Shallow, aluminium wheels are usually seen as the less sexy, lower-performing option when compared with their shapely carbon cousins. However, a decent pair of metal hoops has long been a mainstay of cycling components, especially for cyclists who ride all year round in any weather. In the days before disc brakes, it made no sense to subject expensive carbon rims to the grinding paste of winter so sacrificial aluminium wheels were the standard option. However, now that rim-saving disc brakes are ubiquitous on new bikes, can DT Swiss’ ER 1600 Spline wheelset make a decent case for itself as an upgrade option?
