{"id":33883,"date":"2022-02-24T08:49:14","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T07:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=665464"},"modified":"2022-02-24T08:30:47","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T07:30:47","slug":"hunts-new-32-aerodynamicist-wheels-have-hookless-rims-carbon-spokes-and-weigh-1213g","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/hunts-new-32-aerodynamicist-wheels-have-hookless-rims-carbon-spokes-and-weigh-1213g\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunt\u2019s new 32 Aerodynamicist wheels have hookless rims, carbon spokes and weigh 1,213g"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Stan Portus\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Hunt Bike Wheels has announced its new 32 Aerodynamicist disc-brake wheelset with hookless rims, carbon spokes and a claimed weight of 1,213g.<\/p>\n

Hunt describes the carbon fibre road wheels as \u201cthe first choice for big days in the mountains\u201d, claiming the wheelset offers the lowest possible rim weight for their strength and reliability.<\/p>\n

The 32mm-deep wheels carry the British-based brand\u2019s Aerodynamicist<\/a> label, meaning the rim shape is optimised for aerodynamic performance.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a hookless rim \u2013 a return to hookless for Hunt\u2019s carbon road wheels after four years \u2013 with a 21mm internal width, designed for 28mm tubeless tyres. The wheelset also features Hunt\u2019s new Sprint SLC hubs.<\/p>\n

Pricing starts at \u00a31,119 \/ $1,519 \/ \u20ac1,379. They will be available for pre-order with delivery expected to be in May.<\/p>\n

Hookless rims for reduced weight<\/h2>\n
\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hunt\u2019s latest Aerodynamicist wheelset has a 32mm-deep, 21mm-wide carbon rim.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Hunt first started development into hookless rims<\/a>, whereby the rim lacks the bead hooks that help retain conventional clincher tyres when inflated, in 2016.<\/p>\n

At the time, the brand says it saw weight savings of 10-15g per rim when compared to equivalent hooked rims, as well as smoother airflow between the tyre and the rim, apparently reducing the wake behind the rim.<\/p>\n

\u201cA hookless rim design enables us to save 18g per rim,\u201d says Hunt\u2019s development engineer, Chris Colenso, of the new 32 Aerodynamicist design.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis not only benefits overall weight but is located at the edge of the rim so results in reduced rotational mass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Hunt\"<\/picture><\/div>
The 32 Aerodynamicist has a 1,213g claimed weight but Hunt\u2019s press photos show a 561g weight for the front wheel.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Hunt\"<\/picture><\/div>
And 685g for the rear (for a 1,246g total).<\/span> <\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

Hunt says this has helped reduce the weight of the final rims to 374g and 377g for the front and rear rims respectively. (Incidentally, Hunt\u2019s press photos show a 561g weight for the complete front wheel and 685g for the rear, for a real-world total of 1,246g).<\/p>\n

Hookless rims also reduce waste in manufacturing, according to the brand, which is then passed onto the rider as a cost reduction.<\/p>\n

\""Hookless\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hookless rims (left) have no bead hook.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The rims on these new wheels have an internal width of 21mm and an external width of 25mm, which Hunt says is optimised for 25mm-28mm tubeless tyres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The truncated airfoil design and U-shape profile of the rim is also claimed to minimise drag, though there\u2019s no aero data in the press material and Hunt offers far deeper and, in turn, more aerodynamic wheels than this (including the existing 44mm and 54mm-deep options in the Aerodynamicist range).<\/p>\n

Tyre compatibility<\/h2>\n
\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hunt says the latest ETRTO guidelines have solved many of the compatibility issues surrounding hookless rims and tubeless road tyres.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Hookless rims have courted some controversy since the technology started to appear on the latest road bike wheels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Zipp, with the 404<\/a> and 303 Firecrest<\/a>, is among the brand to push hookless but others, including Campagnolo with its latest Bora Ultra WTO wheels<\/a>, have stuck steadfastly to hooked rims.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a subject we\u2019ve covered in detail before<\/a> but, in short, hookless road rims have been mired in compatibility issues and you need to make sure the tubeless tyres you\u2019re using are compatible with a hookless design.<\/p>\n

Hunt first used hookless rims on the 55 Carbon Wide Aero (in 2016-2017) and 30\/50 Carbon Aero Disc (in 2016-2018) wheels but, with tyre compatibility limited, reverted those designed to hooked rims.<\/p>\n

\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The new wheels may be part of Hunt\u2019s Aerodynamicist range but they are primarily designed for going uphill.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The company is confident about the future of hookless rims now, though, and hookless designs are making a return for Hunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cFast forward to the present day, there are far more suitable tyre options for riders wishing to use hookless wheels,\u201d according to Hunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, with newer ETRTO (European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation) guidelines, the variances between tyre and wheel manufacturers\u2019 \u2018tubeless standards\u2019 have been reduced, thus leading to a better-informed acceptance by some riders for running hookless on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Hunt says the Hunt 32 Aerodynamicist wheelset has a hookless rim profile that is \u201cfully compliant\u201d with those new ETRTO tubeless road guidelines, when used with hookless-compatible 25\/28mm+ tyres at a maximum pressure of no more than 72psi (5 bar).<\/p>\n

Serviceable carbon spokes<\/h2>\n
\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The wheels feature Hunt\u2019s UD Carbon spokes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Hunt 32 Aerodynamicist wheelset uses the company\u2019s UD Carbon spokes, which we first saw in 2019, and again on the Hunt UD Carbon Spoke Disc wheelset<\/a> in March 2020.<\/p>\n

Using carbon spokes achieves a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio, according to Hunt, resulting in either improved responsiveness for a given weight or reduced mass without adverse effects on ride quality or performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to the increased stiffness of a carbon spoke versus steel spoke, it is possible to engineer the right amount of lateral stiffness by reducing the spoke account accordingly,\u201d says Colenso.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, through using UD Carbon Spoke technology, it enables us to maintain lateral stiffness whilst reducing the system weight of the wheel and balancing the riding characteristics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hunt\u2019s TaperLock technology allows for the carbon spokes to be serviced.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Carbon spokes can raise concerns when it comes to maintenance, though. Carbon spokes are often bonded to the hub and rim, creating a single unit and making it difficult to true or repair a wheel compared to a steel spoke design.<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s TaperLock spoke technology is said to get around this problem, providing fully serviceable and tuneable carbon-spoked wheels.<\/p>\n

The carbon spokes have a steel mandrel which is placed on the top of the spoke in the carbon bonding process.<\/p>\n

When the wheel is assembled, you can then access an internal nipple threaded onto the mandrel to tension the spoke.<\/p>\n

The result, Hunt says, is an improved lifespan for the wheelset but the company is also exploring the possibility of a steel-spoked version of the 32 Aerodynamicist.<\/p>\n

New Sprint SLC hubs<\/h2>\n
\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Sprint SLC hubs are new, too.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Hunt\u2019s new Sprint SLC hubs sit at the centre of the 32 Aerodynamicist wheelset.<\/p>\n

The rear freehub<\/a> is said to offer a 7.5-degree angle of engagement for enhanced power transfer.<\/p>\n

Hunt also says it has chosen to use a leaf and pawl freehub rather than a ratchet system as this apparently offers improved engagement while avoiding any adverse impact on the reliability of the system.<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s global brand manager, Ollie Gray, says that while ease of maintenance is often cited as a benefit of ratchet systems, Hunt\u2019s hubs are easy to take apart and service, even for \u201cthe most inexperienced of home mechanics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Hunt\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The CNC-machined hubs are made from cold-forged aluminium and have a 7.5-degree angle of engagement.<\/span><\/figcaption> Hunt Bike Wheels<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cThe issues around ratchet reliability, once you go down to smaller angles of engagement, are prohibitive at the moment,\u201d adds Gray.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut technology is always evolving and improving, so I think it\u2019s important to keep an open mind. If the right option for riders in the future looks like a ratchet system, then we\u2019ll use it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hub shell is made from CNC-machined, cold-forged aluminium, said to save weight without compromising durability.<\/p>\n

This means the new hubs have dropped in weight compared to the brand\u2019s previous Sprint hubs, with a claimed weight of 95g for the front hub and 220g for the rear hub.<\/p>\n

Hunt Wheels says we can expect to see the Sprint SLC hubs rolled out across its range in the coming months.<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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