The Ride
Easton's media launch for the Aero 55 took place on the doorstep of the famed Dolomite Mountain range.
The first thing I wanted to experience was the hubset. I'd fussed with Easton's preload adjust on previous wheels, and always accepted it left much to be desired. Too loose and there was lateral play. Too tight and the freehub body dragged. This one was just perfect, and knowing it'd require no more thought through the length of its existence is nice.
Sure, freehub quick engagement is not a big deal for Ironman guys, but athletes doing sprint or Olympic-distance racing on technical courses will appreciate the quickness of engagement. In fact, after our rides in Italy, we found it one of the quickest-engaging stock-option freehub bodies outside an aftermarket outfitter like Chris King.
Things like lateral stiffness were what we would expect, while things like crosswind stability we were unable to ascertain due to, well, lack of winds riding the Aero 55 along the rolling foothills of the pre-Dolomites.
Certainly, the Aero 55 is only the beginning; Easton's had a 90mm wheel in its arsenal, and we see no reason for a deeper-dish mold to come to market in the future. But for now, this 55 is the perfect all-conditions wheel option; deep and aero enough for any race action, shallow enough for rolling or climbing course utility, and now strong and durable enough for daily battering.
Pricing and Availability
The Aero 55 tubeless-ready carbon clincher will both retail for $2,800. As for the new carbon fiber wheels, there's a slight waiting period; the Aero 55 tubulars will be in stores after Interbike in October, while the tubeless-ready carbon clincher will be available at the end of 2013.
More: Aerodynamics for Recreational Riders
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