When it comes to carbon wheelsets there are a lot of brands and models to choose from. Bontrager’s Aeolus Elite lineup is designed to provide high-performance at relatively affordable price points options for cyclists looking to upgrade or build a new bike. In this review, we’ll be looking at the Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V TLR wheelset which are a bit heavier than their Aeolus Pro 37V TLR counterparts but offer a significant discount. The front wheel costs $479 while the rear wheel is $519.99 which includes tubeless valve, tape and sealant. Despite the budget-friendly price, the wheels incorporate Bontrager’s Rapid Drive 108 hub which has 108 points of engagement for quick engagement. Additionally, the wheels come with a lifetime warranty for the original owner along with two years of crash replacement.
The Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V TLR disc carbon fiber wheelset combines modern wide profile with an affordable price point.
| Retail Price | $479 (front) / $519.99 (rear) |
| Rating | Design: A Weight: A Comfort: A Value: A |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 819 (front w/ valve), 964 (rear w/ valve + Shimano freehub) |
| Likes | + Budget friendly + Lifetime warranty and two year crash replacement + Modern wide inner width for smooth ride |
| Dislikes | – No extra spokes or wheel bag included |
| Where to Buy (US) | Trek |
UNBOXING
The Bontrager Aeolous Elite 35V wheels come individually shipped in Bontrager branded cardboard wheel boxes. Each wheel is secured in place with cardboard dividers to keep them secure during shipping. Inside the box you’ll find the wheels, basic wheel information tags and the tubeless valve and rim tape re-applied. Bontrager even includes tubeless sealant for each wheel so that you have everything you’d need to set up the wheels. The tubeless valves and the rim tape are re-applied to the wheels.
FIT & FINISH
Bontrager has designed the Aeolus Elite 35V to be a carbon fiber wheelset for riders looking for speed without breaking the bank. To that end, the Aeolus Elite 35V takes many of the modern features of the Aeolus lineup but has used their OCLV carbon construction and a 35mm depth to keep the costs down. Unlike the Pro or SLR variations, the Elite has a semi-gloss black finish with no exposed carbon fiber weave or detailing. Bontrager only offers the wheels in the black finish and pairs that with ghosted on Bontrager Aeolus branding that is nearly invisible most of the time. Interestingly, Bontrager offers a deeper Aeolus Elite 50 TLR for the same price despite the additional material.
In terms of profile, the Aeolus Elite 35V has a 35mm deep profile with a wide 25mm inner width and outer 32mm width. It’s a modern setup that lives up to the “high-volume” naming of the “V” in the product name. The wide setup makes it ideal for road cycling, gravel and everything in between. Bontrager has paired the wide rim profile with 24 spokes each wheel using bladed spokes for additional aerodynamic performance. As you would expect, the wheels have a standard 100 mm hub width in the front and a 142mm in the rear which should work with most thru-axle bike setups on the market. Trek sells the wheels with a Shimano 10/11 speed freehub and offers XDR and other options separately.
THE RIDE
We were lucky enough to time the review of these wheels with the Bontrager Aeolus RSL TLR tires in a 700×30 width. The soft 320 TPI construction of the tires made it easy to install on the wheelset in both a tubeless configuration and even as a tubed setup. While many companies have moved toward hookless setups, we’re still not convinced there are benefits for consumers and welcomed the hook design of the Aeolus Elite 35V wheelset as it offers more compatibility with tires on the market. After installing some rotors and a cassette, we swapped out the pricey but beautiful Xentis Mark 3 SL wheels from our Trek Emonda ALR and put on the Aeolus Elite wheelset. The combination of the black aesthetics and 35mm depth give the wheelset a sleek appearance and versatility for training rides or faster-paced rides.
One of our first impressions of the wheelset was the ride quality, the combination of the wide inner width and carbon fiber construction allow the Aeolus Elite 35V wheelset to dampen out cracked roads and potholes. It’s a nice smooth ride that makes a longer ride more comfortable and pleasant. At 1783g on our scales with the tubeless valves, the Aeolus Elite 35V are far from the lightest wheels on the market but still accelerate nicely and hold their speed thanks to the 35 mm depth. IOur favorite feature of the wheelset has to be the Rapid Drive 108 hub though, it has a nice subdued freewheel noise and instantaneous engagement. You can seamlessly switch between coasting and pedaling with the usual thud that most wheelsets have as the hub engages.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V wheelset to be a solid mid-level wheelset with a modern and highly versatile design. Bontrager has taken a classic formula of 35mm depth wheels, carbon fiber construction and modern wide inner width to give the Aeolus Elite 35V a smooth ride. With a lifetime warranty to back them up, you can also enjoy the wheelset for training ride or on gravel by simply swapping out the tires for your riding conditions. We were particularly impressed with the Rapid Drive 108 hub which has nearly instantaneous engagement which feels smooth and seamless while riding. While they don’t excel in any specific category, the combination $1000 price point and modern features make them a great upgrade or everyday use wheelset.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Bontrager. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.