Typically, Fair Wheel Bikes deals in the high end goodies from boutique brands that make us all drool. And, usually, those goodies are well beyond our budget or just extremely difficult to justify.
Now, they’re bringing their careful parts selection and eye for details to a quartet of light and surprisingly affordable road bike wheels. All are built with DT Swiss hubs and spokes, laced to rims from Pacenti and Kinlin.
At the top of the heap is the Symbiote wheelset. It’s built with 24mm wide/26mm deep, 450 gram Pacenti SL23 rims mated to a set of custom drilled 20/28 DT Swiss 350 hubs using black Sapim Cx-Ray spokes and aluminum DT Pro Lock nipples. Claimed weight is 1560 grams, price is $625. Complete with Pacenti rim tape and free shipping in the continental U.S.
The Phalanx wheelset is built on the 23mm wide, 28mm deep, 490 gram Kinlin XR-279 rim. Similar to their other stock wheelsets, the Phalanx utilizes a set of 20/28 DT Swiss 350 hubs laced with black Sapim Laser spokes and aluminum DT Pro lock nipples. Weight is 1650 grams, retail’s $450.
The Skrull wheelset, not shown, is a heavy duty version of the Phalanx intended for gravel grinders, cyclocross, heavier riders, or those just looking for a super durable everyday wheel. It’s built on the same rim, but increases the spoke count to 28/28 with double butted Sapim Race spokes and brass nipples. Weight is a reasonable 1760g. Price is $450.
The Kree wheelset is designed as an SL climbers wheel intended for lighter riders. Recommend rider weight limit is 175 pounds. Based on the superlight, 400 gram, Kinlin XR-19W single eyeletted rim and DT Swiss 350 hubs in a 20/28 spoke count. It’s held together with Sapim CxRay spokes and DT prolock nipples. Complete wheel set weight is 1475 grams, price is $525.
All prices include rim tape and free shipping inside the continental U.S. Available at FairWheelBikes.com.