Welcome to the ICAN Japan official blog.

When it comes to upgrade parts that significantly change road bike performance, "wheels" are often the first thing that comes to mind.
While complete bikes are perfectly capable of riding these days, many cyclists have experienced the feeling of their bike becoming "a completely different machine" the moment they swap out the wheels.

However, in recent years, the price of high-end carbon wheels has risen significantly.
It's not uncommon for famous overseas brands to offer models costing over 300,000 to 500,000 yen, and many probably feel that while they desire the performance, the price is too high.

Amidst this, ICAN's latest wheels, the **Aero 40 II **, are rapidly gaining recognition overseas.

This time, we will delve into the capabilities of these wheels based on a long-term review of approximately 1,000 km by the popular international cycling YouTube channel, "Cycling Professor".

This isn't just a simple first impression;

• Riding in the rain
• Strong wind conditions
• Rough roads
• Long-distance cruising
• Hub disassembly and inspection

It's a full-fledged review that covered all these aspects.

"I want carbon wheels that are truly fast and reliable, without breaking the bank."

For such riders, this content will be very informative.

Aero 40 II Specifications Overview

First, let's look at the basic specifications of the Aero 40 II.

Key Specifications

• Rim Height: 40mm
• Weight: Approx. 1,177g (set)
• Inner Rim Width: 23mm
• Recommended Tire Width: 28-32mm
• Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray
• Hub: 45T Ratchet System
• Tubeless compatible
• Disc brake specific

Among these specs, the weight is particularly noteworthy.

Despite being a 40mm deep-section disc brake wheel, it weighs approximately 1,177g for the set.
This is considered very lightweight compared to typical 40mm class carbon wheels.

And it's not just light.

The spokes used are Sapim CX-Ray, which are adopted by high-end wheel brands worldwide.
They are a classic spoke known for excellent balance of lightness, durability, ride comfort, and aerodynamic performance.

In other words, the Aero II is not a wheel that sacrifices durability for lightness; its major characteristic is that it is built with a practical configuration.

Why is 40mm rim height so popular?

When choosing road wheels, "what rim height to choose" is very important.

While deeper rims of 50mm or more are popular these days, 40mm remains highly supported as a very well-balanced all-rounder size.

Good balance of climbing and cruising

While aerodynamic performance improves with higher rim height, so does weight and susceptibility to crosswinds.

On the other hand, 40mm offers:

• Nimbleness on climbs
• Sufficient cruising performance on flats
• Strong against crosswinds
• Easy to handle

This achieves an exquisite balance.

In fact, the "Cycling Professor" review stated,

"You can ride very relaxed even in strong crosswinds."

This was the evaluation.

Especially in Japan's road conditions, where there are often:

• Many climbs
• Many stop-and-go sections
• Sections with crosswinds

Choosing 40mm is very practical.

True capabilities revealed in approximately 1000km of actual riding tests

The reason this review is highly regarded is that it's not just a short test ride review.

The reviewer tested the Aero II for approximately 1,000 km in various environments.

Harsh testing in rain, mud, and puddles

The test period included muddy, rainy conditions.

The road surface was completely wet.
Furthermore, the reviewer intentionally rode through puddles.

This was to check:

• Hub waterproofing
• Bearing protection
• Rim coating
• Durability

Many lightweight wheels can raise concerns about performance and durability in bad weather.

However, the Aero II maintained stable performance even in harsh environments.

The Aero II maintained stable performance even in harsh conditions.

Reasons for easy handling in crosswinds

When using deep-section wheels, many riders are concerned about crosswinds.

Especially for lighter riders, there are concerns about the impact of crosswinds on handling.

However, the Aero 40 II, with its exquisite 40mm rim height and good overall wheel weight balance, offers very manageable characteristics.

In the review,

"It was stable in crosswinds and could be ridden without feeling nervous."

This was the evaluation.

This is a great advantage not only for races but also for long rides and daily training.

Benefits of Sapim CX-Ray spokes

A major contributor to the Aero II's ride quality is its Sapim CX-Ray spokes.

These spokes are:

• Lightweight
• Highly durable
• High aerodynamic performance
• Supple ride quality

They are used in many professional-level wheels.

Unlike the extreme stiffness typical of carbon spokes, CX-Ray spokes offer a moderate amount of flexibility.

Therefore, they have the following characteristics:

• Less fatigue on long rides
• Excellent road-hugging performance
• Reduced uncomfortable jolts

The review repeatedly praised its "high comfort."

The review repeatedly praised its "high comfort."

Hub performance that gets smoother with "break-in"

A particularly interesting point in this review was the section on "break-in."

May feel slightly stiff when new

The reviewer commented that when first used, they felt:

• Slight drag in the freehub body
• Resistance when stopping pedaling

However, this is not a defect.

However, this is not a defect.

With ratchet hubs, due to the amount of grease when new and the bedding-in of internal parts, they can feel slightly stiff initially.

Significant change after 500-700km

The review stated:

"It became dramatically smoother after 500-700 km of riding."

This was reported.

This is the result of the internal parts settling in properly, allowing the true performance to be unleashed.

In other words, even if it feels a little stiff when new, it will transform into its original smooth rotation performance after repeated riding.

Hub internal disassembly check

After approximately 800-1000 km of riding, the reviewer actually disassembled the rear hub.

This confirmed the very high quality of the ICAN hub.

Internal parts are very clean

Despite repeated rides in bad weather,

• No water intrusion
• Plenty of grease remaining
• Almost no wear

The condition was extremely good.

This means the hub has excellent sealing performance.

This waterproofing is very important in Japan, where it rains frequently.

Unique 45T Ratchet System

The Aero II employs ICAN's unique 45T ratchet system.

With 45 fine teeth, it offers the following features:

• Fast power transfer
• Good pedaling response
• Minimal power loss when out of the saddle

Additionally, its simple internal structure makes it easy to maintain, which is also a major appeal.

Additionally, its simple internal structure and excellent maintainability are also attractive features.

High roundness and durability

"Trueness" is important for long-term use.

In the review, a final check was performed on the truing stand.

The results were:

• Excellent roundness
• No significant runout
• Stable spoke tension

These were excellent results.

While lightweight wheels sometimes have a reputation for being prone to getting out of true, the Aero II demonstrates a high level of perfection in terms of durability as well.

Versatility to accommodate a wide range of tires

With a wide inner width of 23mm, the Aero II supports a wide range of tire sizes.

The review even used 35mm tires.

This means it's compatible with:

• Racing
• Long-distance rides
• Endurance
• Light gravel

It can be used for a wide range of applications.

Since tires of 28mm or wider are now mainstream, a 23mm inner width is a modern specification.

High level of design completeness

Beyond performance, appearance is also important.

The Aero II features a very simple and refined design.

• Understated logo
• Clean rim shape
• High-quality finish

It naturally matches a variety of bikes.

Overseas reviews also highly praised its visual appeal.

Conclusion | The ICAN Aero 40II is a wheel we "truly recommend."

The "Cycling Professor" ultimately gave it a very high rating.

Key points of praise included:

• Lightweight at 1,177g
• High cruising performance
• Crosswind stability
• Comfort
• Hub quality
• Waterproofing
• Cost performance

Despite its price point of around 119,000 yen, it boasts a level of performance comparable to much more expensive wheels.

Despite its price point of around 119,000 yen, it boasts a level of performance comparable to much more expensive wheels.

From ICAN Japan

As a carbon wheel brand supported by cyclists worldwide, ICAN continues to pursue performance and quality.

The Aero 40 II, which we introduced this time, also balances:

• Lightness
• Speed
• Comfort
• Durability

It is a model that balances these qualities at a high level.

"I don't want to make a mistake with my first carbon wheels."
"I want performance that exceeds the price."
"I want wheels that I can use safely for a long time."

We highly recommend this wheel to such riders.

Why not upgrade your beloved bike to the next level with the Aero II?