“What does all of it imply?” This was the primary query I requested DT Swiss on the launch occasion for the brand new GRC 1100 50 and 30 wheelsets—and I wasn’t having an existential disaster. I wished to understand how on earth to make sense of DT’s naming system. It turns on the market’s a technique to the insanity.
What I realized is that the letters originally denote the product class and rim materials. Three letters means excessive finish carbon, two letters means excessive finish aluminum, one letter means entry stage aluminum. Then there are the numbers that observe, which specific hub sort. 1100 or 1200 means DT’s 180 (highest finish) hub, 1400 or 1501 means 240 hubs, and so forth down the road, with the 4 completely different hub choices DT manufactures.
Why DT choses these numbers to symbolize the hub sorts is a separate dialog, however a minimum of it makes it clear how one would go about deciphering these names. Lastly, there’s the descriptor on the finish, which refers back to the spoke sort (Dicut means T-type spokes, FYI).
(Picture credit score: Eszter Horanyi)
Apologies if I’ve misplaced you right here—for these so inclined, there’s a video explaining all of it deep throughout the recesses of DT’s huge and information-filled web site.
As soon as we established all of that, we had an opportunity to dive into DT’s latest gravel wheels: the GRC 1100 Dicut and GRC 1400 Dicut, each of which can be found in two completely different rim depths, 30 mm and 50 mm. Plainly along with sitting round and discussing newer and extra complicated methods to call wheels, DT’s engineers have been busy growing new fashions throughout the gravel line. DT’s earlier carbon gravel wheelset, the GRC 1400 Spline, launched in 2019 as a mid-depth wheelset with hookless rims.
For the brand new wheels, DT has determined to return to hooked rims, citing, partly, the hole in shopper’s data and luxury with hookless wheels. We had the prospect to check each of those new wheels at a launch occasion in Grand Junction, CO, and I additionally examined the GRC 1100 50 wheels for a number of weeks at residence in Seattle.
Design Particulars
(Picture credit score: DT Swiss)
The GRC 1100 wheels characteristic DT’s 180 hubs with a 36 tooth Ratchet EXP driver. Said weights for the 2 depths are 1350 grams (30 mm) and 1567 grams (50 mm). Pricing is $2,999 USD.
DT is positioning the GRC 50 as an aerodynamically-optimized “race” wheel, whereas the GRC 30 model (which can even be out there in 650b) is meant for “journey.” Each rim designs have an inside width (measured between the hooks) of 24 mm and each iterations are rated for a max system weight of 130 kgs.
DT Swiss makes use of the identical rim profiles for each the 1100 and 1400 sequence wheels. The GRC 30 rims have fairly an easy U-shape and max out at 31 mm huge. The GRC 50, nevertheless, will get the addition of some intriguing shaping—the higher a part of the rim (the place a brake monitor can be) is concave, earlier than ballooning out to an enormous 36.5 mm huge. DT Swiss claims they do very nicely towards the competitors in a wind tunnel, although this has not been independently verified.
DT Swiss’s 180 hubs are the corporate’s high finish highway providing and are extremely skinny and svelte—showing barely bigger than a 12 mm via axle in between the spokes. Important (although not excessive) weight-saving measures, like eradicating enamel on the centerlock disc brake interface, present up on the size: a entrance hub weighs a scant 92 grams, lower than half that of a few of DT’s rivals.
The 1400 stage model makes use of DT 240 hubs which add roughly 70 grams to every wheelset, however convey the value down, barely to $2,399 USD.
On (and off) the highway
(Picture credit score: Eszter Horanyi)
I spent a number of weeks using the GRC 1100 50 sequence wheels. The very first thing you discover about them is the width—at 36.5 millimeters huge they’re BIG. DT charges them to be used with tires as slender as 29 mm, and whereas I didn’t have the prospect to check this out, it could definitely look a bit uncommon mounted up.
The edges are optimized round 40 mm gravel tires. I examined out a number of completely different choices, spending most of my time on 45 mm gravel tires and 35 mm slicks. On these rims, the 35 mm tires ballooned out to be nearly precisely the identical width as the edges. They felt exceptionally quick at pace, actually coming into their very own above 40 kph. 35 millimeter tires are as slender as I experience lately, and I discovered myself marveling on the means they rode on these rims—an incredible mixture of pace and stability.
As a lighter rider, I typically am uncomfortable on deeper wheels in crosswinds. I anticipated the identical right here, however had no points in any respect on the GRC wheels, which I chalk as much as the form. It must be mentioned that with a wider tire, there’s much more floor space for wind to push a wheel round, however in some way, it really works.
DT’s 180 hubs carried out flawlessly, and I notably loved how straightforward it was to swap rotors. Due to the cut-outs within the centerlock brake interface, rotors by no means received caught on the wheels, which is considered one of my pet-peeves.
I might say that in case you’re within the (presumably small) subset of individuals chasing marginal positive factors each on highway and off, this wheelset might very nicely pull double responsibility. They might be at residence with 32 mm tires in a highway race and may very well be mounted with chubby gravel race tires every week later and carry out admirably there as nicely.
Worth and Conclusion
(Picture credit score: DT Swiss)
Gravel race wheels are an fascinating area of interest to debate. In the meanwhile, the market appears to be a mix of deeper, narrower highway wheels and wider, shallower gravel wheels with out all that many choices within the center. Gravel race tires are quickly getting wider, and up to now, I’m undecided rims are preserving tempo.
On the pointy finish of gravel races, aerodynamics are a deciding think about races. DT’s new GRC wheels are wonderful from each a efficiency and engineering standpoint, however they’re eye-wateringly costly, very a lot on the high finish of the market. There are few gravel particular wheels on this higher echelon—Cadex’s AR 35 wheels are available proper across the identical value level, however are considerably lighter at 1,270 grams (although the 1350 gram GRC 30 might be a greater direct comparability right here).
I can perceive the value justification for the GRC 50 wheels, the place individuals can pay for pace, however I simply don’t understand how a lot of a market there’s for $3000 journey wheels just like the GRC 30s. It could make extra sense to me to supply solely the GRC 50 within the 1100 sequence, and have each the GRC 50 and 30 choices out there on the 1400 stage. At $2400, they’re nonetheless very expensive, however barely nearer to actuality for many riders.
These are top-notch wheels backed by DT Swiss’s wonderful guarantee, however they’re just too costly for most individuals to get an opportunity to expertise them.
