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Just Arrived: Lightweight Autobahn VR Front Wheel with Ceramic Speed Bearings, Schwarz Edition
The Lightweight Autobahn VR has been my favorite wheel for many (though not all) double centuries. It got a lot of use and ultimately some non-repairable damage.
Lightweight offered me a half-price crash replacement deal, which I accepted. This wheel was freshly built for me over in Germany about a week ago. It’s a beauty, with carbon fiber like you’ll find hardly anywhere else, including the Schwarz (black) logos that seem to holographically float in the rim section.
At 820 grams as shown, it is not a lightweight Lightweight wheel compared to a 430 gram Lightweight Mielenstein Obermayer front wheel.
However, the aerodynamics and mass of the Lightweight Autobahn VR make it a favorite for double centuries, particularly Joshua Tree double century, Solvang Spring Double Century, Southern Inyo Double Century, and Central Coast Double Century, all of which have moderate climbing (14000 vertical feet or less).
Well, the Central Coast Double Century highland route is hard core for climbing (at about 14000' gain) I suppose, but point is, the Autobahn VR is brilliant on descents and long runs of flat or mildly sloped ground, barring very strong gusts at 90°—otherwise it sheds wind and laughs it off. And CCD is 211 miles including a long stretch on the coast with a strong head/side wind where the Autobahn VR rocks.
I psyched that it arrived today because I can now ride it for Joshua Tree double century (March 10) and Solvang Spring Double Century (March 17), where it is ideal. Palo Alto Bicycles is gluing on Veloflex Vlaanderan tubular tire tomorrow. The workmanship for tubular gluing is superb there so all my tires are glued on by PAB.
