We received a question from Phillip, a short time ago, asking us about Neuvation wheels, we had not heard of them, so we thought it was our duty to have a good look at them and let him and the rest of you know our findings. Neuvation make a great range of wheels at prices we can all afford
Here is Philips question: I would like to upgrade the wheels on my bike (a 2004 Fuji BEST) and am considering the Neuvation R28 SL3 model. They are light (1540 grams). I would also order the ceramic bearing kit for them. What are your thoughts on this wheel set? Have you any experience with them? Thanks.
We like new things and even better if they are carbon and at prices that will not break the bank. If the frame is the heart of the bicycle then the wheels are the soul, nothing improves performance better than a good set of wheels.
The problem is that good wheels normally cost a lot of money. Neuvation have developed wheel building in Asia for some of the world's top brands, Neuvation wheels give you quality at lower prices because company owner, John Nugent, is a one-man company, he does modest marketing, and focus on giving the customer the key aspects of a good wheel without all of the expensive fluff.
The Different Wheel Sets
The M models use all the same basic hub guts and are only Shimano compatible. The R series also all use the same hub "guts" and are available in either Shimano or Campagnolo. All models share the same basic front hub. The carbon wheels use the R series hubs. The R series wheels all share the same rims.
The M series wheels use a steel cassette body that is more durable but heavier than the R series wheels which use an alloy cassette body.
Aerodynamics, Weight and Stiffness
Aerodynamics is very important if you go very fast and relatively unimportant if you don't. The cut off line is about 20 mph and increase dramatically above 25 mph. So if you are a pro level rider averaging 25 mph it is a huge issue. If you are a club rider going 17 mph it's not so important.
Wheel weight is very important since it is weight in motion. Rim weight is more important that total overall weight since it's the furthest from the center and requires more force to get it moving. Once a wheel is at speed the weight is mostly unimportant unless you are going up a hill where it becomes very important. So wheel weight is most important in getting wheels up to speed and in hill climbing.
Stiffness is more important to larger and/or stronger riders who can flex wheels quite a bit. Professional riders normally release their rear brake going up hills because they would touch the brake pads if they didn't (note they engage them again at the top). Stiffer wheels also bend less for every rider and therefore deliver more power to the road. Stiffer wheels are also heavier.
Why Are They So Good?
Wheel quality is difficult to see. It's a combination of good hubs, good spokes, a good rim, and a high quality build. The factors that make these parts of a wheel good are mostly invisible. You are going to spend a lot of money on wheels, so you should do the research and find out what the key issues are. Here is the opinion of company owner John Nugent on why these wheels are the best wheels you can get for the money.
"There are three critical aspects to good hubs. Design, machine tolerances, and bearings."
John has been working with this hub and wheel maker for over 4 years and during the process has introduced him to many other high-end wheel companies. The result is that the hub "guts" on these are the same as found in many other wheels costing over $800 per set. The design of the M28 Aero hub cassette body is an old Sachs design that has been around for over 15 years with excellent results.
