What do the names mean?
At Particle, we use a simple naming system to differentiate our wheelsets. At the moment, we only have two wheelset series but plan to add more options. The letter “G” means gravel, while the letter “R” means road. However, due to the trend towards wider road tires, the GC series is a perfectly capable road wheelset. The “C” means carbon spokes. At the time of publishing this article, all of our wheelsets feature both 3rd and 4th generation carbon spokes, though we are considering adding steel spokes to our lineup. Lastly, "X" stands for the x-factor. What this means is that the wheelset includes next-generation wheel tech.
Weight
One of the most important aspects when considering a wheelset is the weight. Our belief is that there should be something for every rider. That is why we have chosen to offer three versions of each one of our models, Team, Light, and Ultralight. At the moment, both our RC and GC series wheelsets come in two rim depths. Each wheelset series comes in multiple rim depths as well as mixed rim depths. Furthermore, the wheels have different weights depending on the spokes you choose. See the product pages to the individual wheelset weights.
Understand that there are different weight limits for ultralight, light, and team version wheelsets. Ultralight wheelsets have weight limits of 100kg, while light and team versions have weight limits of 120kg and 140kg respectively. This weight limit includes the rider, the bike, and accessories.
Performance
As far as performance, the wheels are quite similar. The main consideration would be which kind of tires you plan to use. For optimal aerodynamic performance, grip, and rolling resistance, we have tire width recommendations for both rims.
For those who wish to use 25-28c tires, the RC series would be the optimal choice. While some riders use 28c tires with 22-25mm inner widths, the optimal shape for grip and rolling resistance for these tires is actually achieved with slightly narrower inner width rims. Rims that are too wide that pair with 28c tires will have increased rolling resistance and poorer cornering due to flattening out of the tire. Rims that are too wide or too narrow can be dangerous. We recommend following the ETRTO guidelines if you are unsure.
In terms of aerodynamics, a 28c tire paired with a 31mm external rim width wheelset is optimal for reducing drag. Tires tend to expand by up to a few millimeters when inflated, and it is recommended that your tire should be slightly narrower for optimal aerodynamic performance.
For those who want a more comfortable ride with 30c and wider tires, we recommend our GC series. Wider tires have more air volume and can be run at lower pressures, making rough roads feel smoother. For optimal aerodynamic performance, we recommend you pair 30-32c tires with these wheels, as they have 33mm outer widths. If you are after more comfort, wider road tires or even wider gravel tires are the perfect companions to the GC series wheelsets.
The reason for choosing a deeper section wheelset is it can offer better aerodynamic performance, all else being equal. They are the ideal for most riding conditions, as they save more time on the flats and downhills, where most riding takes place. If you live in a hilly or mountainous area, either the GC30 or RC33 might be the best option.
What the Pros Choose
From our experience talking with UCI WorldTeams, ProTeams, and Continental teams, whose riders spend tens of thousands of hours a year on their bikes, 21mm internal rim widths are the sweet spot for their 28c tires. For races like the Paris-Roubaix with cobbles, they prefer wider 32c tires, with some going even wider!
As for the differences between the ultralight, light, and team versions, there is a tradeoff between weight and stiffness. If you are a within the 100kg weight limit, the ultralight series is best for most riders. For heavier riders, you may want to consider the light or team version depending on your weight. As for stiffness, there is a difference, but for most riders for optimal performance, the lighter the rim, the better. The team version takes its name, as many teams don’t want to go under the 6.8kg limit, and many riders are sprinters, meaning they need as much lateral stiffness as possible. Though pro teams often prefer to have a mix of ultralight and team version wheels depending on the course and bike setup.
Understand that in most situations, a narrower tire and rim combination will have lower rolling resistance and better aerodynamics everything else being equal. This assumes that a tire is inflated to its optimal pressure. Wider tires can offer more grip, comfort, and confidence.
Rims
The main difference between the rims comes down to the carbon fiber layups, the rim depths, and the inner and outer widths.
GC series rims have wider inner and outer widths to accommodate wider tires. Rim depths are also different among both series.
As far as the team vs. light vs. ultralight series, they use very different carbon layups. Ultralight series wheels and to a lesser extent, light series wheels, have much more complicated carbon fiber layups to achieve lighter weights without sacrificing durability in a collision. All of our wheelsets can survive more than twice the 40 joule UCI Vertical Impact Test standard. Particle’s standard is 90 joules, going far beyond the industry standard.
As mentioned before, wider tires should be paired with wider rims for optimal ride quality and aerodynamic performance, though understand that it is important to not use a rim that is too wide for a tire or vice-versa. We strongly recommend you follow the standards given by the ETRTO instead of what you may see marketed. Some wheel and tire combinations can lead to poor performance or may even be dangerous.
Spokes
As for spokes, both wheelsets feature carbon spokes. Aside from spoke length, there isn’t much different. Wheels have both 2X/2X spoke patterns with 20 spokes on both front and rear wheels. This spoke pattern increases strength and responsiveness despite a slight weight disadvantage, as longer spokes are required.
We offer both third generation and fourth generation carbon spokes. First generation carbon spokes are bonded to a wheel’s hub and rim. While this may save some weight and improve stiffness, it means that if you break a spoke, you have to buy a completely new wheel. For us, we see this as wasteful and unnecessary. Second generation spokes have slowly overtaken first generation carbon spokes. While they have the benefit of being replaceable, they often experience spoke twist, leading spokes to be in non-aerodynamic orientations. In addition, many designs are poor leading to spokes that are not mechanically secured, meaning they can pop out of the hub if a spoke loses tension.
In order to avoid the problems experienced with first and second generation spokes, we have committed to using only third and fourth generation spokes. These two generations of spokes are mechanically secured, meaning there is no risk in spokes popping out of the hubs if there is a sudden loss in spoke tension, and there is no risk of spoke twist. While both of our carbon spoke types have this benefit, the fourth generation goes a step further by shaving off nearly 33% more weight off second and third generation spokes. Our fourth generation carbon spokes weigh only 2.1 grams each with nipples, and are the lightest spokes currently available. 2nd and 3rd generation carbon spokes weigh roughly 3.2 grams. Carbon spokes are significantly lighter than the lightest steel spokes like the Sapim CX-Ray while having significantly better tensile strength.
Hubs
All of our wheelsets share the same hubs, the AR1. After considering many hub options and manufacturers, we have chosen what we think is the best design currently available.
At Particle, we try to avoid marketing trends and tech that don’t offer real world performance gains. For this reason, we have chosen to use the gold standard of hub design, the star ratchet. We offer both 45T and 54T options for no extra cost.
Our AR1 ratchet hub shells and axles have been machined to 0.005mm and 0.003mm tolerances respectively, making them much more precise than other ratchet hubs. Therefore lowering rolling resistance and improving longevity. The hubs use labyrinth seals and double layer contamination barriers, so there is a significant reduction in the likelihood of ingress, protecting bearings and ratchets from the elements.
Servicing is a breeze, as no tools are required. Star ratchets are also simple to clean and replace.
Bearings
One of the hottest topics in the world of premium road and gravel bikes, components, and wheels is bearings. After years of working for bike and wheel brands, our team has chosen to use steel bearings as standard but also offer ceramic bearings as an option. To learn more about both types of bearings, please see this article.
As far as bearing sizes, we have chosen S&S 6803 bearings for the front hub and freehub, while the rear hub uses one 6802 bearing and one 15267 bearing. 6803 bearings are larger, offering improved rolling resistance and durability.