Vittoria Alusion Aero Alloy Clincher Wheelset

If your new bike arrived with Vittoria's Alusion Aero Alloy Clincher wheelset, it's unlikely you'd be disappointed (depending on how much you paid). They look good, feel fast and ride well, with a freewheel that's pleasantly noisy without being LOUD. The trouble is, if you're upgrading from stock wheels you can get lighter for less money.

• Pros: Fast, stiff, pleasing freewheel noise
• Cons: Can catch crosswinds if you're not used to deeper rims, not the lightest

At 1,860g (Vittoria claims 1,791g) they're not particularly light – just 70g less than the Easton AXRs they replaced on my Vitus – but they feel fast and responsive. Hardly scientific, but I've noticed on some sections of my regular rides I'm definitely in a higher gear than I would normally be. Those 32mm-deep semi-aero rims do seem to pay dividends.

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I've read elsewhere people saying you don't need to worry too much about crosswinds with up to 50mm section rims, but they must be heavier/braver than me. Although the Alusions aren't as sail-like as some I've ridden, strong winds can still catch you out, especially if you're not used to deep (even if not very) section rims.

I'm a fair bit off my fighting weight but still not that heavy a rider, and haven't had any issues with brake rub or any sign that the wheels are anything less than stiff and true. (Vittoria doesn't list a max rider weight.)

Braking hasn't thrown up any concerns either, in the wet or dry. (With old and new Shimano 105 brakes, new pads in both cases.)

The Alusions are built with straight-pull aero spokes, 16 at the front and 21 at the rear, laced radially at the front and non-drive side rear, two-cross on the drive side to Vittoria hubs. Long training rides and one 115-mile day haven't caused anything to go out of true.

The quick release skewers do their job without issue and I think they look great – probably even better if they were lined up...

The rims are 24mm wide (17mm internally), and my 25mm Schwalbe One tyres seem a good fit.

Vittoria recommends its own Corsa or Rubino tyres, but the Schwalbes got a rave review from our Stu, so I've stuck with them. The wheels are tubeless-ready, but I've yet to go down that route. Some Vittoria Rubino Pro TLR G2.0 tyres have arrived in the office for testing, so I'll update this review on how easy they were to fit.

I have to confess I didn't fit the wheels (or tyres) myself. While I made my road.cc colleague Liam a nice cup of tea, he got his hands dirty removing my old wheels, swapping my tyres over, and switching my cassette to the new wheels. Then he did that last bit again but this time with the extra spacer as I'm still running 10-speed. Those on test are Shimano/SRAM compatible; Vittoria says they're also compatible with Campagnolo.

All was straightforward according to Mr Cahill, with only his own forgetfulness providing a minor hiccup.

> Buyer's Guide: 37 of the best road bike wheelsets

As for value – you can certainly get lighter and/or cheaper. Vision's Team 35 Comps are £279.95, and weigh a claimed 1,850g. (Stu tested the non-Comp version back in 2016 and was impressed.)

Though we haven't tested them, Hunt's Sprint Aero Wide wheels are the same price as the Vittorias, 31mm deep, and weigh a claimed 1,497g.

Just Riding Along's Lark Light Roads are about £15 more but 400g lighter (but they are only 25mm deep).

Conclusion

The Alusions are good wheels, and weight isn't everything, but if you can either go lighter for the same money or save cash for a similar weight it's unlikely they'll be a first choice for an upgrade. That said, I can't vouch for the performance of those listed above, and I can for these. If your bike comes with them fitted, certainly enjoy them until they need replacing.

Verdict

Affordable wheels that feel fast and light, even if they're not especially