This week Enve added a new set of “mid-priced” carbon gravel wheels dubbed AG for Adventure/Gravel. The new wheelset weighs a reported 1480g with the Enve Foundation CL hubs or 1528g with Industry Nine hubs. They’re priced at $1,600 for the set ($2999 AUD, $2300 CAD, £1850, and €1800), and will be made in the USA.
Aside from the price, the new wheels are notable on a few fronts. For starters, Enve chose a wide, 28mm internal width for the 650b rims (27.5″) that can take 47-57mm tires, and a 25mm internal width for the 700c (29er) rim that’s rated for 36-50mm wide tires. As a point of comparison, just two years ago Matt wrote that rim widths for trail bikes were generally 23-27mm wide, and were recommended for 2.25-2.5″ tires. Enve notes in their press release that today’s gravel riders are “opting for tire sizes upwards of 50x700c,” which is just under two inches wide, and the brand recommends tires at least 45mm and 32mm for the 650b and 700c wheels, respectively.
The Enve AG wheels feature 28 external nipples each, unlike the brand’s existing gravel wheels that all use their internal nipple design. The brand notes the latest wheels are “built for reliability and serviceability. Because carbon fiber gets its strength from continuous fibers, ENVE routes the fibers around the hole without cutting them which increases the strength of each spoke hole. This technique pays large dividends in the final product by creating a lighter and stronger rim.”
Finally, as we’ve seen with many carbon wheel releases this year, the new Enve AG wheels utilize a wide hookless bead edge to reduce pinch flats.
It appears the wheels are only offered with Center Lock hubs at the moment. For more information or to purchase visit enve.com.
