There are many theories on how to choose a wheelset, but today I'd like to talk about how to choose a road wheel with the appropriate rim depth according to your purpose.

1. Wall-climbing wheels

Riders jokingly call it "wall-climbing," and prefer difficult climbs with gradients of 15% or more, and an average of 10% or more. When "climbing a wall," in addition to a sufficient gear ratio, a suitable pair of wheels can also help. Therefore, to tackle the most difficult climbs, many riders use lightweight wheels with a low rim depth. Carbon wheels with a rim depth of 30mm or less can easily be made to weigh less than 900 grams, and due to the small moment of inertia of the rim, they are very suitable for low-speed working conditions when "climbing a wall."

However, currently, wheels with a 30mm rim depth are already sufficiently light, so the market for ultra-low rim depth wheels is not large, and mainstream brands have abandoned the development of products in this genre. While some custom brands offer these, this type of ultra-low rim depth wheelset is not suitable for riding on flat roads due to its very narrow action surface. If you don't frequently tackle difficult terrain, I don't recommend purchasing a wheelset with a low rim depth.

2. Climbing wheels

Current mainstream carbon climbing wheels are mainly based on a rim depth of 30-35mm. Thanks to advances in carbon fiber technology, 30-35mm wheelsets have become sufficiently lightweight, with the 35mm ICAN disc brake wheelset achieving a surprising weight of 1250 grams. In the editor's actual experience, the rim depth on gentle inclines can provide a certain moment of inertia, making the climbing speed more uniform and the ride smoother. When facing steep inclines, it's not much worse than wheelsets. Many flat road rides have an advantage over wheels with low rim depth.

So, even though I don't go climbing very often, I still have one pair of climbing wheels at home. Maybe a friend will ask to borrow them when they go climbing someday.

For aluminum wheels, 30mm is already considered a partial wheelset. Due to weight reasons, I don't recommend purchasing aluminum wheels over 30mm.

3. Hilly wheels

Due to the complex and variable road conditions of hilly terrain, people's intermittent abilities are put to the test. If your abilities are not very strong, I recommend using climbing wheels for hilly terrain, which makes it easier to ride. At least, it's not easy to give up when climbing. For more capable riders, choose a wheelset with a rim depth of 35-50mm, which will improve performance on flat roads and descents.

For hilly terrain with many uphill sections, it is appropriate to choose less than 40mm. If there are flat roads and gentle slopes, you can choose 45mm. If you don't want to get tangled up, choose 40mm directly, and you can take all kinds of terrain into account. If you are stuck on the rim depth of your wheels, buying within this range will not go wrong.

4. Flat road wheels

Flat road wheels with a frame height exceeding 50mm are the best-selling frame height range. After all, high-rim wheels significantly improve the appearance of the bicycle. Research shows that the advantages of 55mm high-profile wheels are the most balanced, as they can simultaneously consider aerodynamic effects, weight, and handling. Good high-frame wheels are not too heavy and have excellent riding efficiency, so you don't have to worry about the ride. There are also wheels, like ICAN's, that use a front low and rear high combination to reduce weight and the impact of crosswinds. For ordinary riders, I personally believe that the wheel rim depth should not exceed 60mm. First, it drags your feet, and acceleration and response will be slow. Second, it is susceptible to crosswinds, and you can control the car.