Wheels can have a massive impact on the performance and feel of your bike, so what should you consider when it comes to making that wheelset purchase decision?

When to go for lightweight wheels? When to go for aero rims?

Lightweight or aero, which way should you jump? We asked the experts about it.

Chris, an expert, said, "If you're racing, unless it's a race that's almost entirely uphill, then it's aero wheels every time, undoubtedly." "If you look purely at the numbers, it's an easy argument. Wind tunnel testing and all the modeling everybody's done has told us that aerodynamics is the winner."

If you're not racing, things are not so straightforward.

Chris said, "If you're just going for a ride, pick the best-handling wheels because, in the testing we've done, the lighter ones tend to feel better."

"You can have light wheels, like Alpinists, or genuinely aerodynamic, fast wheels."

"There is a stability, the feel of rotating, and the rapid feel of the lighter wheels, so when you can say what are the absolute best wheels from a pure aerodynamics/performance standpoint, the rider also has to come in and offer what their experience is, and what are the best wheels for them."

"Personally, 80% of my riding is often flat, but I do like to ride in the Alps. I like the feel of the lighter wheels, and the way they handle, it looks similar... When I accelerate, I just like the feeling of a light bike and the pleasure you get, so I wouldn't say there's a right choice for every rider."

We have done a lot of modeling for pro teams. We can say that aerodynamic roads are the best. They don't always ride the most aerodynamic wheels or the most aerodynamic bikes. They also consider the nuances of a day's practical experience.

Wheel Stiffness: It's All About the Sweet Spot!

With the long-term development of larger tires on the road and the increasing gravel market, we've heard a lot of news about wider wheel rims. As riders, what should we consider when it comes to rim width?

Jeff, an expert, said, "It depends on what tires you ride the most." "According to our wind tunnel tests, if you're riding 26mm and 28mm tires, a 21mm internal width is great, but if you want to use something bigger - getting into 30 or more - you want to go up to a larger internal width."

"When we did practical tests to determine the optimal feel and handling on the road, weight was the primary factor, and lower stiffness felt good." Another factor we considered was internal width. While this is the lowest in terms of scale, stiffness and width are correlated, and edge-width driven stiffness is significant.

So, high stiffness isn't the best thing, even at wheel design speeds?

Expert Chris said that one of the things found in Jeff's tests is that there's a sweet spot to get the whole system to work together. "If it's too stiff, a lot of roads will buzz, and you'll also be pushed off your line. The wheels won't be adjusted - this is especially important for mountain bikes, but on the road, if it's too flexible, you lose that aggressive connection, and you don't feel connected to the road, but people seem to prefer lower stiffness," he said.

From an aerodynamic perspective, people have already produced some very good wheels, and we at ICAN have done a great job around stability, making aero wheels that ride and handle well.

We strive to bring more carbon products to more riders at lower prices. How can we make affordable wheels available to more riders? We need very good durability and manufacturing consistency, and then I think we can deliver products to riders at lower prices that always meet their expectations.

Related article: Road bike components: A history of maturity