Hunt has unveiled the SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheels, its new carbon flagship for road bikes. Based on the previous version of the Limitless wheels, the new Hunt SUB50 Limitless aero disc wheels combine a radically wider 34.2mm front rim with a narrower 30mm rear rim. Both rims have a depth of 49.5mm and an internal width of 23mm. The rims also use a hookless design, which Hunt says provides both aerodynamic benefits and weight relief. Hunt claims that data obtained at the GST wind tunnel in Germany shows that the SUB50 Limitless aero disc wheels offer “class-leading aerodynamic efficiency to weight” with 28 and 30mm wide tires. The new SUB50 Limitless rims are also paired with Hunt’s new H_Ratchet DBL hubs, which weigh 332g per set and feature the 40-tooth double rack engagement system found in the DT Swiss 350 hubs, the SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc has three models. Prices start at £1,479 / $1,799 / €1,849 for a set of wheels with series steel spokes and bearings and rise to £2,289 / $2,789 / €2,749 with ceramic bearings and carbon spokes. Claimed weights start at 1,380g for complete wheelsets, with Hunt’s ceramic bearings and carbon spokes. A Game Hunt shown to us at BikeRadar HQ in Bristol was only 3g heavier. Could this be the fastest wheelset for all-around road racing? – HuntHunt stated that the design goal for its new generation of Limitless wheels was to create “the fastest wheelset for road racing with up to 50mm depth for 30mm and 28mm tires”. Hunt chose to do something similar, while other brands, such as Roval and ENVE, now use different front and rear rim profiles to increase aerodynamic performance and weight in their sports wheels. Over approximately 2,500 hours of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis, Hunt’s team modeled and evaluated 38 profiles for the front rim and 18 profiles for the rear rim. Three front and four rear profiles were then 3D printed and assembled to create representative prototype wheelsets for testing in the wind tunnel. Once the performance of these early prototypes was validated, Hunt says they then built carbon fiber prototypes, which were again tested in the wind tunnel against several popular competing wheelsets. In total, Hunt claims to have conducted 90 wind tunnel tests over two days at the GST Wind Tunnel in Germany. All wheelsets were mounted on Cannondale SystemSix and tested with 28 and 30c Schwalbe Pro One TLE tires. Measurements were taken from -20 to 20 degrees YAW and the results were analyzed using Mavic’s Weighted Average Wind (WAD) method. This allows the results to be combined into an average WAD value for each set of wheels. The results – which are published in a detailed white paper – show that the new SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset outperforms all other wheelsets in terms of “aerodynamic efficiency to weight”. The only exception was the DT Swiss ARC 1400 DICUT 50 DB wheelset, with a 28c tire. According to Hunt, the narrow inner width of the DT Swiss rim provides a narrower profile for the tire, improving its aerodynamic efficiency. However, according to Hunt, this can result in higher rolling resistance and reduced comfort and grip. – Hunting. Additionally, Hunt claims that the new SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset with 30c tires provides a 1.4-watt improvement over the old Limitless 48 wheelset with 28c tires. Hunt says the SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelset offers better aerodynamic efficiency for its weight, rim depth and rim width than any of its larger competitors. – Hunting. With the quest to improve aerodynamic performance, Hunt notes that sponsored professional cyclists have asked him to maintain the same aerodynamic performance while reducing overall weight. For further reference, Hunt’s original 48 Limitless wheelset is claimed at 1,618g with steel spokes or 1,511g with carbon spokes. The lowest claimed weight of 1,380g represents a minimum potential saving of 131g compared to the lightest Hunt Limitless configuration previously available. While looking to improve aerodynamic performance, Hunt also sought to significantly reduce the weight of its flagship road racing team wheelset. -Simon von Bromley/Our Media. According to Hunt, this was achieved by reducing the width of the rear rim, adopting a hookless design and using its new, lighter H_Ratchet DBL hub. Measurements were taken from -20 to 20 degrees YAW and the results were analyzed using Mavic’s Weighted Average Wind (WAD) method. This allows the results to be combined into an average WAD value for each set of wheels. The hub has double sealed bearings, with steel bearings as standard or ceramic bearings as an option. Finally, the H_Ratchet DBL hub features a 40-tooth double rack system for the freehub body, double sealed bearings and a reinforced H_Ceramik ceramic coating. According to Hunt, one of his sponsored athletes, Boru McCullagh, tested the new hubs (built into his 48 Limitless Gravel Adventure wheelset) on a fully loaded round-the-world trip, covering over 25,000 km on one set. The Hunt SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc wheelsets are available for pre-order now, with the wheelsets shipping in late February 2024 for options with steel bearings or in April 2024 for configurations with CeramicSpeed bearings. Finally, the SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc Wheels specifications are as follows: Hunt SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc UD Carbon Spoke, CeramicSpeed Bearings Actual Weight: 1,383g with Tubeless Rim Tape Rim Depth: 49.5mm Inner Width: 2mm 3mm. Width: 34.2mm Front / 30mm Rear Spokes: Taperlock UD Carbon Number of Spokes: 18 Front / 20 Rear Hubs: Hunt H_Ratchet DBL, 40T, 9 Degrees of Engagement Bearings: CeramicSpeed, Double Sealed Bearings Price: £28 / £98 , £98, $28 Hunt SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc UD Carbon spoke, stainless steel bearings Claimed weight: 1,380g Rim depth: 49. 5mm Internal rim width: 23mm External rim width: 34.2mm Front / 30mm Front spoke: Carbon Front spoke 8 Car / 20 Rear Hub: Hunt H_Ratchet DBL, 40T, 9 degree engagement Bearings: Double sealed stainless steel cartridge Price: £1,849 / $2249 / €2,279. Hunt SUB50 Limitless Aero Disc Steel Spoke, bears…
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