Test Wheel Mastery Silver Race long-lasting rim brake wheels

While the "classic" combination of mid-range wheels from a few years ago (aluminum rims, brake pads) is becoming increasingly rare, it remains the preserve of custom wheel builders, designed to meet very specific requirements. Wheel Mastery (formerly Asterion) is one such manufacturer, now offering a more modern equivalent to the Silver Race wheels presented here. Low sensitivity to crosswinds, reduced weight, affordable price, ease of maintenance and durability, not to mention easy climbing performance, were the expected characteristics for this type of wheel. And in this case, the results have lived up to expectations over the 15000 km ridden.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – ​​photos: 3bikes.fr

The starting point of test is a phone call to Benoit Stupici, one of the founding members of Asterion, an entity that became Wheel Mastery as detailed in a recent article. Having been at the forefront of the custom wheel scene for many years, Benoit knows a thing or two when you tease him about his favorite subject, whether it's about wheels capable of withstanding the worst treatment off-road or about having a montagvery rigid and aerodynamic for the route.

A real onetagand tailor-made

Invariably, during the initial exchange, it is the prospective user who speaks first, describing their physical condition, their cycling experience, and, of course, their requirements: what type of route The wheels will have to express themselves, at what intensity and above all what qualities are expected. This is where the dialogue becomes part of a very precise search because not only are the cyclist's expectations identified over the course of (tens of) minutes, but above all, what type of pedaling will be associated with the wheels is asked. Because while it's obvious that a heavy/powerful cyclist riding on flat terrain needs different wheels than a lighter/less powerful cyclist tackling mountain passes,tagIn reality, and for major brand wheels, the equipment is the same. Beyond this observation, it will be noted that the casual cyclist tackling Mont Ventoux will use the same wheels as Tadej Pogacar, even though the demands placed on them are obviously not the same.

In this case, I had specified to Benoit what my expectations were regarding mytagI dedicated this bike to a Specialized Tarmac S-Works SL6 with rim brakes, whose handling I found too twitchy on descents with 40mm carbon rims. Stability then became potentially problematic, especially in windy conditions. This characteristic is probably linked to the bike's frame size (61mm) and the fact that Specialized significantly steepens the head angle on larger frame sizes (74° in this case), improving maneuverability but compromising stability.

To avoid this characteristic, Benoit then directed me to a montagoff the beaten track. Indeed, I first explained that my pedaling style was rather smooth and that the wheels were designed primarily for riding in the mountain passes of mytagrather than the windy plateaus of Picardy.

The fitter directed me towards a type of rim which is no longer officially in the catalogue but whose characteristics should meet the specifications: aluminium rims, low, light, "deliberately" not very rigid, easy to live with and not very sensitive to crosswinds.

In return, it was necessary to accept less efficient aerodynamics, a rigidity below that of heavier and wider models, and consequently the pedaling had to be as described with limited changes of pace.

The wheels, assembled as such, weighed 1371g, rim tape included. In terms of external width, the "old" standards prevailed, with an external width of only 18mm and a depth of 22mm, making the wheels look rather outdated, especially since they generally accommodated tires with a profile of 23 to 25mm. And even with a 28mm tire, like the one on the front... test (The rear tire remained at 25mm due to clearance in front of the seat tube), so the volume created by the tires is no longer in vogue. The hubs are the excellent Aivee, renowned for being lightweight and durable.

Thus, the wheels have accumulated a total of 15000 km to date and continue to be ridden regularly, now with a Levacon titanium frame, which tends to accentuate the wheels' inherent flexibility. It should be noted that no wobble has been observed despite... routeThey are not always perfect, and the smoothness of the bearings has remained as it was on day one.

On route

First and foremost, regarding the primary quality sought—stability—the contract was perfectly fulfilled. In size 61, the Specialized Tarmac SL6 didn't suddenly become very stable, but it did become significantly more forgiving in windy conditions combined with high speeds. The forwards thus proved significantly less "tickly", resulting in increased confidence and a more forward-thinking approach.tagThe pleasure of taking downhill slopes.

On flat terrain as well as downhill, this reduced sensitivity to crosswinds allowed for greater peace of mind during rides, especially longer ones. In terms of performance, it's essential to distinguish between different scenarios: to travel at speed and on fairly steep slopes in mytagAt temperatures above 6-7%, the wheels provided a smooth pedal stroke, regardless of fatigue level. There was no sensation of "hurting" against the wheels. This resulted in the wheels feeling extremely light, far exceeding the actual measured weight of 1371g.

Conversely, on flat terrain and for riding fast, perhaps even with short bursts of acceleration on gentle slopes, the setup feels too soft, and the aerodynamics are clearly not what one would expect from 60mm carbon rims. This is most noticeable during phases requiring high power output, such as sprints or tackling short climbs as quickly as possible. But these characteristics are not flaws because, firstly, they were not included in the specifications, and secondly, the "color" was clearly stated. In this respect, these are "extreme" wheels, designed for a specific use.

Note that the Wheel Mastery Silver Race wheels are less suited to the Levacon titanium frame than to the Specialized Tarmac SL6. Indeed, combining flexible wheels with a similarly flexible frame tends to accentuate the reduced stiffness. In other words, if slightly flexible wheels like these Silver Race "temper" a rigid frame, rigid wheels highlight the work of a flexible frame. Thus, it should be noted that the Levacon, which is not "a victim" of a lack of stability, derives a real benefit from very high-tension, high-profile, and therefore carbon wheels.

Ultimately, the Wheel Mastery Silver Race wheels perfectly live up to their promises, or rather their specifications. In concrete terms and unsurprisingly, they have mitigated the delicate aspects in certain situations of a frameworktagThey were as maneuverable as they were stable, while also being very easy to live with as soon as the incline turned positive. While their 1371g weight doesn't place them among the top performers in terms of what one might expect from ultra-light rim brake wheels, their dynamic behavior, characterized by their ease of climbing (at a steady pace), led one to believe the weight was much lower than the reality. Naturally, once back on flat ground and for high-speed riding, there are better options, but again, this was a deliberate choice. Because it's clear that if the question had been, "Benoit, would it be possible to fit the highest-performing wheels possible for races at an average speed of 45 km/h with constant accelerations and minimal elevation gain?", the result would have been...tagIt would have been completely different. And that is precisely Wheel Mastery's major strength: accurately identifying which equipment will be best suited to a use and a user.

It should be noted

From the first few kilometers covered with the wheels of the testThings have changed considerably, including with bicycles and rim brakes. Today, the rims used during the test These are no longer available, but Wheel Mastery obviously offers the modern equivalent (in terms of dynamic performance) that goes with the increased tire width. Indeed, the wheels now built to the same specifications use 22mm wide (external) rims, which adds a little weight – and stiffness – without compromising comfort, since the air volume is increased and therefore the pressure reduced. Furthermore, in this price range, Wheel Mastery tends to use Hope hubs, known for their quality. reconbare and still the CX-Ray spokes. This results in a montagthe complete set for €875 (compared to €790 for the wheels of the testIn any case, the budget remains lower than for a montagof the same price range, but with carbon rims.

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