RESERVE 52|63 – FAST ON FLATS, EASY ON YOUR WALLET
The Reserve 52|63 aero wheelset has a clear priority – go fast on flat terrain.
It’s also a great comparative value at US$1600, £1600, and €1800 when built with the DT Swiss 350 hubset that came in the wheelset Miles and I tested. You can get the Reserve 52|63 with DT Swiss 180 or 240 hubs for considerably more, though it’s hard to see why you’d want to do that if you’re looking for a dedicated aero wheelset to economically add to your quiver.
Yes, it performs on par with the average aero wheelset in other characteristics. But when it’s raw speed you’re looking for on a flat ride or crit race, the Reserve 52|62 really shows up.
That’s what Miles found when he rode this wheelset on his Propel in a straight line, going down rollers, and through corners. He could start a descent at the back of a group, not even pedal, and float by everyone ahead of him, even grabbing the brakes along the way.
I rode the 52|63 on the new Trek Madone Generation 8 light aero bike, replacing the similarly priced Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 stock wheels. The increased speed with the Reserves was immediately and consistently noticeable whenever I rode on flatter terrain.
Those of us who are traditional cycling nerds might look at the 52mm front wheel depth (actually 52.5mm, per my calipers) and wonder how this wheelset can carry its momentum better than those that are 60mm or deeper.
Nerds trying to learn new tricks or into tech marketing mumbo jumbo might look at how much wider these wheels are than other aero wheelsets and whether that explains where some of the Reserve’s added speed comes from. The front rim measures nearly 26mm between its hooked beads and 35mm at its widest externally.
Despite or because of the different rim dimensions and profiles between the front and back wheels, together they are stable on windy days, cutting through breezes and gusts as well as shallower wheels though not as well as the best, deeper aero wheels.
The same goes for the Reserve 52|63’s compliance, at least with the 28mm benchmark Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR we use to remove one variable from our wheelset comparisons.
Given the Reserve 52|63’s internal and external widths, riding them with 30mm or even 32mm wide tires and at lower pressure would likely make them even faster and more comfortable, with fewer road vibration rolling resistance losses and without giving up much aero performance of the rim-tire interface and width ratio.
It would also calm ETRTO safety adherents.
Note that these rim and tire widths might make the Reserve 52|63 a hard wheelset to fit into some aero and racing bikes more than a few years old.
The Reserve 52|63 is quite stiff side to side and handles well in corners for an aero wheelset. Yet it isn’t as responsive as the narrower and lighter wheelsets in this aero category. We held our speed well enough to stick with groups going up smaller rollers but on longer climbs, it’s more of an average wheelset.
It’s important to remember what aero wheels are focused on and not ask them to be an all-around, more versatile one. This Reserve’s greatest strength is pure speed on flats and getting that speed at a good value.
If you’re a big power rider, a long-distance time trailer or triathlete, or an enthusiast who just likes to ride fast on the flatter terrain where you ride, the Reserve 52|63 is a wheelset that will suit you and your wallet well.
You can order them from BTD (BikeTiresDirect) and Sigma Sports.
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Check out my review of The Best Aero Bike Wheels to compare this wheelset with our reviews and ratings of competitively performing models.
I’m sorry, but this review is disappointing. Generally I find the ITK cycling reviews better than most in terms of detail, objectivity and focussing on the things that really matter, but statements suggesting that just due to a wheelset, a bike can be transformed into something that ‘floats’ past everything else, and is faster even when braking compared to other aero wheelsets are just silly. Endless aero testing has shown that the difference between the best and worst performing aero wheelsets is in the (very low) single figure watt range, so let’s not pretend that by some sort of unique alchemy, a set of wheels can suddenly hand you hitherto undiscovered aerodynamic advantages. I’d be quite happy to believe that Miles shot past everyone else on a descent due to benefits of drafting / adopting an aero tuck / sitting on his top tube or wearing a bunch of aero clothing, but that’s not what the article suggests, and I’d respectfully suggest that instead attributing this ‘free speed’ to a set of hoops isn’t entirely honest. By all means say they’re a fast feeling wheelset, but let’s not get carried away eh?
David, thanks for your feedback. Miles is Cat 1 racer and podiums in his age group at USA road nats so I value his input. I did ask him to confirm his comparative evaluations and comments about his experience before writing up the review. He undoubtedly does some of the things you mention and perhaps others don’t do them as well but both he and I (not a Cat anything racer) noticed a marked difference between this wheelset and other aero wheelsets’ ability to hold their momentum when riding at high speeds. That’s the key takeaway. Steve
I have these wheels with dt swiss 240 exp with ceramic speed bearings and a 54t ratchet and they are super fast on rolling hills and climbing too. I love these wheels they are the fastest aero wheels I have tried.