Cadex is the element division of Large Bicycles, the world’s largest producer of carbon fiber bicycle frames. Cadex is rather more than Large’s OE element model, nonetheless, providing a spread of aftermarket handlebars, stems, saddles, tires, and wheels, the lightest of which is the Cadex 36 Disc.
“Huge Good points for Huge Days” is the ethos behind the 36 Disc, as conveyed superbly on this inspiring video that includes an epic route in Southern California, close to the Cadex North American HQ. I used to be eager to check these wheels, as they’re recognized to ship distinctive efficiency and have specs that help that fame but additionally stop a number of the tire compatibility pitfalls that have an effect on another high-end hookless rims.
First, I’ll deal with the elephant within the room – sure, the Cadex 36 Disc rims are hookless, however this isn’t a motive to keep away from these wheels. Fortunately, Cadex correctly selected an interior rim width applicable for true street tires, of twenty-two.4mm. Whereas many manufacturers have pushed the inner width of hookless “street” rims to 25mm, this renders them wholly incompatible with 25c tires, and in some instances, lower than a positive factor with 28c tires.
So, if you happen to’re like me and like a lightweight and nimble tire, arrange at a bit greater strain, 23mm is the max inside width that is smart on a hookless rim. Per Cadex, you possibly can nonetheless use as much as a 32c tire with the 36 Disc, offered it’s hookless-compatible. Cadex additionally provides glorious tubeless street tires, which roll and deal with supremely properly, are a snap to put in on the Cadex 36 Disc and retain air between rides higher than every other tubeless setup I’ve ever used.
Specs and Construct
As talked about above, the Cadex 36 wheels are constructed with a hookless carbon fiber rim. Because the identify suggests, these rims have a 36mm depth and so they measure 22.4mm extensive inside and 26mm extensive exterior. Given the hookless bead design, these wheels ought to solely be used with accredited hookless tubeless tires, and even then, it’s price checking Cadex’s compatibility lists of really useful and not-recommended tires.
On the middle of all of it are Cadex’s R1-C30 low-friction hubs which characteristic precision-machined internals to remove extreme bearing load, scale back friction, and save a handful of watts by reducing rolling resistance. Contained in the hubs are ultra-hard ceramic bearings which Cadex claims roll as much as 50% extra easily than metal hub bearings. They arrive with a Shimano HG freehub, and are suitable with SRAM XDR and Campagnalo, although you’ll must buy these individually. The freehub makes use of a 30-tooth ratchet system which isn’t as fast as some at 12°, however doesn’t really feel notably lagging both. The hubs additionally use normal centerlock brake rotor interfaces.
The edges and hubs are laced along with straight-pull Cadex Aero Carbon Spokes. These high-tensile-strength spokes have a bladed, aero design and are meant to scale back lateral flex with minimal drag at a lightweight weight. Moreover, the carbon spokes are laced utilizing what Cadex calls Customized-Tuned Dynamic Balanced Lacing Know-how, which units the spokes at a wider bracing angle that permits for greater spoke stress, additional bolstering the responsiveness of the 36 Disc. The entrance wheel is laced with 21 spokes in a 2-cross on the brake aspect and radially on the opposite, whereas the rear wheel makes use of 24 spokes in a 2-cross on each side.
The whole wheelset, together with tape and valve stems, weighs in on my scale at 1354 grams. All that fancy-ness will value you although, as these wheels retail for $1,400 for the entrance and $1,800 for the rear, or a cool $3,200 for the set. At current, nonetheless, Cadex is promoting them as a set for $2,500 with a set of tires, and so they informed us that worth is more likely to stick round for some time (though the tire promotion might not). Whereas not precisely inexpensive, the present worth for the set does undercut a number of different premium wheelsets in the marketplace.
Assessment of the Cadex 36 Disc
With all of the know-how packed into these wheels, it was a thrill to unbox them and get them set as much as trip and expertise first-hand. Cadex tapes and installs valves on all their wheels, which is about an $80 worth and saves appreciable time. This must be normal observe on all tubeless wheels, and I applaud Cadex for valuing the shopper’s time. Plush wheel luggage are additionally offered since you’ll maybe journey to some excessive mountains when you’ve bought these weapons in your arsenal.
From the primary few turns of the pedals, it was clear that “large beneficial properties” was no overstatement, and that the Cadex 36 Disc wheels wish to go quick. The 36 Disc spun up so simply and held pace so properly going uphill, that I wanted to train a little bit of restraint and barely recalibrate my effort when driving up a few of my native hills. That is the true advantage of super-efficient gear just like the 36 Disc for a leisure rider – the power to go the identical pace, with much less effort, for longer.
Ultimately, nonetheless, I gave in to my urges, stomping the pedals and pushing the bike aspect to aspect with every part I had. It was right here that the 36 Disc actually impressed me, responding with a potent mixture of lateral rigidity paying homage to a a lot deeper rim, and the peppy rush of momentum that solely wheels this gentle can ship. Even my most favourite climbing wheels up so far – Roval’s CLX 32 disc (the precursor to the Alpinist CLX) – had been uncovered as quite one-dimensional by driving the Cadex 36 Disc. Whereas the CLX 32 are gloriously environment friendly uphill, they reply finest to energy supply that’s wise, deliberate, and unhurried. Conversely, the Cadex 36 Disc desires to assault, throttle all the way down to a ruthlessly environment friendly tempo, then assault once more as quickly as potential. Their pace feels elastic, like a slingshot. And while you’re not attacking, the Cadex 36 lurks beneath the body, with a resolute effectivity that reminds you they’re prepared anytime you’re.
At 1354g, the Cadex 36 is an impressively gentle wheelset however makes use of greater than only a feathery rim to ship uphill pace. Whereas climbing, greater than their low weight, I used to be impressed by the lateral stiffness and responsiveness of the 36 Disc. Whereas the excessive tensile power carbon spokes absolutely account for a portion of the load financial savings achieved within the Cadex 36 Disc, additionally they generate this tremendous enjoyable and rewarding feeling when pushing the tempo uphill.
These trip impressions corroborate the distinctive ranges of each transmission and lateral stiffness the 36 Disc exhibited in lab testing carried out by Cadex. Whereas many assessments like this, particularly these involving aerodynamics are to be taken with a grain (or cup) of salt, Cadex’s assessments of the 36 Disc are easy and related measurements of wheel flex, utilizing different benchmark wheels as controls. So, they’re comparatively insightful inside the realm of in-house testing within the biking trade.
In testing, in comparison with the Alpinist CLX talked about above, Cadex measured the 36 Disc as having 43.6% extra transmission stiffness than the Alpinist CLX and 38.2% extra lateral stiffness. Transmission stiffness is a measure of how properly the hub resists winding up or rotating inside the wheel torsionally, and lateral stiffness signifies how properly a wheel resists shifting laterally when pressure is utilized from the aspect with the axle locked in place. For full info on how the Cadex 36 Disc stacks up towards different well-liked climbing wheels from Roval, Bontrager, and Zipp, try this detailed info from Cadex. TL;DR: The Cadex 36 Disc provides higher transmission and lateral stiffness than the competitors. Mixed with its low weight, the result’s a best-in-class stiffness-to-weight ratio with real-world benefits in climbing, sprinting, and descending, based on Cadex.
At 36mm deep, the Cadex 36 Disc are nice to trip at a much less intense effort and on tough surfaces as properly. Excessive-speed dealing with is predictable and secure, whereas fast maneuvers are assured and exact. On tough roads, the 36 Disc soaks up loads of street chatter and takes the sting off low-frequency bumps like driveways and potholes.
Talking of potholes, the Cadex 36 Disc wheels are protected beneath a two-year guarantee towards defects in supplies and craftsmanship in addition to Cadex’s Composite Confidence assure, which states that if any composite element is structurally broken when you’re driving within the first two years after you got it, Cadex will restore it or exchange it freed from cost. That is along with a 5-year incident alternative program the place you possibly can exchange broken merchandise at a 50% low cost.
After every week of driving the Cadex 36 Disc, some issues had modified – acquainted hills appeared flatter, and quick steep climbs late in rides appeared to sting a bit much less. I needed a Large TCR in my secure, simply to match these unimaginable wheels, however the 36 Disc have an aesthetic look that can look rad on nearly any high-end bike, even a boutique Titanium magnificence, as proven within the video linked above. At $2500/set together with tires, for now, the Cadex 36 Disc are premium wheels for street riders who need the very best wheels for shredding pavement.
