UK’s Hope Tech has laced up a new disc brake tubeless carbon clincher wheelset that they say is ready to head off road for some proper cyclo-cross racing. The RD40 name gives a hint that they have a road disc origin, but built around a 19mm internal tubeless rim and Hope’s own durable RS4 disc hubs, the new wheels should come into their own for foul weather cross and gravel racing.
Hope RD40 tubeless carbon clincher wheelset
It looks like Hope is still outsourcing the 40mm deep, 26.5mm external/19mm internal width UD carbon rims. But with a move to bringing carbon production back to the UK, that might not be for long. The RD40s are a balance of widths that still fit within the ETRTO standards at 622×19. So Hope isn’t specific on recommended tire sizes, leaving that up to buyers, just saying that they are suited for large volume road tires, and of course wider gravel and cyclocross offerings.
The wheels are laced to durable RS4 hubs with 24 straight pull black Sapim CX-Ray Aero spokes & brass nipples. You can even get them in each of Hope’s standard six anodized colors. The wheels are adaptable between 12mm thru-axles and standard QRs, and include endcaps for both.
The tubeless carbon clincher wheels are handbuilt at Hope’s Barnoldswick shop. They are available with either 6-bolt or Centerlock rotor interfaces, with either Shimano or Campy bodies. Wheel weights are quoted with the 6-bolt hubs at 617g front & 740g rear – 1357g for the pair. Get them through any of your standard Hope dealers.
