Where best to put money in a wheel set upgrade for a gravel bike?

Equipment
1

I’m looking at getting carbon wheels as a second wheel set for my gravel bike (Checkpoint SL5). Goal is to have a road tire and gravel tire set. Budget would permit only 1 carbon wheelset, the other needs to use the stock aluminum rims.

I don’t race on the road, and a bit of casual weekend warrior gravel events as 38 year old Dad.

Any thoughts on if it makes more sense to use the lighter aero rims on the road wheelsets? Or do people also “feel” the carbon difference on gravel rides?

Deeper dish wheels look cool on a road setup, which is a plus; and speeds are naturally higher, but road is a lower percentage of overall riding with the bike.

2

Head GC3 performance.

Or Shimano GRX Carbon

3

I would buy a deep and wide carbon wheelset for whichever tire you use more often. You could use a 45mm deep / 25mm internal width / 32mm external width carbon wheelset on either road or gravel.

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