Velocite Gram SL wheels

Velocite's Gram SL wheels have the stated aim of being 'the stiffest, highest performance low profile 700c clincher wheels in the world.' Nothing like shooting for the stars, and these hoops are good all-rounders, with a low weight and a stiff build.

Like a number of wheels out there now, these Velocite wheels use a rim that's an alloy extruded section with a bonded carbon layer over the top. The carbon is structural, not decorative, allowing the alloy extrusion to be thinner; the rims weigh 400g each which is pretty light.

Twenty radial spokes are used to build the front wheel. At the rear there are 27: 9 on the non-drive side and 18 opposite. The 2:1 lacing is something that other manufacturers – Fulcrum, for example – also use, as it allows a more even tension over the wheel; normally the spokes behind the cassette, which have less of a dish, need to be much tighter. The non-drive spokes are heavier gauge to compensate for the fact that they have more work to do. All the spokes are flattened in section and straight-pull from the hubs, which are pretty minimal in design and house replaceable oversize bearings. The alloy freehub is available in 10- or 11-speed Shimano and 11-speed Campagnolo incarnations. You get decent quick release skewers and spare spokes, and rim tape is included too.

Velocite claim a weight of 1,390g for these wheels and ours weighed in at just 8g more than that, which is well within acceptable tolerances for a hand-built wheel. Sub-1,400g then, which is lighter then most clinchers, even with a spoke count that's fairly high for a racing wheelset: 16/20 front and rear spokes is more usual at this kind of weight.

Out on the road they felt very quick under acceleration, but they're also extremely stiff so they don't ever feel vague, or rub on the brake blocks under heavy load. They were true when they arrived and stayed that way over a few hundred miles of testing, with the bearings staying smooth despite some proper soakings. The alloy freehub showed a bit of notching when we pulled the cassette off at the end of the test period, but no more so than many other wheels we've tried.

Comfort-wise, it's hard to isolate what's down to the wheels and what comes from the frame, tyres, saddle, bars, bar tape, chamois, gloves... sometimes a pair of wheels can make a bike feel harsh, and lightweight wheels have a tendency to not be the stiffest. Neither was an issue here, the Gram SLs were responsive, stiff and comfort-wise, absolutely fine. The 25mm deep rims weren't a problem in crosswinds either, although equally you won't get a shove from them when the wind's blowing the right way.

All good news, then? Well, yes. They're very good. The only issue they face, and it's a major one, is that they're vying for your money with the highly-regarded Shimano Dura Ace C24, which has a similarly-constructed (and even lighter) rim, a very similar overall weight and broadly comparable performance.

I've used both wheels, I couldn't tell you which is better; it'd be a marginal decision. The C24s retail for £775, more than the Gram SLs, but you can have a pair for a lot less than that if you shop around: less than £600 at time of writing. You're unlikely to get as good a deal on the Velocite wheels, although if you do see them discounted then they're certainly worth looking at. If you're running a Campagnolo drivetrain then they're a good alternative to the Shimano/SRAM-only C24s, even at the full retail price.

Verdict

Stiff, light race wheels that perform well across the board. Good Shimano C24 alternative if you're running Campagnolo.