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EB18: FFWD Falcon Project flies a two-spoke aero wheel concept

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes
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Peregrine falcons are the fastest moving animals on earth, having been recorded diving at speeds of 240+ miles per hour. So it’s no surprise where the FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept gets its name.

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes

FFWD says their Falcon Project is aimed at creating the fastest bicycle wheel on the planet. To do that, they use just two spokes, each with a full NACA airfoil shape. These are attached to a variable height rim height that arcs from 90mm deep to 48mm deep as it approaches the next spoke. They say that graduating rim depth is just as important a feature in reducing drag and turbulence as the spoke pattern.

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes

Compared to tri-spoke wheels and full discs, their wind tunnel tests show that it creates drastically less turbulence.

FFWD Falcon Project aero road bike wheel concept with two spokes

They’ll be available in rim and disc brake models, for both front and rear.

It’s made of Toray 800 / 1000 UD carbon and is perfectly balanced. Target weight is TBD, but it won’t be a lightweight wheel. It’s meant more for TT and triathlon where speeds are kept constant, as opposed to typical road riding where you’re sprinting, climbing or accelerating more frequently. In such cases, aerodynamics matter more than weight.

They expect the wheel to start shipping by end of year, and it is already UCI approved, but it is still in testing. Right now, it’s a standard tube-type clincher, but they’re working on tubular and tubeless-ready versions, too. Pricing is TBA.

FFWDwheels.com

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Frank Yang
Frank Yang
6 years ago
Mike W
Mike W
6 years ago

They did kind of copy 2-spoke, but I think this implementation is far more advanced in the contouring.

VeloKitty
VeloKitty
6 years ago

haha… It’s the same product. What is the relationship between the two companies?

Karel Bollen
Karel Bollen
6 years ago
Reply to  VeloKitty

Both Companies are Dutch so I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a link there.

mike w
mike w
6 years ago

VeloKitty, you are correct it is the same wheel! I thought the 2-spoke was flatter, but after looking through the pictures they do appear to be identical, even down to how the rim changes depth. Is there an open mould 2-spoke design that an Asian manufacturer has that all these companies are using?

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