CES Sport Draig 50 wheelset

The CES Sport Draig 50 wheelset is solid and dependable, aero enough to provide a decent boost over stock box section wheels, yet still shallow enough to be manageable in most weather conditions. The brass spoke nipples and pre-fitted tubeless rim tape make them easy to set up and service, but they are a fair chunk heavier than many of their rivals in this extremely competitive sector – and pricier than some, too.

The sub £1,000 carbon wheel sector is as competitive as ever and, if you watched our recent testing video comparing entry-level, midrange and high-end wheels, you'll know you can get some very handy carbon for less than you might expect.

At 1,734g on our scales (with tubeless tape and the heavier 11-speed Shimano freehub body) these come in a decent chunk above their 1,615g claimed weight.

As we're often told, aerodynamics rule supreme on the vast majority of rides, but it's worth noting that if you live in a hilly area, wheelset weight plays a more significant role.

If that's you, less expensive 50mm deep wheels such as the Hunt 50 Carbon Aero Disc (£745) come in a fair bit lighter. Those are a claimed 1,487g. They also happen to be wheels with a Giro D'Italia stage win to their name...

Whilst the Draig (Welsh for Dragon) pair carry a little extra timber, it's impossible to fault the build quality and/or durability.

Firstly, the wheels are laced up using brass nipples, which likely adds in the region of 70g over alloy ones, but vastly increases the service intervals. Whereas in typical UK conditions I usually get two years out of aluminium nipples, I am yet to need to replace any brass nipples even on a wheelset (Roval CL50) approaching four years old.

If you're happy to sacrifice a little weight in return for a vast reduction in maintenance, I can't recommend brass spoke nipples enough.

Also contributing to the weight is the spoke count. It's very common to find 24 in the rear wheel, as here, but whilst 24 at the front isn't uncommon it's far less of a given – many wheels look for every possible way to shed weight. For example, the comparable 50mm Scribes have 21 spokes up front.

The upside is a max weight limit of 120kg though, which isn't always the case with carbon hoops. Despite being a lighter rider I am confident in the robustness of the CES build; during several months of winter abuse I often ventured offroad or simply put them through potholes and battered into kerbs.

The rims themselves follow recent trends with a U-shaped profile designed to be stable in gusty conditions. Out on the road the Draig 50 wheels are indeed predictable, and I would happily use them year round no matter the weather conditions. If you're considering upgrading from stock to your first carbon wheels, 50mm deep ones like these are ideal – you get an aero benefit but not the uncontrollable buffeting in sidewinds.

The Draig 50s measure up at 20mm internally and 27mm externally. A few years ago this might have been considered wide, but these days there are plenty wider on the market. I personally train and now race on 28mm tyres, and most aero research (including our own) indicates that wheels are fastest when they're slightly wider than the tyres fitted to them.

In my own experience wider wheels are also more stable; I'd therefore personally opt for something wider than 27mm externally if your frame allows it – something like the Hunt 44 Aerodynamicists, for example.

The hubs are BiTex BX106s, again a solid choice. Bitex thru axle hubs have a decent reputation for durability, and spare parts and bearings are readily available. Alone these retail for around £170 for the pair.

I couldn't find the engagement angle or freehub tooth count on the CES website, but if my counting is correct then it's a 48t system with an engagement angle of 7.5 degrees. Most riders will find this the sweetspot between good pickup and acceleration from low speeds and excessive dragginess or buzzing when freewheeling at high speeds.

Value

This is one of the most competitive sectors in the entire cycling industry. For instance, last winter I ordered myself a set of Light Bicycle wheels that after duty cost a very similar price, in a comparable build with Sapim spokes, brass nipples, DT Swiss 350 hubs and tubeless rims. However, those are not only wider at 21/30mm, they're deeper at 56mm and still nearly 200g lighter.

In fact, there are quite a few comparable wheelsets that are much lighter for this kind of money. Scribe's Core Wide 50-D wheels are substantially less at 1,448g, don't struggle at all for durability or stiffness, and are £799. They were previously known as the Aero Wide 50-Ds, by the way. We've also reviewed (and loved) the Hunt 50 Carbon Aero Disc wheels, which are 1,472g and will set you back £749. They were actually the 4050s when we did that review, but only the depth of the front wheel has really changed.

Meanwhile the £749 Vel 50 RL Carbon Tubeless Disc Wheelset also features 50mm deep rims, 24 spokes front and rear, brass spoke nipples and are tubeless ready, and they weighed 1,660g on our scales. Really, this is the sort of price the Draigs need to beat to be competitive.

Overall

There's really nothing wrong with the Draig 50s, and they're a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their stock wheelset. They're well built, dependable and specced appropriately for UK roads and conditions – it's just that, when you can quite easily get cheaper and lighter interpretations elsewhere, they're quite hard to recommend.

Verdict

Solid wheels suitable for year round training, if uncompetitive on price and weight