OGDEN, Utah (BRAIN) — ENVE has expanded its Smart ENVE System aero road wheel line to include two new disc-brake optimized wheel models, the SES 5.6 Disc and SES 7.8 Disc.
The wheels' aerodynamic features were developed with Simon Smart at the Mercedes AMG Petronas Wind-tunnel, with developmental testing done with wheels mounted in bike frames and forks. The lack of a rim braking surface meant ENVE could optimize the rim shape for aerodynamics and weight.
As with previous SES wheel models, the front and rear rim shapes vary. The front rims are wider and shallower to reduce the tradeoffs between drag reduction and cross wind stability. The back rims are deeper and narrower to maximize drag reduction.
The SES 5.6 Disc rims are 54mm and 63mm deep, front and rear. The SES 7.8 Disc rims are 71mm and 81mm.
Smart said, "With the first generation SES wheels, both the front and back rims have the same rim shape from front to back. By further manipulating the rim shapes to perform in their given air-flow fields, front of the bike vs. back of the bike, we can make wheels more efficient, stable, and responsive."
ENVE's VP of R&D, Scott Nielson, said, "Eliminating the design constraints of a braking surface allowed us to take a liberal approach to what is possible with rim shapes and structure. We tested several dozen shape concepts and found the best improvements we could make were subtle changes to the curvature of the sidewall through the brake track."
Eliminating the brake tracks allowed a 125-gram weight savings on the pair of SES 7.8 Disc rims.
The new wheels are available in tubular or tubeless compatible versions. They are now shipping to dealers. Retail pricing starts at $975 each for rims, with wheelset options with Chris King or DT hubs ranging from $2,900 to $3,200 per pair.
More information: PDF spec sheets are attached below. Or visit dealer.enve.com/presentations/ses-disc-brake.
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The ENVE SES 7.8 Disc clincher wheelset.
