Rim depth selection often forces a compromise between climbing weight and flat-road speed. The Reserve 42|49 Turbulent Aero Tune Pico SL Carbon Wheelset occupies the middle ground where neither priority dominates, pairing a 42mm front rim with a 49mm rear to deliver aerodynamic benefit without the weight penalty of deep-section hoops. At 1290 grams per pair, the wheelset remains light enough to dance up climbs yet carries sufficient sail area to maintain speed through valleys, crosswinds, and sprint finishes. This limited-production collaboration between Reserve and German hub manufacturer Tune targets riders who refuse to specialize.

Reserve developed the Turbulent Aero rim profile through real-world testing rather than pure wind tunnel optimization. Crosswind behavior on exposed roads, handling response during gusty descents, and steering predictability at speed all factored into the final shape alongside aerodynamic efficiency. The SL designation identifies Reserve's lightest rim construction, using advanced manufacturing techniques to shed 30 grams per wheel compared to the standard Turbulent Aero lineup. That 60-gram wheelset savings compounds with the lightweight Tune hub platform to keep total system weight competitive with dedicated climbing wheels while outperforming them aerodynamically on anything less than sustained mountain grades.

Tune machines the Pico hubs at their facility in Buggingen, Germany, specifically for Reserve rim dimensions. The drilling pattern matches the exact effective rim diameter and spoke hole offset of Reserve SL rims, allowing the straight-pull bladed carbon Vonoa spokes to travel directly between hub flange and nipple seat without bending or twisting along their length. This dedicated hub geometry creates a stiffer wheel structure with efficient load distribution across the spoke bed. On the road, the direct spoke path translates to responsive acceleration during attacks and planted cornering feel when laying power through sweeping bends.... Read More