Irwin cycling – they are third-year Bowral Classic supporters and if you take a look around the event village after each year’s ride you’ll be sure to see many riders have used these fine wheels on the day. A relatively small company established around 25 years ago, Irwin consistently deliver quality, high-value wheels as you’ll see below.
Bicycling Australia recently put the Irwin 58mm carbon clinchers to the test and here’s what cycling journalist Luke Meers wrote about them.
‘First impressions of the wheels were good. Out of the box they look and feel the part; 58mm deep and an impressive 26mm wide. These specs match with the current industry trend of wide rims. In contrast to conventional aerodynamic theory (which states that drag is directly proportional to the frontal area of an object), the current understanding of the air flow around rims suggest that a ‘wider’ rim (say, 26mm) actually reduces the drag coefficient and as such will be faster than a similar profile rim with a more traditional width of, say 21mm.
Additionally this wider profile also creates room for a beneficial broadening of the way the tyre sits in the rim, reducing rolling resistance and improving handling. This is almost entirely good news; the main downside being that a wider rim requires more material, which adds weight. The 58mm wheelset weighs in at 1755g. This is not a super lightweight figure but is comparable to its competitors. The Zipp 404 Firecrest wheelset (58mm deep, 24.7mm wide) is similar at 1690g.
Braking
Much of Irwin’s research and development process has been around producing a carbon fibre composite braking surface that is stable under heavy braking conditions. Composites can break down (no pun intended) if heated past a critical point. Irwin has sought to create a composite that dissipates heat effectively and maintains structural integrity under heavy or prolonged braking.
It certainly seems the rims provide smooth and relatively powerful braking for a carbon surface. I experienced a couple of unexpected rear lock ups but this was due to the tyre compound not the braking modulation.
Riding the Wheels
The 58mm depth combined with the fast hubs made rolling on these wheels hugely enjoyable. The sense of speed and efficiency was tangible, particularly once the speeds crept over 40kph. The wide mounting of the tyres added to the positive road feel.
The Bicycling Australia article concluded with Luke saying ‘with a list price on the wheels of $2295 and a two year warranty, these wheels represent a reasonably priced alternative to the more well known brands.’
In even better news the wheels are currently listed on the company website for only $1995.
For more on Irwin wheels visit the Irwin via www.irwincyclingoceania.com.au
