CADEX WHEELS AR 35
The 'experience with Gravel wheels
for outstanding performance on Off-Road Cycling
The test
The continuous evolution in the gravel world gives us weekly innovations on bikes, frames, shock systems etc. One of the best bike upgrades though are the wheels, regardless of make or model.
In general: wheels, as a rotating mass in continuous motion, need lightness to improve the riding experience, especially in relaunches or when tackling challenging climbs. Il materiale più leggero disponibile sul mercato è il carbon, so good wheels made of this material are definitely the best gift you can give your bike, and yourself .
In this article I want to tell you about my personal experience with the wheels CADEX AR 35.
I started testing CADEX wheels several months ago. I have put them through their paces on a variety of terrains and participated in numerous events. After months of stress on the wheels I can now provide you with feedback on this spectacular set of wheels: the CADEX AR 35.
Giant: on the crest of the wave for 50 years
For those unfamiliar: CADEX is a branch of one of the world’s leading bike manufacturing companies, Giant Manufacturing. La famosa azienda taiwanese, fondata nel 1972 da King Liu, quest’anno festeggia il suo cinquantesimo anniversario. Giant vanta mezzo secolo di esperienza nella produzione di telai in carbonio ed alluminio e ha contribuito ad inserire numerose innovazioni sia nel processo di lavorazione dei materiali sia sulla geometria dei telai da corsa (come ad esempio la famosa geometria sloping, that is, the inclined horizontal tube). So we are talking about a ‘world-leading company in the industry that over the years has diversified its business by launching the spinoffs of Liv (the brand dedicated to women) and CADEX which produces high-end carbon components: wheels, handlebars, saddles, and tires.
Fun fact: The CADEX 980C was Giant’s first mass-produced carbon bicycle, launched back in 1987.
CADEX AR35 Gravel Wheels
Today I want to tell you about my personal experience with the CADEX AR 35 gravel wheels, launched on the market about a year ago. After months of testing on the most arduous terrain in Italy and Europe and after trying them in different weather conditions, I am able to give you my opinion on the product.
Let’s briefly analyze their technical characteristics: the AR35s were born as off-road wheels that offer the maximum possible lightness and strength. Their weight is one of the lightest on the market: the pair weighs only 1270 grams and is a real pleasure to ride once mounted on the bike.
The carbon rims boast a wide inner channel width and a hookless bead. This wide channel also allows them to accommodate MTB tires, which, when tire pressure is lowered, imparts a safer off-road ride-this means being able to push the bike to the edge of the gravel or get out of unexpected situations when participating in trails that cross remote areas.
AR 35 wheels have ceramic bearings that give the bike smoothness and speed. I personally prefer them when I relaunch the bike and have noticed a huge difference from my previous wheels. Although I am not a cyclist particularly concerned with averages or performance, my average speed has gone up with the new carbon wheels.
The hubs are another of the AR35’s special features especially the rear one is equipped with a 60-tooth free wheel with carbon aero spokes to give lightness and stability in windy conditions. One of the special features of this hub is the “sound” it produces; a very high and distinctive symphony. This could be a feature more or less appreciated by the bikepackers, but I personally like it a lot, also because you can hear me coming from afar (maybe to my riding buddies like it a little less).
For more technical details, I recommend you take a look at the site at the wheels section of the CADEX website.
My setting of AR35s
I have mounted CADEX AR35s on my Canyon Grilz greatly reducing the weight of the bike, which comes, now only to 8.6 kg: not bad at all. I tried the wheels with different types of tires, more or less treaded and of different widths, which I replace depending on the routes I have to face. I fitted the wheels with mousse (a kind of foam rubber sausage that fits between the rim and the tire), both to protect the rim but mostly to have the confidence that I can get home or get myself out of particularly unpleasant situations as happened at the Seven Serpents.
Although the installation of mousse may like it or not, for me it was the right choice to tackle the trails of the 2022 season. Besides that, thanks to the mousses, I can ride with a low-pressure tire (between 1.8 and 2 bar), and this gives me much more grip on off-road trails infusing me with more confidence in riding and also I don’t have to worry too much about hitting the rim.
I am very happy with these choices and lucky to have mechanical friends, such as Gallo Nero Bike Lab or Carlino of Florence by Bike, who always know how to advise me on the right choice for me.
My experience on the trails: Seven Serpents
Although I participated in numerous events this year, the real test of the CADEX AR35s for me was the new and exciting Trail called Seven Serpents.
I have already recounted my experience on the Seven Serpents in some live Instagram so I won’t give you a description of the adventure here, but thanks to the CADEX AR35 wheels for the first few days I was able to maintain a good pace that allowed me to stay ahead of the pack.
Then I had a nasty tire cut that took me a long time before I got going again. The cut occurred at the top of a diabolical climb, and fitting a mousse allowed me to manage to get down to the valley, at a fairly fast pace and then try to find a way to repair the damage. Unfortunately, despite several makeshift repair attempts, I was unable to plug the leak and was forced to find a bike shop and replace old tires with those available at the store. When you are in such remote areas you cannot always find the tire you want, but thanks to the width of the inner channel, and the clearance of the bicycle, I was able to install a MTB tire and continue on my adventure finishing this wonderful, and challenging, trail.
Reflecting coldly, perhaps if I had another wheel I would not have been able to handle the inconvenience, which is known to always be around the corner.
Value for money
Cadex AR 35 wheels have a cost of. 2298 €, so they are in the range of the price range of other brands’ products plus they provide the reliability of a historic yet innovative brand like Giant. The difference once fitted was remarkable so I am extremely happy with the product as well as satisfied with their durability, especially comparing it to other carbon wheels purchased in the past.
Before writing this article, I also wanted to ask my mechanics for a technical opinion, and they confirmed what I thought: a product that is therefore competitive in the market and high-end that will make you appreciate your bike even more gravel.
If you have any concerns or other questions about CADEX wheels, you can contact me and I will be happy to give you more information.
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