Carbon gravel wheels typically ask riders to choose between aero depth and the wide tire clearance that gravel riding actually demands. Reserve designed the 40|44 GR to avoid that compromise, building a gravel-specific carbon wheelset with aerodynamic rim profiles wide enough to run tires from 30mm slicks to 50c adventure rubber without changing wheels. The Turbulent Aero rim shapes were validated using real-world wind data rather than idealized tunnel conditions, producing profiles that perform across the variable yaw angles gravel terrain creates — open roads, crosswind ridgelines, exposed passes — rather than the zero-degree airflow that produces clean wind tunnel numbers but rarely describes a day outside.

The mixed-depth profile assigns work to each wheel based on its position in the rider's airflow. Up front, the 40mm rim runs 27.4mm internal and 36mm external, creating a platform that keeps handling predictable in side gusts while supporting the broad tire contact patches that loose gravel and embedded rock demand. The rear runs 44mm deep at 27mm internal and 34.4mm external — tucked in the aerodynamic shadow of the rider's body, where depth translates to speed without the handling consequences that come with a deep front wheel in wind. A 2.7mm asymmetric offset in the rear rim compensates for driveside dish, pulling spoke tension toward equilibrium where modern freehub spacing would otherwise leave the drive side compressed and the non-drive side overtensioned. Semi-hooked rim beads support tubeless setup up to 80 psi and retain tube compatibility without restriction.

DT Swiss 350 hubs anchor both wheels. The updated 350 runs a 36-tooth star ratchet, providing 10 degrees of engagement — the same ratchet tooth count found in DT Swiss hubs further up the lineup. That engagement spec means power transfer that responds quickly when you push out of a technical switchback or surge through a rutted descent. Straight pull spokes lace 24 per wheel, eliminating the elbow fatigue point present in J-hook designs. Reserve reinforces each spoke hole with purpose-built carbon plies around the nipple bed, addressing the area of highest concentrated load without adding material elsewhere. Center Lock rotor mounts on both hubs accept rotors using a standard bottom bracket tool, and the wheelset is available with either XDR or HG-EV freehub options to cover both major drivetrain platforms.... Read More