Bontrager releases new Aeolus D3 carbon wheels
Brontrager has unveiled a revamped Aeolus D3 wheel lineup. The Waterloo, Wis.-based company has added its tubeless system, TLR, and disc-brake options to the aero wheel line that was introduced in 2011. With sealant between the tire and a rim strip, the tubeless system on a clincher wheel can “heal” punctures as large as 6.5 mm. Bontrager says the new Aeolus wheels are lighter than their predecessors, some by as much as 110 g. The new hoops feature a wider, 19.5 mm, rim profile, which increases tire support, ride comfort and control. The wider profile affects tire shape, making it more of a semicircle, less of a a light-bulb shape. The semicircle shape provides better traction and better management of the forces exerted by the wheel.
The D3 in the name speaks to the aerodynamic features of the wheels. It stands for “dual directional design,” which is a shape that’s said to do more than just cut wind at the front of the wheel. Bontrager says D3 does reduce drag at the front (the tire-leading side), but also the rear (the rim-leading side). The shape will make you faster and efficient, while giving you more control in crosswinds, especially at higher yaw angles.
The Aeolus D3 wheels are not just for those riding TTs or triathlons. Roadies on Trek Factory Racing use the hoops, as wells a cyclocrossers Sven Nys and Katie Compton.
New Brontrager Aeolus D3 wheels
| Wheel | Rim depth (mm) | Brake option | Claimed weight (front) | Claimed weight (rear) | Price (front) | Price (rear) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeolus 3 Disc D3 tubular | 30 | rim | 510 g | 640 g | $1,270 | $1,500 |
| Aeolus 3 TLR D3 clincher | 30 | rim | 604 g | 752 g | $1,500 | $1,800 |
| Aeolus 3 TLR Disc D3 clincher | 30 | disc | 668 g | 786 g | $1,500 | $1,800 |
| Aeolus 5 Disc D3 tubular | 50 | disc | 580 g | 715 g | $1,270 | $1,500 |
| Aeolus 5 TLR D3 clincher | 50 | rim | 650 g | 790 g | $1,500 | $1,800 |
| Aeolus 5 TLR Disc D3 clincher | 50 | disc | 722 g | 836 g | $1,500 | $1,800 |
| Aeolus 7 TLR D3 clincher | 70 | rim | 736 g | 872 g | $1,570 | $1,900 |
| Aeolus 9 TLR D3 clincher | 90 | rim | 840 g | 972 g | $1,570 | $1,900 |
The above wheels are made with OCLV carbon, the same process that goes into Trek bikes. They have stacked lacing, which provides a better spoke bracing angle for stiffer wheels. The outer width is 27 mm; inner, 19.5 mm. The hubs are by DT Swiss. Rear wheels are compatible with Shimano 10- and 11-speed, SRAM 10- and 11-speed and Campagnolo (with the freehub sold separately). None of the wheels have rider weight restrictions.
The Aeolus’ disc options come equipped with interchangeable axles to ensure the wheels fit on all types of disc road bikes.
