To prove its superiority, the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc WheelSystem underwent four test protocols. The first and second test protocols were performed using wheel and tire only, while the third and fourth test protocols were performed using a complete bike.

FIRST TEST RESULTS

In the first test, with all wheels using the CADEX Aero tire, the CADEX Ultra 50 Disc showed best-in-class aero performance, requiring as much as 1.5 watts less power to beat the competition.

RankWheelTireAero Power (W)Extra Power Required (W)
1CADEX 50 Ultra DiscCADEX Aero 25c5.11
2Enve SES 5.6CADEX Aero 25c5.26+0.15
3Roval Rapide CLXCADEX Aero 25c5.28+0.17
4DTSwiss 50 Arc 1100CADEX Aero 25c5.57+0.46
5Zipp 454 NSW*CADEX Aero 25c6.32+1.21

SECOND TEST RESULTS

In the second test protocol, when test wheels were paired with commonly combined commercially available tires, the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc with CADEX Aero tire again came out on top, with as much as 5.5 watts difference over the leading competition.

RankWheelTireAero Power (W)Extra Power Required (W)
1CADEX 50 Ultra DiscCADEX Aero 25c4.98
2DTSwiss 50 Arc 1100Continental GP 5000 25c7.26+2.28
3Roval Rapide CLXS-Works Turbo 26mm8.66+3.68
4Zipp 454 NSW*CADEX Race 25c9.50+4.52
5Enve SES 5.6Vittoria Corsa TLR 25c10.48+5.50

THIRD TEST RESULTS

In the third test protocol, the test wheels were paired with commonly combined commercially available tires and mounted on a Giant Propel Advanced SL Disc. Once again, the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc with CADEX Aero 25c tires proved the winners, with an extraordinary aero performance of 234.93W, all while maintaining impressive stability in side winds.

RankTest BikeWheelTireAero Power (W)Extra Power Need (W)Side Load (N)Extra Side Load (N)
1Giant Propel Advanced SL DiscCADEX 50 Ultra DiscCADEX Aero 25c234.9318.8
2Giant Propel Advanced SL DiscDTSwiss 50 Arc 1100Continental GP 5000 25c237.9+2.9719.20.4
3Giant Propel Advanced SL DiscRoval Rapide CLXS-Works Turbo 26mm238.96+4.0318.2-0.6
4Giant Propel Advanced SL DiscZipp 454 NSW*CADEX Race 25c239.03+4.118.80.0
5Giant Propel Advanced SL DiscEnve SES 5.6Vittoria Corsa TLR 25c239.69+4.0118.5-0.3

*Please note: Due to availability, the Zipp 454 NSW tested were previous-generation model

FOURTH TEST RESULTS

A range of industry-leading race bikes with common commercially available wheel and tire combinations were tested:

Test BikeWheel and Tire CombinationAero Power (W)
Specialized Tarmac SL7Roval Rapide CLX + S-Works Turbo 26mm240.56
Canyon Aeroad CFR DiscDTSwiss 50 Arc 1100 + Continental GP5000 25c236.16
Cervelo S5Enve SES 5.6 + Vittoria Corsa TLR 25c240.11

When the bikes were mounted with the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc with CADEX Aero 25c tire, the results were clear. CADEX makes your bike faster with less effort:

Bike ModelWheel and Tire CombinationAero Power Results of CADEX Aero Wheel Combinations (W)
Specialized Tarmac SL7CADEX 50 Ultra Disc + CADEX Aero 25c236.27
Canyon Aeroad CFR DiscCADEX 50 Ultra Disc + CADEX Aero 25c235.55
Cervelo S5CADEX 50 Ultra Disc + CADEX Aero 25c235.19
Bike ModelAero Power Results of Common Wheel and Tire Combinations (W)Aero Power Results of CADEX 50 and Aero tire Combination (W)Aero Power Savings (W)
Specialized Tarmac SL7240.56236.27-4.29
Canyon Aeroad CFR Disc236.16235.55-0.61
Cervelo S5240.11235.19-4.92

An industry-leading weight of 1349g helps improve the system’s lateral stiffness-to-weight ratio up to 41.4% compared to competitor wheels. And an all-new low-friction freehub with ceramic bearings further reduces power loss by up to 30%.

LATERAL AND TRANSMISSION STIFFNESS

Lateral stiffness determines side-to-side flex of the wheel when side load is applied. Transmission stiffness determines how much torsional flex the wheel displays when pedaling force is applied. To ensure that the least amount power is wasted, both lateral and torsional flex must be minimized.

On the front wheel, the CADEX 50 Ultra has the highest lateral stiffness among its competitors, beating the Zipp 454 NSW by 18.8% and Roval Rapide CLX by 40.6%, all while remaining the lightest of the group.

CADEX 50 Ultra DiscZipp 454 NSWEnve SES 5.6Roval Rapide CLX
Front WheelWeight595860700649
Lateral Stiffness (N/mm)54.1443.9534.7532.13
Lateral Stiffness Difference-18.83%-35.82%-40.66%

For the rear, the CADEX 50 also has the highest lateral stiffness among competitors, more than 14% stiffer than second place.

CADEX 50 Ultra DiscZipp 454 NSWRoval Rapide CLXEnve SES 5.6
Rear WheelWeight754955751854
Lateral Stiffness (N/mm)49.0041.8840.0035.64
Lateral Stiffness Difference-14.53%-18.37%-27.27%

In terms of transmission stiffness, the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc beats the next best by more than 27%, guaranteeing superior power transfer.

CADEX 50 Ultra DiscZipp 454 NSWRoval Rapide CLXEnve SES 5.6
Rear WheelWeight (g)754955751854
Transmission Stiffness (N/mm)91.1665.9961.2555.21
Transmission Stiffness Difference-27.61%-32.81%-39.44%

For a wheel to be fast, it has to be stiff and light. As the numbers show, the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc achieves the highest lateral and transmission stiffness-to-weight ratio among its competitors, making it the most efficient of the group.

CADEX 50 Ultra DiscRoval RAPIDE CLXZipp 454 NSWEnve SES 5.6
Wheelset Weight1349140018151554
Lateral Stiffness (N/mm) (Front + Rear Wheelset Average)51.5736.0742.9135.19
Lateral Stiffness-To-Weight Ratio Wheelset Average (The higher the number, the better)0.080.050.050.04
Lateral Stiffness-to-weight Difference *-34.1%-39.1%-41.4%
Rear Wheel Weight754751955854
Transmission Stiffness-To-Weight Ratio (The higher the number, the better)0.120.080.070.06
Transmission Stiffness-To-Weight Ratio Difference*-32.5%-42.8%-46.5%

*: This line shows the difference of lateral and transmission stiffness-to-weight ratio between the competitors’ wheels and the CADEX 50 Ultra Disc. For example, -46.5% means 46.5 percent less efficiency in terms of lateral stiffness to weight.