Bespoke Blog

A new range of wheels from ENVE is always an event and the G-series, announced today, are particularly timely.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that the "G" stands for Gravel, and these lightweight carbon clinchers have been designed to complement any of the new breed of gravel/adventure bikes.

Landing in the UK next month, we're looking forward to getting a set of these on test for a full review. Meanwhile a quick look at our Build Gallery is testament to our faith in ENVE's design and manufacturing expertise - we sell a lot of their wheels.

There are two models in the G-series at launch. The G23 has, as the name implies, 23mm internal rim width and is 700c. The G27 is 27mm wide internal and 650b (27.5in).

Both are the lightest carbon clinchers that ENVE have ever made: just 320g for the G27 rim and 330g for the G23.

What's got us the most excited is the promise of pinch-flat resistance. These wheels have been designed from scratch for tubeless tyres, and the hookless rim is super strong without the need for excess material. With the lower pressure we run on tubeless tyres pinch flats can be all too common, but ENVE have put an awful lot of effort into combatting this, and it looks like the G wheels are going to be by far the most effective on the market.

The pinch flat protection will be particularly noticeable on the G27, since tyre manufacturers tend to spec thinner sidewalls on their 27.5 tyres in order to keep the weight down.

Whichever you go for the benefits of the added width and air volume will soon become visible. ENVE have been running pressures of around 25-35psi when riding off-road on the G23 with 40mm tyres, and 20-30psi with the G27 and a 2.0" tyre.

Combine this with tubeless and you've got more traction, better ride quality, improved cornering, less rolling resistance and of course fewer flat tyres. A pretty compelling case...

ENVE's Full Press Release:

June 1, 2018 - Ogden, Utah, USA - ENVE is pleased to announce the G Series, a product line focused on the needs of modern gravel racers and riders. The G Series debuts at the Dirty Kanza with two purpose built gravel wheelsets named the G23 (700c) and G27 (650b). The G Series wheels meet specific design objectives that represent ENVE's take on a purpose built gravel wheel. These objectives include lightweight for efficiency and speed, optimized rim widths for specific tyre volumes, tubeless construction, anti-flat technology, structural durability, and unprecedented ride quality.

Gravel is growing around the world and bicycle frame manufacturers are responding with new products that cater to the needs of gravel riders and racers. However, most high-end carbon and alloy wheel manufacturers are simply repurposing wheel models that were originally designed for road and mountain bike applications. While this is a solution, ENVE found that this practice leaves performance on the table and fails to deliver an improved ride experience. ENVE, as builders of the world's best road and mountain bike rims, realized that the perfect gravel wheel did not exist in the ENVE wheel line or the aftermarket, and responded accordingly through the development and introduction of the G Series.

According to ENVE, the G Series full-carbon tubeless clinchers are the lightest weight clincher rims the brand has ever brought to production. At 330 grams and 320 grams respectively, the G23 and G27 rims can be assembled into wheelsets that weigh less than 1300 grams.

ENVE's VP of Product and Consumer Experience Jake Pantone commented, "Given that gravel bikes are generally unsuspended or at best, lightly suspended, we aimed to develop a rim with more vertical compliance and energy absorption to deliver more comfort, confidence, impact toughness, and ultimately speed to the gravel ride experience." The G Series features a "bell" shaped rim profile that aids in weight saving and lets the rim respond dynamically to energy inputs from ground's surface allowing for a more smooth and efficient ride.

In terms of strength and durability, ENVE have been manufacturing the world's most durable mountainbike rims for over a decade and claim that the new G Series wheels are tested to a mountain wheel standard that is tailored to the demands of gravel. ENVE was clear to point out that while the G Series qualify at a level lower than the M Series wheels, the G Series test above many other brand's mountain bike wheels. As with all ENVE products, the G Series is backed by ENVE's 5-Year Warranty which covers impact damage.

Each G Series wheel model features ENVE's Wide Hookless Bead technology that was introduced in late 2017 when ENVE introduced their latest M Series. As the naming suggests, the Wide Hookless Beads are unconventionally wide at 4.5mm. According to ENVE, the purpose of this technology is to reduce the likelihood of pinch-flatting your tubeless tyre or cracking the rim. The technology accomplishes this task by working in parallel with the rim's shape and carbon laminate to absorb and dissipate impact energy thus protecting the tyre from pinch-flatting and the rim from cracking.

"The inspiration for the Wide Hookless Bead technology comes from sitting on the side of the road or trail fixing flat tyres. We understand intimately that nothing puts the damper on a fun ride like a flat tyre. In gravel, the problem is exacerbated given that tyre volumes and tyre pressures are lower than you have in mountain biking, but with gravel, the bikes have little to no suspension. The Wide Hookless Bead technology can eliminate pinch-flats and allows riders to run their perfect tyre pressure," stated ENVE Design Engineer Clint Child.

The G Series G23 is a 700c rim that features an internal rim width of 23mm and is optimized for tyres between 35 and 45mm. Rider's looking for maximum versatility, speed and efficiency will gravitatetowards the G23 paired with a 40mm tyre.

The G Series G27 is a 650b rim that features an internal rim width of 27mm and is optimized for tyres between 2.0 and 2.25 inches. Riders who frequent rough and loose terrain, primarily ride
dirt, and prioritize traction and stable control over flat out speed will gravitate towards the G27.