If you ride disc brakes on or race on pavement, gravel, or charge into the ego crushing courses of the cyclocross world, a high performance carbon clincher wheelset should be on your wish list. Throw in tubeless capability and a wide rim structure and now you're talking. Certainly road disc enthusiasts who require allroad versatility should be paying attention by now. At under $1600, the Reynolds Assault Carbon Clincher Disc TL Wheelset should move quickly to the top of your list. The 41mm Assault SLG rim profile is perfect for moderate aero performance, rapid acceleration, and anything involving mud or sand. Sounds interesting, right? Add in thru-axle end caps standard (12, 15mm front, 12mm rear), with the option to purchase 100/135 QR end caps as well, and "versatile" seems almost too limiting.

The speed and performance of the Assault Carbon Clincher Disc TL design is well known. By developing a disc brake version, the rim becomes disc specific, you, know- with no brake track making it lighter stronger, etc. The 25mm wide, 439 gram Assault rim features quality workmanship and construction in a sub-1600 gram 41mm section disc wheelset. Lighter, stiffer, and faster than previous versions of the rim, aerodynamics have been improved through Computational Fluid Dynamics with the development of the Enhanced SLG, or Swirl Lip Generator. This is essentially a groove on both sides of the rim profile that drastically improves air flow, reduces drag, and assists in wheel stability. To build the Assault rim Reynolds sources aerospace-quality carbon fiber from Japan, developed specifically to Reynolds specifications. The engineers employ their PR3 methodology, precisely assigning different carbon fiber lay-ups to three distinct regions of the rim. Each lay-up (fiber, resin, and epoxy) is optimized for the specific requirements of that area. For example, the strength requirement of the rim hook tubeless bead is much different from the rim shell profile, but inner wall has its own standards for supporting high tension spokes. As such, these areas have different construction. Reynolds considerable experience in cycling and working with carbon composites informs these decisions.

The Assault SLG disc rim has a 17mm internal width rim channel that is tubeless ready (with tape). This allows the flexibility to run a tubeless clincher or a regular clincher tire with an inner tube. The versatility is also attributed to the 25mm rim width and 41mm section profile. Paired with a 23-25mm tire, the footprint is larger for exceptional grip and handling. Stability comes from the combination of the mid-section profile and the increased width. You won't be buffeted by cross winds, nor get tentative on rough roads or in off-camber corners. The Assault SLG accelerates immediately, and the aerodynamics help you hold speed when in the wind, or when drafting. The lateral stiffness will impress you, and the vertical compliance will surprise you. For gravel and cyclocross riders this compliance is not just a benefit, but a requirement even with tires up to 35mm... Read More