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Worth: £999 / €1199 / $1199
Weight: 1419g claimed, 1434g measured
Hookless: No
Depth: 60.91mm
Width: 21mm int, 29.07mm ext
The Scribe Core SL 60 wheelset represents the model’s funds providing in relation to its elite vary of wheelsets, together with the Core SL, SL rim brake, and Élan SL fashions.
Coming in at underneath £1,000 for the standard wheelset, the Core SL are available in at a worth that pits them towards extra value-friendly carbon wheelsets, for these desirous to search for excessive efficiency on a funds in comparison with the extra high-end choices.
Impressively although, from our personal impartial wind tunnel testing, we discovered the Core SL 60 to be probably the greatest performers when it got here to aerodynamics in addition to having a aggressive weight when pitted towards £3000+ tremendous wheels.
Add to that an uneven spoke lacing designed to stability the wheels primarily based on the forces they expertise, and the wheels are sturdy performers out on the highway too. Customisation on the level of buy and an array of buyer help and care advantages make these a really attractive wheelset not only for these on a funds, however for anybody in search of a higher-performance wheelset full cease.
Design and specs
The inspiration of the Scribe Core SL wheels are the edges. These are made up from T1000 carbon fibre, which is thought to be one of many highest high quality types of carbon fibre to make use of in sports activities tools. T1000 is actually higher-modulus than T800, additionally utilized in biking parts.
Greater modulus resists deformation underneath load higher than a decrease modulus providing, making it very stiff. The thought is that for a similar weight of T800, T1000 is stronger, or for a similar power as T800, T1000 is lighter.
This rim can also be properly updated, albeit not progressive, when it comes to its dimensions, with a 21mm inside width and 29mm exterior. A particular SL+ choice is out there with 24mm inside and 32mm exterior for even wider tyre optimisation.
The thought behind the 29mm exterior width was to accommodate tyres between 25-28mm, essentially the most generally utilized in highway racing over the previous few years, as tubeless and wider tyres have turn into commonplace.
Scribe designed the edges utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing to make sure that their efficiency was preferrred throughout the vary of speeds and wind angles mostly encountered throughout highway biking.
The model supplies some testing knowledge evaluating the Scribe Core SL 50 wheels to Roval Rapide 50mm and located that in any respect wind angles, the Core SL had been sooner from 0-12 levels yaw. Nonetheless, no testing velocity is given, neither is an actual watt determine for financial savings.
With that mentioned, we did check these within the wind tunnel ourselves, as linked above, and can share a few of that knowledge later within the evaluate.
One other space of those wheels that shares the identical design because the model’s larger vary Elan SL wheels is the hub. Scribe have adopted most wheel manufacturers in implementing a ratchet drive system into their hubs after the patent on the DT Swiss Star Ratchet expired.
This makes use of fewer elements than conventional hub pawls, which means longevity ought to be larger and upkeep decrease. Mainly, two ratchets are pushed collectively by springs, so when freewheeling, they glide over one another, however when pedalling, they interact and create a big contact level.
Two choices can be found for the wheels, with a 36-tooth engagement or a faster-engaging 54-tooth choice. This fractionally modifications the levels required to pedal earlier than the ratchet engages, from 10˚ down to six.6˚. The achieve right here is extra instant acceleration, however it could actually result in barely larger friction when coasting and smaller enamel are barely weaker and probably much less sturdy.
Hub choices embody Shimano highway, SRAM XDR, and Campagnolo 9-12 velocity. Axles will also be customised for 12mm highway through axles, fast launch, or 15mm entrance axles to swimsuit most highway bikes.
The freehubs additionally characteristic two chrome steel plates throughout the size of two of the splines to forestall the cassette biting into the freehub physique – a small however neat addition which ought to support sturdiness.
Bearings within the hub are the model’s TPI chrome steel endurance bearings. They use contact seals externally to forestall water ingress and enhance longevity, and non-contact seals internally to scale back friction. Race and Ceramic bearing choices can be found and use non-contact seals to optimise rolling resistance on the expense of longevity and require extra upkeep.
The ultimate a part of the wheels, and the part that units them other than the Elan SL, are the spokes. The Elan makes use of carbon-bladed aero spokes, whereas the Core SL makes use of Sapim CX Ray aero spokes at a slight weight penalty and potential stiffness penalty as effectively.
The spoke lacing, nevertheless, is identical between the wheelsets and makes use of a 2:1 ratio of 21 spokes entrance with three-cross lacing on the rotor facet and radial lacing on the non-rotor facet.
The rear additionally makes use of a 2:1 ratio however 24 spokes with one-cross non-driveside and three-cross driveside. The thought of the uneven spokes is to do with the place forces are utilized to the wheels. Throughout braking, the rotor facet experiences extra power, which applies in a twisting style. The cross-laced sample and larger spoke rely goal to offset this power and make the wheel react in a extra symmetrical manner, with the non-rotor facet having fewer spokes.
This is identical on the rear, however then the drive-side experiences larger forces once more when accelerating and placing out energy. This is the reason the rear wheel has a larger spoke rely in addition to cross-lacing on each side.
Efficiency
At the beginning, as with all set of wheels, is the query of how simple they’re to arrange. Tubeless has typically been a bane of the setup course of for some customers, however the Scribe Core SL 60 performs effectively on this regard.
I’ve examined numerous wheels and tyres just lately, and to try to hold issues as goal as attainable, I’ve used Pirelli’s P Zero Race TLR RS 28mm tyres with all these wheels. Becoming the tyres to the Scribes was fairly simple, no overly excessive ranges of effort required to suit the tyres, whereas a observe pump and a eliminated valve core was lots to get the tyres seated and able to journey.
Disc rotors and cassette had been equally simple to suit, and the tyres measured at 28.72mm large.
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Setting off on the wheels, there are some things which might be noticeable immediately. Firstly, 60mm wheels can catch the wind, and secondly, these are an extremely vigorous set of wheels.
That is probably down to 2 key components: the comparatively low weight for a wheelset this deep and the way in which that the spokes are laced.
Each wheels use a 2:1 ratio, which means there are extra spokes on the perimeters the place forces are larger. For the entrance wheel, that is on the rotor facet, whereas on the rear wheel, that is on the driveside.
The mix of a number of cross lacing, uneven spoke rely, and straight pull spokes seems to have labored brilliantly to create a set of wheels that’s splendidly balanced throughout the board and the way they reply to acceleration, braking and cornering forces.
For instance, the Core 60s stand up to hurry from a standing begin superbly effectively, whereas braking abruptly can also be reactive and predictable.
I’ve encountered some circumstances the place the pursuit of aero and lowering spoke rely on the entrance has led to a wheel feeling disconnected throughout heavy braking and cornering, which ruins confidence within the wheels. However right here, cornering is one other space the place the Core 60 carry out brilliantly. I have been back-to-back testing these towards different wheels, utilizing the identical tyres on the similar strain to try to standardise these perceptions, and there is zero disconnect right here.
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One other advantage of this stiffness and low weight is that the wheels don’t really feel cumbersome on steeper inclines. For essentially the most half, when climbing, until it’s steeper than 10% gradients, weight doesn’t have a big impact, particularly not a few hundred grams whereas using at a constant tempo. The place issues change are throughout accelerations, particularly on steeper inclines.
Once more, the Scribe wheels had been no slouch right here, and though not as quick to spin up as some extra featherweight alternate options, these alternate options are both greater than double the value for a similar depth or considerably shallower wheelsets.
That’s the spectacular factor with these wheels, they’re 60mm deep however don’t really feel that manner when climbing. The place the Scribes do really feel like a 60mm set of wheels is on the flat. I used to be barely shocked by simply how effectively they maintain velocity, no matter which route the wind was coming from.
Cruising round at 35kph was fairly relaxed, and in a couple of situations, I might stand up to 60-70kph on comparatively quick downhills the place I wouldn’t usually count on to.
Clearly this says little or no scientific knowledge about how aero the wheels are, however solely backs up the info from their wind tunnel efficiency after we examined them as half of a big group check.
In that check, we discovered that usually the dearer a wheelset, the higher it carried out within the wind tunnel, with one exception, the Scribe Core SL 60.
They had been sixth quickest at 30kph, fifth at 40kph, and 4th at 50kph, surrounded by wheels throughout £2k and typically much more than £3k. At their worst, they had been lower than 2w slower than the top-performing wheel, which at 50kph is negligible.
Admittedly, the variations weren’t big between wheelsets, however the Scribes had been additionally a number of the lighter 60mm wheelsets, and simply essentially the most reasonably priced. I doubt that, when cruising at velocity, these would really feel any completely different to the best-performing wheelset, but it surely’s good to see quantifiable knowledge to substantiate my perceptions.
There’s one space the place these wheels arguably aren’t one of the best, and that’s crosswinds. It’s price allowing for that at a sure stage of wind, any 60mm entrance wheel goes to really feel much less planted than a shallower set. Gusts of wind did catch the Scribes, however they did react in a predictable method, and weren’t bashed round by the wind in a way that may trigger concern.
I’m 190cm and 75kg, although, so lighter riders might need to go for a shallower entrance, one thing that Scribe does provide with a 50/60 mixture.
One small gripe I’ve with these wheels is that they are solely obtainable in a matte end. With the gloss logos, they give the impression of being good, however the matte end reveals sealant stains and fingerprints from becoming the tyres, in order that they’re onerous to maintain clear. I personally favor a gloss end, however that is private choice and nitpicking.
Different parts that I actually recognize however didn’t precisely have the time to check, had been issues extra focussed on sturdiness. The freehub physique options two metal inserts onto the machined aluminium, that is designed to cease the cassette biting into the freehub and inflicting harm over time.
Contact-sealed bearings are used externally to scale back the possibility of water or grime ingress, whereas non-contact bearings are used internally to scale back rolling resistance.
This may be modified both for non-contact race bea,rings or ceramic ones, once more to scale back rolling resistance however at a price of sturdiness. Lastly the brand new ratchet system is out there in numerous tooth choices, with a 36 or 54 factors of engagement.
There’s some debate {that a} larger tooth rely can scale back longevity as they’re typically smaller and probably weaker, however once more, there are alternatives for what kind of using you need to use these wheels for.
Given there aren’t many events the place I coast into an acceleration, and the three.4˚ distinction in engagement fee is smaller than a hundredth of a second when going at 90 rpm, I used to be very proud of the 36t.
This new ratchet system can also be designed to be longer-lasting than conventional pawl-freehub programs, with fewer shifting elements which might be extra simply serviceable. I’m a giant fan of wheels being each customisable to swimsuit using type, in addition to a deal with longevity, do you have to need that.
Lastly, the shopper help and look after the wheels is one thing that ought to put patrons comfy when investing practically £1000 on a part for his or her bikes.
The model’s Infinity Guarantee programme has a three-year guarantee towards materials or workmanship defects, whereas the Infinity Put on and lifelong crash alternative permit crash-damaged wheels to be repaired at 50% off alternative prices.
Add this to the ReGen trade-up provide, which permits outdated wheels to be despatched again in change for a reduction on a brand new set, and there’s an array of nice buyer help choices and advantages. Different manufacturers provide comparable schemes, reminiscent of Hunt, however it may be tougher to search out with higher-end manufacturers, so it offers an excellent incentive to strive from a much less established model.
Worth
That is fairly presumably the world the place the Scribes carry out at their best possible. £999 for a set of carbon wheels is fairly first rate from a named model with guarantee help. There are cheaper choices from on-line corporations with unbranded carbon wheels, however they typically lack the assurances of testing and warranties to present you religion in how they are going to stand the check of time.
On the subject of the Scribe Core 60 SL, their primary opponents are probably from Hunt and Parcours, which provide a number of wheels in an identical worth bracket.
We examined the Hunt Sub 50 Limitless, a barely shallower wheel, coming in a shade lighter and fewer aero in our testing. Nonetheless, that is certainly one of their dearer choices at £1849. The extra comparable wheel we examined was the Parcours Strade, 49/54mm deep entrance and rear. A contact heavier, and slower within the tunnel, plus the £1099 worth is barely dearer. The Scribe actually do win out in relation to equally priced wheels.
The place issues get extra spectacular is while you broaden the value vary of opponents to incorporate some heinously costly wheelsets. The Princeton Carbon Works Wake 6560 Evolution are £3200, but solely fractionally lighter, and examined slower in wind tunnel testing in any respect speeds than the Scribes. Though with the caveat that we examined with 28mm tyres, the place the Wakes are designed to be quickest with 25mm.
A number of £2000-plus wheelsets had been additionally each slower within the wind tunnel and likewise an identical weight. The one wheelsets that outperformed the Scribes, each when it comes to aero at each velocity and weight, had been the Scope Artech 6.A (£3498), Syncros Capital SL Aero (£4200), and the Enve SES 6/7 (£3350).
Nonetheless, each aero efficiency and weight had been principally solely fractionally higher for these three wheelsets, with every costing at the least thrice as a lot.
Given the performance-to-cost ratio, the Scribe Core SL 60 wheelsets are arguably in a league of their very own. They’ll carry out with the halo wheelsets that price greater than a full bike construct, and at a fraction of the associated fee.
Verdict
The Scribe Core SL 60 have actually impressed me as a wheelset that is ready to carry out impressively in and of itself, but additionally does so on the similar stage as choices that price between three and 4 occasions as a lot.
Weight and aero efficiency are each verified as being up there with a number of the prime performers obtainable. However the place these wheels equally excel is in how they’re constructed and journey. Fashionable rim measurement choices work effectively with 28mm tyres, and so they stability forces brilliantly.
They really feel secure and responsive when braking, cornering, and accelerating, resulting in a wheelset that feels spritely and reactive, no matter you throw at it.
They’ll catch the wind when it gusts, however most 60mm rims will try this. The Scribes, nevertheless, don’t react in an unruly method and are as an alternative controllable and assured.
Shallow and lighter wheelsets can spin on top of things on steep climbs extra successfully, however over the course of just about any longer journey, the aero advantages will outweigh weight financial savings. Given the 60mm depth, the Scribes are a aggressive weight, which is noticeable on the highway.
Add in durability-enhancing options, plus the choice to alter these for maximal friction financial savings on the expense of sturdiness, and there’s a good diploma of customisation in addition to longevity to those wheels.
Buyer help and care guarantees to assist with that additional, leading to presumably essentially the most full bundle for a carbon aero set of wheels you should purchase.
| Attributes | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design and aesthetics | The uneven spoke lacing, contact outer sealed bearings, and steel put on plates on the freehub physique are all sensible design decisions that work. A matte solely end might not be for everybody, however they give the impression of being good on a motorcycle. | 9/10 |
| Efficiency | They rank one of many highest when it comes to aero efficiency, however the excellent spoke lacing means they’re stiff and quick out on the highway as effectively. Bearings have the choice to be racier on the expense of sturdiness. This setup to me is right for UK using and racing. | 10/10 |
| Weight | They’ll’t be 10/10 purely as a result of there are some insanely gentle wheels this depth, however at an equally insane worth. For a hooked 60mm wheelset, these are impressively gentle and climb effectively. | 9/10 |
| Tubeless compatibility | 21mm int and 29mm ext are strong decisions to be used with 28mm tyres, whereas tubeless setup may be very simple. They aren’t hookless, however personally I favor that. Wider rim choices can be found for wider tyres, plus exterior nipples imply simpler upkeep. A strong rim mattress would make life even simpler although. | 9/10 |
| Worth | Quick within the tunnel, quick on the highway, buyer help and care, simply replaceable elements, comparatively low weight, and sub-£1000. Worth clever these are the highest of the tree. | 10/10 |
| Total score | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 94% |
