Test Reserve 40/44 wheels

Among the new wheels that we see performing at the highest level, the Reserve has held a special place since the beginning of the 2023 season, since they are the wheels used by the Jumbo-Visma team of the last Giro winner Primož Roglič. We were able to testis the most versatile proposition among five models at Reserve, with the 40/44, over several hundred kilometers. wheels with differentiated height and wide rims that promote stability and comfort.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

The Reserve 40/44 wheels are high-end carbon wheels manufactured by the American brand Santa Cruz Bicycles, which belongs to the Pon Bike group, just like the Cervélo brand.. We can therefore understand why the Reserve wheels have been equipping the Cervélo bikes of the Jumbo-Visma team since this season, and why they are found on all the machines in the range from the montages in Sram Force or Shimano Ultegra.

Five rim height combinations are available, each with a lower and slightly wider front wheel than the rear wheel. The range consists first of the 77/Disc pair with a front wheel with a 77 mm high rim and a solid rear wheel, for time trials or triathlons. A 77/88 combination (with an 88 mm rear wheel) is also available, for slightly more rugged time trials. Then come the 52/63, mounted on the standard Cervélo S5, high wheels suitable for a practice route on the rolling courses. Then are proposed the 40/44 which are the subject of this test, a versatile model that will undoubtedly interest many riders looking for a single pair of wheels to do everything. Finally, the 34/37 are more specifically dedicated to the montagne, with particularly light and easy-to-handle rims.

Each combination is offered in three different versions depending on the hubs chosen.. For the 40/44, prices range from €1799 with DT 350 hubs to €2799 with DT 180 (our version of test), going for €2299 with DT 240s. The top-of-the-range version saves 92g on the wheelset compared to the first price, still with 24 spokes at the front and rear.

Ever wider

The two rims of the wheels of test have specific dimensions, with a height of 40 mm at the front and 44 mm for the rear wheel. But the differences do not stop there, since the front rim has an internal width of 25,5 mm for an external width of 33 mm, while the rear rim is content 25mm internal to 31mm external. This is very wide for wheels of route, but this has a dual purpose: first optimize wheel stability with crosswinds despite the height of the rim (with a “U” rim shape more favorable to air flow than a “V” shape), and on the other hand promote comfort by fitting wider tires, and therefore with less inflation pressure, without altering performance, at least to a certain extent. Not to mention, of course, the advantagestagis at the level of cornering grip, whether on dry or wet.

The Reserve 40/44 wheels (like the other wheels in the range) are designed to accommodate tubeless tires (or with inner tube if necessary) with a section of 28 to 40 mm. The wheels of test are mounted here with Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 Tubeless Ready in 700×28 which actually measure 31,5 mm wide on the rims. The sidewalls of the tires therefore ideally come in line with the sidewalls of the rim, which theoretically favors aerodynamics. By accepting 40 mm section tires, the Reserve wheels with this rim size are also perfectly suited to gravel use, especially since they are considered strong enough by the manufacturer to be lifetime guarantees (for the first owner).

The DT 180 hubs weigh 94g front and 193g rear., with ceramic bearings and a high-performance cassette body engagement system. They allow the weight of the wheels to be carried 1370 g (without the valve and rim tape). It is efficient, but this light weight is offset by the higher weight of the 28 section tubeless tires (announced at 310 g each) to which must be added the weight of the preventative liquid. In the end, the montagIt is not excessively light, since we are very close to a pair of Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels mounted with 26 tires and inner tubes.

Comfort and performance

Thanks to the tubeless tires measured at 31,5 mm wide and at a pressure of 5 bar (compared to 6,5 to 7 bar with 25), The Reserve 40/44 immediately stands out for their comfort on the damaged asphalt of the small streets used to escape the traffic. It is always a little difficult to admit it for an old courier who started cycling with 20 mm tires, but such a rather wide section offers astonishing performance. Not only do you not feel slowed down (at least when riding at the same speed), but the gain in comfort linked to a lower pressure greatly limits the unpleasant little bounces on a bad surface, which ultimately cause a loss of traction. As for the benefit in terms of grip, it is royal.. You feel really safe when leaning the bike hard into corners, and you can get through roundabouts with barely a foot lift, even on a route humid.

The choice of such a tire width is of course correlated here with that of the rim width. A large tire on a narrower rim causes a balloon that is detrimental to aerodynamics and the level of control of the bike. With the Reserve wheels and these Vittoria tires, changes of direction always remain frank, and you don't feel your sides sagging when you force your way into the dancer position. On the other hand, you have to get used to the shape a little. round on the top of the tire, which offers very progressive changes in support when swinging the bike from right to left, unlike 25 tires for example, with a shape that looks more like an ogive.

In use, The Reserve 40/44 are quite nervous, but the sensations are however less sharp than with very inflated 25 tires. But we are only talking about sensations here, because the difference is insensible at the level of the stopwatch. The wheels are ultimately quite neutral in terms of stiffness, and do not fundamentally change the behavior of the usual bike in terms of performance.. On the other hand, they score many points when facing the wind, offering stability and control of trajectories, even under strong gusts from the side.

Our opinion on the Reserve 40/44 wheels

The 40/44 are the most versatile model in the Reserve range, thanks to a contained weight and a rim height for the front and rear which offers an excellent compromise between aerodynamics and stability. The width of the rims imposes the montagand fairly wide tires, which significantly change the perception that one can have of the route. This system provides comfort and safety when cornering, without affecting overall performance. On varied routes, composed of bumps, false flats, straight stretches exposed to the wind and several city crossings with many accelerations, the Reserve 40/44 are very well made with a go-anywhere bike, because they make it even easier to live with and capable of facing many situations. They amplify in a way the neutral behavior of the bike. With a more specific bike for riding fast on the flat, they bring a little extra in terms of ease and handling, and the machine even becomes a little less demanding in the end.

The fact remains that among the three versions of Reserve 40/44 wheels, this version is not necessarily the most interesting in terms of quality/price ratio. The hubs are the lightest in the DT range, but they are expensive and not as fluid as expected. On paper, we therefore prefer the DT 240 version, at a price of €2299.

=> SEE AS ​​WELL : All our Gear articles