important consideration for rider weight and intended use. As a general rule, heavier riders benefit from more spokes and allow the wheel to better withstand repeated impacts.
That said, modern carbon rims are significantly stiffer and stronger than those of a decade ago. As a result, today's wheels can often use fewer spokes while still providing excellent strength and reliability. A 24-spoke carbon wheel, for example, can often support rider weights that previously required 28 spokes.
Spoke angle also plays a role. A wider spoke bracing angle allows the spokes to better resist lateral loads, improving cornering stability and overall wheel stiffness. In practice, the spoke angle is only one part of the equation. Rim design, spoke count, spoke tension, and build quality all have a much greater influence on how a wheel performs.
For most riders, the quality of the overall wheel build is far more important than chasing a particular spoke count or spoke angle.
Rim brake vs disc
Disc brakes have taken over from rim brakes, but plenty of great road bikes on Australian roads still use rim brakes. We're moving away from producing new rim brake models to focus on disc, though some rim brake options are still available. If you can't find what you need, please get in touch - we may still be able to help.
Fork compatibility
Both our gravel and road wheelsets use a standard front and rear hub, making them compatible with our frames. However, this isn’t always the case for all brands so make sure you check this before purchasing a new wheelset.
Road
Depth and rim shape impact stability as well as aero
All other things equal, deeper rims are more aero. But that doesn't automatically mean faster once a crosswind is in play, and depth isn't the only reason shallow wheels suit certain riding.
Shallower wheels are lighter, so they suit riders who spend more time out of the saddle, climbing or accelerating hard. They also hold their line better in gusty conditions, since there's less sidewall for a crosswind to act on. Deeper wheels trade away some of that stability, in exchange for a bigger aero gain at more moderate wind angles (or yaw, to use the technical term).
Rim shape plays into this too: wavy rim profiles are specifically designed to improve stability in crosswinds and we do find that this helps.
It’s worth considering all of the above and applying it in the context of your regular riding before making your choice. If you’d like some advice, we’re here to help.
Internal and external width
The width of tyre you'd like to run is a key consideration when choosing a wheelset. For the best aerodynamic performance, the tyre should ideally be the same width as, or slightly narrower than, the wheel's external rim. If the tyre is significantly wider than the external rim, it creates a step (or ice cream cone look) between the tyre and the rim, which is less aerodynamic and less stable to ride.
The internal width determines how the tyre is supported, influencing its shape, handling, comfort and the tyre pressures you can run. A wider internal rim provides better sidewall support, allowing the tyre to maintain a more stable profile, even at lower pressures, and improving control.
Spoke angle and torsional stiffness
Drive-side spoke angle has a direct effect on power transfer under load. Our latest road generation increased drive-spoke angle by 28%, which measured out to a 15.7% increase in torsional stiffness over the previous generation - this is what you're feeling as "immediate" response out of the saddle, not just spoke material. The spoke angle and torsional impact do make a fairly sizable difference, particularly when accelerating.
Best fit by scenario
The below is a guide, and varies from one rider and bike to another, but we generally find:
- Racing / crits → Mega, Hyper 3 or Hyper 5
- Climbing-focused, looking for performance → Hyper 3 or Hyper 5 - 33
- Maximum aero, flatter courses → Hyper 3 or Hyper 5 - 65
- Budget-conscious entry into carbon → Lún Routte
-
All-round value option → UNAAS
These options above are suggestions and not a hard and fast rule. If you’d like a recommendation based on your specific circumstances, bike and goals, please get in touch and we’ll help you out.
Gravel
Internal width
Gravel wheels use wider internal rims because they're designed to support high-volume tyres running at much lower pressures. Without adequate rim support, a wide tyre can squirm or roll under hard cornering, reducing control.
A wider internal rim helps stabilise the tyre, allowing you to take advantage of lower pressures for greater comfort, grip and traction over rough terrain. It's one of the key reasons gravel wheelsets are designed around 40mm+ tyres rather than simply adapting road rims.
Impact resistance vs weight
Off-road impacts load a rim very differently to a pothole on tarmac - a road pothole usually creates a relatively broad impact as the tyre deforms into the hole. On gravel, you might hit a single sharp rock that concentrates a lot of force into a very small section of the rim.
The gravel layup prioritises impact resistance in the rim bed over outright weight, which is why a gravel wheel isn't simply a wider road wheel - the carbon layup is typically different, not just the mould.
Tubeless setup
Many gravel rims are designed around tubeless from the outset because the technology delivers its greatest benefits off-road. Lower tyre pressures improve comfort, grip, and control while reducing the risk of pinch flats. The lower operating pressures also allow sealant to seal punctures more effectively than it typically can at higher road pressures.
It’s worth noting that having the option of tube and tubeless is very useful, just in case you have an issue that the sealant doesn’t fix. If you do put a tyre into a wheel with sealant, be aware that if the sealant dries through the ride it will stick to the tyre. This can mean that the inner tube will be unusable once removed, so we often recommend leaving the tub in until you have a good reason to remove it (often another puncture).
Best fit by scenario:
- Long days, bikepacking, comfort priority → Lún Grapid
- Race-tuned gravel, pushing pace off-road → Lún Gryper
Time Trial / Triathlon
Road wheel design balances aero, weight, and stiffness whereas a TT wheel design is aero first.
Disc vs tri-spoke
A rear disc gives the largest aero advantage in a straight line but is more affected by strong crosswind gusts due to its solid surface area. A tri-spoke rear is a common middle ground - most of the aero benefit of a disc with more predictable handling in gusty conditions. Course and typical wind conditions on the day should drive this choice more than personal preference alone.
Where the gains actually come from
At TT speeds, the majority of a rider's aerodynamic drag comes from body position, not the wheels - wheel choice is a genuine but secondary gain on top of getting position right. Worth being upfront about this with anyone chasing wheels before they've had a proper fit.
Winspace Wheels
Manufacturing and testing - why the price is lower, not the standard
Toray carbon - we use Japanese Toray carbon fibre across the range, paying particular attention to the layup. Our R&D team was meticulous in their selections and it paid dividends in terms of performance. You’ll find different layups between road and gravel, but also within the road and gravel ranges too.
Filament winding - rather than sheet-moulded carbon throughout, filament winding places material only where load paths require it, saving weight without compromising on strength where it's needed.
Beyond-UCI testing - we have a wide variety of safety tests that we put out bikes and parts through. Wheels are no different. From a carbon xray to drop tests, we’ve invested in the latest and best technology to make sure our products live up to the name. ISO requirements are strictly followed, but we go beyond that and test to a level we feel comfortable with. As riders ourselves, it’s essential to us that our products are trusted in terms of performance and safety
Raced, not just marketed - the Winspace Women's Team races at the top level of the pro peloton on models from this exact range. They’re truly world class and have seen riders in the QOM jersey at La Vuelta as well as winning more races. This is just the beginning of what we want to achieve.
Our production - our production facility and Winspace Global HQ are in Xiamen, China, the heart of the carbon manufacturing issue. As we build almost all of our products in house, we do not have to manage third party or supplier markups, meaning we can pass more savings on to you.
Local support - we believe in the value of local support, which is why we have a dedicated team based in Sydney, and partner bike shops across the country. Help is never more than a phone call away.
