We had two questions when we started designing the gravel wheel series; one, “can a gravel wheel be aerodynamic?” and two, “Can we design a rim that lowers rolling resistance?”
In Part 12 of the Gravel Wheel Design Journey, we showed we could improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a gravel wheel and save you 5-6 watts per wheel. Aerodynamics is only half of the time savings equation. This article discusses what we found after extensive on road testing of a rim designed to lower rolling resistance. Did the results prove we did it? The quick answer, yes we did it. We have rims that lower rolling resistance. If you’re wondering what rolling resistance is, check out our article on Understanding Rolling Resistance for Cyclists.
Another key finding in our research was that this data could also be applied to our FLO All Sport Series. The data collected here shaped the design of the Gravel Series and All Sport Series.