I do a climb-off in search of the best climbing wheels

Best Lightweight Climbing Wheels
Join me for three trips up Wachusett Mountain in search of the best lightweight climbing wheels, and share my reviews and comparisons of climbing wheels from some of the leading brands.
You can order these wheels using links to stores I’ve vetted and recommend. When you do, In The Know Cycling may earn a commission that helps cover our review and technology costs
Zipp 353 NSW:
► BTD (BikeTiresDirect): tinyurl.com/8y7jamaz
► Performance Bike: snp.link/fc49826d
► Merlin: prf.hn/l/mVE8lG5
► Sigma Sports: tinyurl.com/29pj6cry
Read more about the products and topics mentioned in this video
► Enve SES 2.3: intheknowcycling.com/enve-ses...
► Fulcrum Speed 25: intheknowcycling.com/fulcrum-...
► Zipp 353 NSW: intheknowcycling.com/zipp-454...
► Best Lightweight Wheels for Climbing: intheknowcycling.com/best-cli...
► Best All-Road Wheels: intheknowcycling.com/all-road...
► Best All-Around Wheels: intheknowcycling.com/carbon-d...
Subscribe and get more cycling gear reviews: / @intheknowcycling
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Skip to the chapters in this video:
00:00 The Best Climbing Wheels
00:30 Elevation Details of the test ride
01:09 Climbing wheels on this ride
01:47 Tubeless tires and inflation pressure
02:45 Is this “science” or subjective?
04:24 Uphill experience with ENVE SES 2.3
10:17 Downhill experience ENVE SES 2.3
12:16 Switching to the Fulcrum Speed 25
14:05 Uphill experience with the Fulcrum Speed 25
14:42 Switching to the Zipp 353 NSW
14:57 Climbing wheelset test ride comparison
17:43 Review of all of the best lightweight climbing wheels
Audio: Some by Hara Noda during climb and Sunset Serenade by dvine during the second wheelset switch
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In The Know Cycling is ad-free, subscription-free, and reader-supported. If you want to help keep it rolling without any added cost to you, buy your gear and kit after clicking the store links on the site and in the videos. When you do, we may earn an affiliate commission that will help me cover the expenses to create and publish our independent, comprehensive, and comparative reviews. Thank you, Steve.

[@intheknowcycling]

You can order these wheels using links to stores I’ve vetted and recommend. When you do, In The Know Cycling may earn a commission that helps cover our review and technology costs Zipp 353 NSW: ► BTD (BikeTiresDirect): tinyurl.com/8y7jamaz ► Performance Bike: snp.link/fc49826d ► Merlin: prf.hn/l/mVE8lG5 ► Sigma Sports: tinyurl.com/29pj6cry

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you Steve! I appreciate how much time and effort went in to doing this evaluation👍🏾

[@intheknowcycling]

Very welcome

[@rayF4rio]

In searching for a second set of wheels for my Sram AXS bike, my big concern was the ability to swap wheels without adjustment to the brake calipers. Glad to see you actually include the mechanics of swapping wheels and not having to adjust between the Enve-Fulcrum (Campy)-Zipps. 👍👍 I'm looking at getting the Bora 60 WTO C23's to compliment my 303FC's. I would consider the 454 NSW's, but I'm apprehensive about the Cognition hubs as I do all the maintenance myself (no access to decent bike shop).

[@jasonb6675]

Thank you for your detailed reviews and for all of the hard work you put into them. You’ve informed me of countless buying decisions and always my first stop when looking for something new to try.

[@intheknowcycling]

Thanks Jason! Really appreciate your feedback.

[@freebird61885]

Outstanding!

[@intheknowcycling]

Glad you like it!

[@milanmudrinic6732]

i have the zipp 202 nsw that came with my climbing bike. there is a sale on zipp 353 nsw and 454. which would you choose or recommend for me in canada, with lots of flats and rolling hills? Thanks for the great videos

[@intheknowcycling]

For flats and rolling hills, I'd recommend the 454 NSW. You can see my comparison of the 454 and 353 in this post: intheknowcycling.com/zipp-454-nsw-review-zipp-353-nsw-review/

[@Andrew.Cohen-JRA]

What do you think of the Roval CLX alpinist II in comparison to the ENVE 2.3? I'm interested in wheels for Mt. Washington, Greylock, weekly group hills ride...

[@intheknowcycling]

Andrew, Haven't had an opportunity to ride the Alpinist II yet. Specs are similar to the 2.3 so that suggests they are targeted to same ride situations. in head to head tests of other ENVE and Roval wheels, (aero and all around depth/weight), the ENVE's have performed a bit better in stiffness, responsiveness, aero (sustained momentum), some which could be relevant in climbing situations. But, as you know, the types of climbs you mention are each a bit different. Mt Washington is up with a pretty consistent grade till the end and would call for the lightest, stiffest wheelset you can find,; Greylock is up and down with a bit more terrain variation as I recall so handling would be important going down as well as everything you need going up; group rides even in Eastern MA aren't usually as long or steep, include some crappy surfaces while more tactics come into play so you might be better off with a wider, more versatile light wheelset like the 353 or 3.4 instead of dedicated climbers like the 2.3 or Alpinist. First world decision for sure!

[@JFomo]

Which one of these wheels could you live with? I'm leaning towards Zipp 353 but my wallet says Enve 3.4 😣 There's an event next year that's 157 miles long with over 13123ft of elevation. I don't think my Zipp 404s are going to cut it.

[@intheknowcycling]

I could happily live with either. That's a lot of climbing, on the order of 1000 ft per 10 miles. If the climbing never gets above 10-15%, the ENVE will be fine but if you have a lot of sections where it's steeper you might be happier you went with the Zipp.

[@JFomo]

@@intheknowcycling Just found some 454s on sale at 25% off! I am fighting so hard not to buy them! Tell me I should buy them.

[@intheknowcycling]

@@JFomo 😃Be patient; a good sale on the 353 NSW may also follow if the 454 NSW is on sale now.

[@Sab-ux2sw]

'promosm'