Profile Design

58/TwentyFour Carbon Clincher Disc Wheel

Given Profile Design's notoriety for producing aerodynamic triathlon components, it makes perfect sense they'd create the 58/TwentyFour Carbon Clincher Disc Wheel for riders seeking to shave every second from spirited training rides and competitive racing scenarios with their medium-dish profile that balances aerodynamics with crosswind stability. Carbon construction ups the ante in stiffness, ensuring every watt of available power is transferred into forward motion. And since disc brakes have become increasingly popular with road cyclists and triathletes alike, this particular wheel accommodates the powerful stopping force of 6-bolt disc rotors.

Extensive research and design went into the 58/TwentyFour's rim depth and width profile, with Profile engineers using a mixture of wind tunnel testing and Computational Fluid Dynamics in testing the wheel's aerodynamic prowess. And because wind tunnel testing alone isn't necessarily transferable to real-world situations where wind speed and direction are constantly in flux, Profile Design worked with Speed Theory to simulate the historical wind patterns and angles of popular race courses in relation to the 58/TwentyFour's wheel depth and width profile.

After simulating the predominant wind speeds and patterns of popular race venues, Profile then tried a number of different rim widths and depths for their particular wheel applications. In this case, they settled upon a 58-millimeter deep carbon wheel for an obvious aero advantage with a slightly curved side and rounded spoke-facing edge that manages lateral crosswinds better than a traditional airfoil rim. As for the 24.5-millimeter rim width, Profile found this width straightens the tire's sidewalls, subsequently creating a plusher ride with less rolling resistance.

Looking at the hub, Profile uses a forged and machined 6061-T6 aluminum hub with a shot peened anodized finish that's 18 percent stronger than standard aluminum freehubs. The shot peened anodized finish prevents damage from the cassette digging into the hub body or moving unnecessarily, which translates to crisper shifts and more efficient power delivery.