DT SWISS ERC 1400 – AN ENDURANCE RIDER’S WHEELSET
The DT Swiss ERC 1400 DICUT 45 is the endurance rider’s all-around wheelset.
While not a standout on any particular performance characteristic, it does everything my fellow testers Nate, Miles, and I look for from an endurance wheelset.
Riding the ERC 1400 on 50-mile group rides, I can confidently accelerate, climb, pull, corner, and comfortably roll along in the paceline.
Miles likes this DT Swiss wheelset’s ability to do almost anything on the road. While not the fastest wheelset in the kind of sprint, gap-closing, or long, hard efforts where Miles excels, it hangs in there against other all-arounders in the performance-carbon price range on his fast rides and races and performs notably better than value-carbon, mid-depth wheelsets he’s ridden in similar situations.
You can use clincher or tubeless tires on the ERC 1400’s rims that measure just a bit over 22mm wide between the bead hooks. Using 28mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR tubeless tires with sealant on these rims, Miles and I found the wheels most comfortable at inflation pressures 5 to 10 psi lower than suggested by calculators like the SRAM Tire Pressure Guide.
The rim designed in cooperation with their partner Swiss Side is straightforward – same front and rear wheel dimensions, not overly wide (28.5mm external), and with a standard V-U rim profile. Yet, the ERC 1400 remains reassuringly stable in side winds, as good as those using unique designs to keep you riding steadily on a windy day.
And while it doesn’t roll as fast as other, slightly deeper, and differently shaped all-arounders like the Zipp 454 NSW or ENVE SES 4.5 and isn’t as responsive as lighter, stiffer wheels in this category like the Cadex 50 Ultra or Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45, you do feel the power you put into the ERC 1400 driving through the wheels when accelerating and cornering.
Of course, the ERC 1400’s other components – the DT Swiss 240 Ratchet EXP 36 hubs and aero comp straight pull, bladed spokes – and the company’s reliability track record are all part of the package. The latest 240 freehub coasts a bit louder than its predecessor but isn’t as loud as the pleasing sound of a Chris King freehub or as noisy and annoying as those on lower-priced wheels we’ve tested from Hunt or Scribe.
If you are looking for wheels to race on, you might want more performance – snappier, better at holding your speed, lighter on climbs – than what the ERC 1400 offers. You’ll surely pay more for them.
At the other end of the range, if you are principally a recreational cruiser, you might want a more comfortable and forgiving wheelset. While you wouldn’t likely get the versatility and all-around performance of the ERC 1400, you could find that comfort at a lower price point.
But if you are an endurance rider, keeping up a good pace on half or all-day rides across a variety of road terrain, you’ll find it hard to beat the combination of things the ERC 1400 does well at the price it sells for.
You can order the DT Swiss ERC 1400 DICUT 45 for US$2400, £1800, €2325 at REI, Sigma Sports, and Amazon.
Note that DT Swiss makes an ERC 1100 DICUT 45 with a 180 hubset instead of the 240 used in the ERC 1400. It also sells 35mm deep versions of the ERC 1100 and ERC 1400 in 700c and 650b rim diameters.
You can compare our reviews and ratings of this wheelset against competitively performing models in my review of the Best All Around Carbon Disc Wheelset.
In The Know Cycling is ad-free, subscription-free, and reader-supported. If you want to help keep it rolling without any added cost to you, buy your gear and kit after clicking the store links on the site. When you do, we may earn an affiliate commission that will help me cover the expenses to create and publish our independent, comprehensive and comparative reviews. Thank you, Steve. Learn more.
Hi Steve,
Thank you very much for the very interesting, informative report. How do you judge the DT Swiss ERC 1400 compared to the Shimano Ultegra C50 you have recently tested?
Dan
Dan, The DT Swiss is a better performing, though more expensive wheelset. Steve
I see, the direct comparison is not quite fair due to the price difference. Accordingly, a comparison with the DA C50 would be better, but as far as I know, they are still not available in the US.
Steve, your comment below describes me. Do you have recommendation for a more comfortable and forgiving wheelset aimed at endurance on paved roads and stone dust bike paths? I’ve been looking for something lighter and better performing than the PR-2 wheels that came with my Defy Adv. 2. Comfort is a prime consideration with the upgrade with weight being next. Having the fastest wheels is not a goal of mine. Hooked rims are preferred. Thanks.
At the other end of the range, if you are principally a recreational cruiser, you might want a more comfortable and forgiving wheelset. While you wouldn’t likely get the versatility and all-around performance of the ERC 1400, you could find that comfort at a lower price point.
Jim, checkout the Shimano Ultegra wheelset in this review https://intheknowcycling.com/best-value-carbon-wheelset/. Steve
Hi Steve,
Really appreciated your reviews. They are indeed helpful. I am choosing between Cadex Ultra 50 and DT Swiss ERC 1100. The terrain I ride are in majority mountains with slopes 8%-12%, and I do enjoy long ride about 50 to 80 miles. I am also concerned about crosswind. Which would you recommend?
With best regards,
Matt
Matt, thanks for your kind feedback. You won’t get the best of what the Cadex Ultra 50 and DT Swiss ERC 1100 offer riding in mountains. Instead I’d suggest you consider a lighter and shallower wheelset that excels on that kind of terrain including those described in this review of climbing wheels https://intheknowcycling.com/best-climbing-wheels/ and the Roval reviewed in my most recent post https://intheknowcycling.com/roval-terra-clx-ii/. Steve
I see, thank you for the advice. I still would like to fit my propel with aero wheels, which one you would pick for climbing/uphill?
Hi Steve, thanks for the review, can I ask are there any other wheelsets around the £1,500 mark that you would consider snappier and faster than the 1400’s which are of similar quality? I don’t know if you’ve had any experience with the Roval C38’s, are the 1400’s faster? Many thanks! Den
Den, Most carbon wheelsets fall in to the performance-carbon category that are in the £2,000 and up price range or the value-carbon category that are £1,250 or less. I’ve reviewed a good number in the latter category (see here https://intheknowcycling.com/best-value-carbon-wheelset/) including the C38 which was one of the worst performers. Bottom line, I haven’t found any in the £1,500 or lower range that perform the way £2,000 and higher wheels do. I explain why in the same comparative review I referred you to earlier. Steve
Hey Steve, thank so much for the prompt reply! And in the xmas break, hope you’re having a good one.
I had read your piece on the C38’s and not realised. All other reviews i’ve seen have been quite positive but if that’s the experience you had than that’s all you can write about. Did you see the comment that asked about the spoke tension?
I understand that price brackets will mean some wheelsets just can’t outperform others.
As these two wheelsets can be found for roughly the same price at the moment, could I ask if you think one outperforms the other, one being the DT Swiss ERC 1400 45mm wheelset and the other being the ZIPP 303 Firecrest.
– Would you say one is faster than the other, more responsive and snappier?
– One has better build quality / components?
– One is more reliable?
I get the sense from your reviews that the ZIPP’s are responsive, with good power and although the DT Swiss’s are very reliable and good allrounders that they are a bit so, so. If i’m spending between £1,500 – £2,000 I do want the wheels to be fast for this price bracket.
I ride recreationally but do like to push myself. The longest rides I do are about 100km, totalling about 250km a week.
Any advise is hugely appreciated.
Many thanks,
Den
Den, between those two, the 303 Firecrest will be more responsive. They are similarly aero and both built well. Steve
Thank you Steve, you’d been very helpful. Have a brilliant new year. Den
Hello Steve.
It was a very useful article.
I would like to inquire
How do you judge the DT Swiss ERC 1400 45mm compared to the Reserve 40/45 wheels, you have recently tested?
– Would you say one is faster than the other, more responsive and snappier?
– Which has better build quality / components?
– which is more reliable in wind?
Thank you.
Laci
(I currently have a fulcrum racing 400 wheel (33mm deep). And I have a sport endurance bike.
I don’t know if it would be a step forward to get such a wheel., in terms of acceleration and so on. I ride a bike every month of the year, I like the speed, but I have no experience with the deeper 50-60mm deep rims (either) …wind. Hence the 45mm depth.)
Lazlo, based on your questions and comments, it might be worthwhile for you to step back a bit and look at the reasons for getting a new wheelset and the options from different types of wheels to meet your goals, riding profile and budget considerations. I’d suggest you review the article I wrote intended to help riders considering new wheels and then look at some of the comparative reviews based on your answers to the questions posed in the article. https://intheknowcycling.com/how-to-choose-bike-wheels/ Best, Steve