The new Vision Metron RS carbon wheels have been hiding in plain sight since Paris-Nice

Vision has launched a model new addition to the Metron wheel line at present within the type of the brand new Metron RS (racing sequence) wheelset.

Until now, the model’s top-line wheelset has been the Metron SL, a well-known sight on the sharp finish of many WorldTour races. It appears the time is now proper for Vision to roll out one other top-end choice. 

The wheels have really been hiding in plain sight within the peloton already, they’ve been used at races like Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and Paris-Nice. We are normally throughout new tools however missed these new wheels hiding in plain sight, with Lenny Martinez taking stage 5 of Paris-Nice on them.  

What’s the highest line then? Well, the brand new wheels will likely be obtainable in each 45 and 60-mm rim depth choices, and use carbon fibre spokes and a brand new hub and drive ring design. They are lighter and stiffer than the SL wheels and there are some fascinating new design factors that we’ll go over down beneath. 

I just lately acquired to spend an hour on the brand new wheels at a press occasion, and the elevated stiffness was noticeable instantly. Vision informed me quite a lot of professional riders had been wanting to make use of the wheels and use them for each race, just like the tough and tumble of Strade Bianche as an example. 

Weights are aggressive, to say the least; the 45mm deep wheelset is available in at a claimed 1290g per pair while the 60mm choice weighs 1390 grams. A design selection that is turning into much more widespread now as extra of the most effective street bike wheels are being manufactured with carbon fibre spokes. 

One of the obvious design modifications with regards to the brand new wheels are the brand new carbon fibre-bladed spokes. This association offers round a claimed 108 gram saving in comparison with a metal spoked wheel. 

The spokes use a T-shaped head in comparison with a standard J-bend spoke and are mentioned to offer a bonus in tensile power in comparison with a extra conventional metal choice. 

Vision has additionally rolled out a brand new V-1000 hub for the wheels, which encompasses a new 72-tooth ratchet drive ring design. Visually it is alongside the identical line as a number of different drive ring freehub programs, however Vision informed me the design is totally its personal, and it did not should work round any present patents to execute it. 

The freehub physique has additionally been machined in locations to save lots of additional grams, and the hubs use ceramic bearings. Importantly for the mechanics and retailers, every hub shell has a scannable QR code, which immediately brings up an exploded meeting and elements diagram, which implies discovering the appropriate bearings and replaceable elements needs to be easy. 

There are a couple of design options which can be additionally value mentioning, first is one other 22-gram weight saving because of the wheel graphics being achieved in-mould, which means no stickers are wanted.

Secondly, the spoke holes are not drilled post-construction which may weaken the rim’s carbon fibres, and are actually additionally shaped in-mould.  The rim width is now additionally 23mm vast internally, with a hooked bead, in comparison with the Metron SL’s 21mm inside width. The rim mattress has additionally been up to date to usually enhance the tubeless tyre expertise with the edges.  

Aero testing 

Vision has examined these wheels in a wind tunnel, particularly on the San Diego low-speed wind tunnel. Quite quite a lot of materials is connected within the model’s press launch, however I’ll embody the important thing bits right here for you. 

The Metron RS wheel confirmed a slight lower in drag of 0.9W for the 60mm wheel (6% sooner) and -1.6W for the 45mm choice (9% sooner) when in comparison with the Metron SL metal spoked wheel.  

It appears to be a measured message from Vision. There aren’t any huge wattage-saving headlines. The model states that the RS wheels current a discount in drag in comparison with the SL fashions on their very own, and that riders may count on the identical stability and dealing with because the SL fashions. Factor in a complete rider and bike system, plus varied tyres and pressures and it is truthful to say the wheels are on the very least barely sooner in a comparability. 

The different key function is the elevated lateral stiffness from the carbon fibre spokes, which ought to enhance energy switch, but additionally have an effect on the texture for the rider. 

We examined a Vision Metron SL wheel in our final CN Labs aero wheels wind tunnel check the place they had been amongst a few of the easiest on check.