Dura Ace

This is mainly and excuse to have another picture of the latest Carbon wheels from Shimano… We’ve already done a First Look (hopefully they’ll get the message now and send us a test pair…) but here’s the basic technical spec, just in case you missed it:

• 50mm high profile deep section carbon rims
• Weight 1525 grams per pair
• 16 front and 20 rear bladed spokes
• Available from July 2006

Ultegra WH-6600 and WH-R601

The first wheelset to have the Ultegra name. Silver anodised as standard or Black to special order with black spokes

• Aluminium rims
• Aluminium rear axle and cassette freehub body
• Wide hub and offset rim design to improve rigidity
• Weight 1687 grams per pair
• 16 front and 20 rear bladed spokes
• Available from June 2006

105 WH-5600

The replacement for the R550 we all know and love – Now with 105 branding and improved rim with special offset. Silver polished anodising as standard. The front hub design has changed slightly too. The overall design is intended to be lighter (slightly) and stiffer/stronger.

• Polished aluminium rims
• Aluminium rear axle and cassette freehub body
• Wide hub and offset rim design to improve rigidity
• Weight 1763 grams per pair
• 16 front and 20 rear bladed spokes
• Available from June 2006

WH-R561

Intended for the budget end and still with the similar approach to last year’s R550, so these should be worth the wait, especially as they should be a little cheaper! Like the Ultegra wheels these should be available in a Black option too. A slightly re-designed front hub and new graphics is about as much as they’ve done, but if it ain’t broke… We expect to see these on complete bikes first.

• Aluminium rims
• Aluminium rear axle and cassette freehub body
• Wide hub and offset rim design to improve rigidity
• Weight 1820 grams per pair
• 16 front and 20 rear double butted and bladed spokes
• Available from June 2006

Much of this gear will be in the shops towards the end of the year, they will be available from Ultimate Pursuits stores.