DT Swiss 1450 Mon Chasseral wheelset £ 499.98 pair

Boasting white-painted rims and hubs and black anodised spokes with red nipples, DT’s Mon Chasseral wheelset is designed for climbing and finished to match. Weight is, accordingly, low at a quoted 1450g per pair excluding skewers.

The wheels employ a full house of DT Swiss components from the RR 1.1 rims via Revolution spokes with Prolock hexagonal aluminium nipples to the 240 hubs with their Hugi star ratchet freehub system. 28 spokes are used at each end, laced radially on the front wheel and two-cross at the back.

The finish is unique to the complete Mon Chasseral wheelset, although it is perfectly possible to create the same build from scratch using individually-sourced DT components.

As might be expected, build quality is high and finish immaculate. On delivery the wheels were both nicely true. Spoke tension is high; presumably, DT’s wheelbuilders use the company’s spoke tension gauges.

However, close inspection shows that none of the spokes has been ‘bedded’ against its flange during the build. At the back, each shows a gentle curve between the flange and the point where it crosses its interlacing fellow. In other words, tension is pulling each spoke straight rather than it having an inherently straight run even without tension. This potentially limits the fatigue life of the spoke, since it permits flexing at the bend on each pedal revolution.

Mosquito Bikes’ Phil Burnett says he has sold loads of these wheels with no complaints. However, the rear wheel here went out of true by about 3mm within 100 miles of commuting over London roads. This may look like a stern test for climbing wheels, but should not provoke a ‘fred’ in such a short test. DT do point out that, thanks to the use of standard spokes, the wheels can be serviced by any competent builder.

‘Fred’ apart, these are fine wheels. Acceleration is predictably quick, ride is resilient and comfortable and the hubs super-smooth. The Hugi ratchet system is impressively silky. The white colouring is, of course, a matter of taste. It did look good on the test Museeuw machine, which has white and silver graphics.

With properly bedded spokes, the Mon Chasserals would surely offer greater durability and would, in that case, merit a higher score. Nothing stopping you buying a pair and getting the spokes finished by your local spokesmith.

Shimano 9/10 speed and Campagnolo compatible versions available. Wheelset comes complete with a high quality wheel bag, specialist nipple and spoke keys and certificated wheel build quality document.