ENVE has expanded is Foundation Collection with two new wheelsets called the AG25 and AG28, offering gravel grinders and adventure cyclists alike a set of premium hoops at a mid-level price point.
The new wheeslets draw upon the technologies and performance characteristics first introduced in ENVE’s G Series line of gravel wheels. However, as the gravel segment continues to evolve, and the boundaries between gravel cycling and mountain biking continue to blur, the AG25 (700c) and AG28 (650b) have been adapted to provide both the durability and performance necessary from racing to bike packing.
“Since the introduction of the G Series line two and a half years ago, we’ve been enjoying the benefits of purpose-built gravel wheels on our local Utah roadsand trails, and ateventssuchas Unbound Gravel, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Crusher in the Tushar, and the Belgian Waffle Ride. What those wheels have delivered to the gravel rider is a more capable wheel with pinch-flat protection, vertical compliance, and low weight. Bringing those design elements to the AG25 and AG28 is exciting knowing more gravel riders, bike packers, and adventurers will be able to experience a higher level of confidence in their wheels,” says ENVE’s Marketing Manager, Neil Shirley.
With gravel bikes becoming ever-more capable and riders opting for tire sizes upwards of 50x700c, ENVE’s engineering team identified rim width increases and strength as key objectives for the AG25 and AG28, while still maintaining a high level of compliance. Using on-board data acquisition equipment and aligning it with subjective test ride feedback, ENVE engineers refined the laminate and rim profile to achieve the targeted objectives.
The result is a rim design ready for race day and the rigors of backcountry exploration. “The purpose of the Foundation Collection is to bring the ENVE ride experience to a broader range of riders.This is accomplished by simplifying the manufacturing processes, reducing labor costs that go into each wheel, and ultimately being able to offer a lower priced ENVE wheelset.
However, despite the lower price of the Foundation Collection, riders can still enjoy the benefits of technologies such as the Wide Hookless Bead and Molded Spoke Hole.
“Like the mountain and road Foundation models, we held nothing back in making the AG line a quintessential gravel wheelset,” says Jake Pantone, VP of Product and Brand.
Wide Hookless Bead – Finding the perfect balance between too much tire pressure and not enough proves even morechallenging on a gravel bike where oftentimes the ideal pressure can result in an impact between ground and rim multiple times throughout a ride. ENVE’s patent-pending Wide Hookless Bead technology features a wide surface at each of the rim’s leading edges to create a larger surface so that impacts from curbs, potholes, and debris are distributed over a larger area, reducing the likelihood of pinch-flatting tubed and tubeless tires alike.
Additionally, this feature increases the rim’s impact toughness. ENVE has a tire pressure chart to aid in achieving optimal tire pressures at https://www.enve.com/tirepressure
AG25 = Inner Rim Width of 25mm Minimum Recommended Tire Size of 32mm
AG28 = Inner Rim Width of 28mm Minimum Recommended Tire Size of 45mm
Molded Spoke Holes – By employing ENVE’s patented molded spoke hole technology and configuring the rims for external nipples, the AG25 and AG28 are built for reliability and serviceability. Because carbon fiber gets its strength from continuous fibers, ENVE routes the fibers around the hole without cutting them which increases the strength of each spoke hole. This technique pays large dividends in the final product by creating a lighter and stronger rim.
Foundation Road Hub – The AG25 and AG28 are built on ENVE’s Foundation Road Hub that utilizes the same internals as ENVE’s premium hub offering, but with a simplified hub-shell design and non-stainless steel bearings. Like their premium hub offering, the Foundation Road Hub utilizes the tried and proven ID360 40t ratchet drive mechanism and ENVE’s maintenance-free automatic preload system aptly referred to as Perfect Preload. This system eliminates the possibility that the hub will develop bearing play andslop over time. It also eliminates the need to adjust preload as ride time is accumulated.
Lifetime Incident Protection and 5 Year Warranty – Services like ENVE’s incident protection program and warranty can influence a customer’s purchase decision as much as the product’s features, benefits, and price. The 5 Year Warranty protects buyers from defects in materials and workmanship. The Lifetime Incident Protection program protects owners from damage caused to their wheels while riding, crashing, or transporting their bikes. Proof of purchase is required.
The new Foundation Collection wheelsets retail for $1600 ($2999 AUD, $2300 CAD, £1850 and €1800), which are available now through select ENVE retail partners worldwide.
ENVE
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