Rolf Prima VIGOR α Clincher Wheelset

by MARK · 03/04/2014

Rolf Prima VIGOR α Clincher Wheelset

By Mark Tearle

Rolf Prima VIGOR α Clincher Wheelset Preview

“Fastest alloy wheel available. Period.

Not just at some angles either. The VIGOR α is the fastest alloy wheel on the market”.

That’s quite a bold assertion but sadly not one that I am qualified to scientifically measure. I’m sure the good people over at Rolf Prima have an independent study somewhere that quantifies the claim, but we’ll let it go for now and concentrate on that in the review.

Rolf Prima Vigor a wheels

I have acquired a set of Rolf Prima VIGOR α wheels which 2Pure have supplied as part of Project Alize – coincidentally 2Pure are also the UK dealers of Neil Pryde Bikes – and wheels being, arguably, the most important and critical component choice for a bike build, I’m keen to put this wheelset to the test with the new frameset.

The Rolf Prima VIGOR α wheelset is a popular choice for those keen on the marque, a brand conspicuous in the marketplace for their lack of spokes across their range of wheels, which include wheelsets for Road, Tri/TT, MTB, ‘Cross, Tandem, Town and Track.

Vigor a uses a 33mm deep alloy rim

Marketed as the “go-to wheel for everyday or race day use” the VIGOR α clincher wheelset is lightweight at 1450g (635g front and 815g rear). They are built around Rolf Prima branded TdF5.5 hubs with ceramic cartridge bearings, which are laced with seemingly physical law defying, paired spokes; in this case they are bladed CX-Ray spokes with a 14 front and 16 rear count. The 22mm wide and 33mm deep rim is a single cavity, alloy design and the wheels are supplied with titanium QR skewers.

Spokes are few and far between

Rolf Prima pride themselves on their ‘full component wheel design’, which means that they are hand built with a specification that is optimised to provide a functional set of wheels, which is then vigorously tested, for performance, reliability and safety.

Titanium skewers are a nice touch.

These wheels are technology-packed, with a list of patents as long as your arm, with curious engineering and aesthetic details; paired and fewer spokes, light mid-section alloy rims, high spoke tensions, differential flange and reduced wheel dishing, I am curious to know how these wheels are going to cope on my local, shonky Sussex roads.