This Excel Sports built road wheelset was built for the cyclist who prefers handbuilt wheels, incredible ride quality, and the refinement and reliability of Chris King's R45 hubset. Matched here with HED's Belgium C2 23mm wide road clincher rim, the smooth, immediate reaction of the R45's is balanced with the stability, larger tire volume, and confidence inspiring ride HED's rims generate.

The wheelset consists of US-made anodized red R45 hubs, with a 28H front and 32H rear. The lacing is 2x up front, and 3x in the rear. That combination with the HED rims delivers a very smooth ride quality and great impact resilience. Those effects are enhanced by silver DT Revolution spokes, which are double-butted but with a 2.0mm end width down to a 1.5mm in the center, which gives the spokes a springiness despite their ability to hold high tension. A smooth ride, for sure, but light as well, as Revolution's are DT's lightest road spokes. With black alloy DT nipples, this is a lightweight assembly.

HED's Belgium C2 is also tubeless compatible with sealing tape and a tubeless valve. With today's lighter weight tubeless tires and a some sealant, you can build a fantastic full road set-up that rides like a dream, is completely serviceable with j-bend spokes and King's R45 hubs, and is a great wheelset for high mileage cyclists who weigh under 215 lbs. HED machines the welded rim for a reliable, perfectly aligned brake track. The 23mm wide rim has a 24mm profile that offers improved aerodynamics with 22-25mm tires, and can easily handle 32mm versions. The 455 gram aluminum rim has a maximum tire pressure rating of 100psi.

Chris King hubs have almost mythical reputation for a reason. Ultra precise machining, with a weight saving design, Portland-made King bearings featuring heat-treated, surgical grade steel races, and the 45 points of simultaneous positive freehub engagement R45 RingDrive system make it easy to mythologize these impeccable hubs. These are life-long hubs that can be completely rebuilt and serviced to as-new anytime you need to with Kin's R45 Hub Service Tool (and some specific technical knowledge).

Out DT-certified wheel building staff has been delivering handbuilt custom and stock wheels since 1988. This wheelset was built for a discerning cyclist who wants light weight, super smooth performance with full serviceability. If that speaks to you, now is the time to buy. If you have any questions about the wheels, hubs or build, please give us a call and one of our expert staff will talk you through this fantastic HED Belgium C2 Chris King R45 Wheelset.