Gravel wheel thoughts?

Equipment
1

I am currently building a new gravel bike ( full suspension drop bar bike) This bike will have boost spacing (110 front and 148 rear) Berd wheels.

My question is, should worry about weight ( standard Berd hawk 27 wheels are 1380gram with low profile rims.) or maybe think more about aero gains by ordering Berd boost wheels with road aero wheelset ( 1500grams)

my options for rims are

Gravel rims 25mm internal width approx 1200 grams for wheelset

Hawk 27 rims 27mm internal width approx 1380 grams for wheelset

or

Road rims with 25mm internal width that are 50mm deep approx 1500 grams for wheelset

I plan to race Leadville in August on this drop bar set up. I know climbing is big there, buts it’s also a fast course as well

Thoughts?

3

For Leadville Aero matters on Pipeline each way, but Berds can do a good job of fending off fatigue which counts for a lot.

Also consider HED Gravel if you’re looking at a road related wheel. I run Emporia’s, which have been replaced by Lancaster (28.5 mm IW and 25mm deep) & Stillwater (28.5 mm IW and 50mm deep aero) Made in USA, so minimal tariff impact (could be some as I’m not sure where their hubs/spokes come from)

4

It might be fugly but tbh a drop bar full suspension is generally not a classically good looking bike so could work:

  • light rear wheel where aero is less effective and the light weight would make for better sus feeling.

  • a nice deep front where it would be most effective

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