The enve ses 4.5 Pro wheelset, designed in collaboration with tadej pogaar and uae team emirates-xrg, is enve's new weapon created for mountainous and hilly terrain, where a blend of aerodynamics and a low weight is key to high performance.
Enve was given the challenge of developing a wheelset that had less weight, gave that aerodynamic edge and delivered great rolling efficiency. Over two seasons worth of feedback and development later, enve now has the wheelset to tick those boxes.
Enve's engineers have managed to save around 50g per rim by cleverly reducing the amount of material from the wide hookless bead. They also slightly narrowed the width of the rim, using new materials and layup refinement to help achieve a slimmer profile without sacrificing strength or impact resistance. This allows enve to maintain an inner rim width that preserves tyre volume and rolling resistance performance.
Lightweight alpina aero spokes and alloy nipples have been chosen help reduce the weight further, while ensuring the wheelset remains stiff and compliant. Optimisation for 28mm tyres is favoured by the pros while climbing, for minimal drag. The rims even have a lighter weight decal.
A further 60g has been shed through the creation of a more refined version of enve's patented premium innerdrive hubset, the innerdrive pro. It features a more compact, ultralight hub shell, with excess material having been milled out of it, the driveshell body and the ratchet kit to help save weight. A light-action 40-tooth ratchet and spring kit assist in reducing drag.
The new hubset comes loaded with enve's own-creation ceramic bearings, optimised for low friction, reliability and maximum endurance. They use stainless steel races, top quality, grade 5 ceramic balls and special seals, all designed for speed. Low-contact seals on the outboard facing bearing keep out debris, while no-contact seals on the interior-facing bearing further reduce drag.
The wheelset has been made at enve's own facility in ogden, utah, and proven by uae team emirates-xrg, with victories already at races such as liege-bastogne-liege, the giro d'italia and the criterium du dauphine.
For use on smooth roads and hilly, mountainous rides, the ses 4.5 Pro wheelset reigns supreme.
The existing 4.5 wheelset doesn't go away though. If you're looking for a wheelset that performs on flatter or more rolling roads, with rougher surfaces, that will still be your weapon of choice to give you an edge.