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review

Bontrager Aura 5 wheels

8
£899.98

VERDICT:

8
10
Fast, mid-section wheels that offer good control in a wide variety of conditions
Weight: 
1,878g
Contact: 
bontrager.com

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The new Bontrager Aura 5s are very good aero wheels that, although not cheap, offer impressive value for money.

First, well done to Bontrager for getting the weights right. The Aura 5's published weights are 770g (f) and 970g (r) – and that's exactly what they measured on the road.cc scales, plus 68g and 70g for the quick release skewers.

The rims are what Bontrager call an Aluminium Carbon Construction (ACC). That means they're 6061 alloy with unidirectional carbon profiles running inside. So the braking surfaces are alloy and the spokes extend straight through the carbon and into the alloy spoke bed.

Those carbon walls are flexible; you can easily pinch the two sides towards one another with your finger and thumb. I guess that might make them more prone to some kind of damage but nothing untoward has happened during testing and it keeps the weight down.

The sides of the carbon curve in slowly. The profile is nothing like the almost constant width of Zipp's Firecrest design, for example, but it isn't a traditional V-shape either – it's more rounded than that. Bontrager have done loads of work on wheel aerodynamics over the past couple of years, developing their Aeolus range which they reckon offers the best aero performance out there for any given depth.

The Aura borrows from the same aero technology and Bontrager say that it provides the highest performance you can get for the price (of course they do). According to Bontrager's own test results, the Auras aren't as aerodynamically efficient as their Aeolus 5 clinchers (£1,900 per pair) – both are 50mm deep – but they're not a million miles off.

At 0° yaw (a head-on apparent wind) the Aura has 140g of drag – 5g more than the Aeolus 5. At 10° it's 80g – again, 5g more – while at 12.5° the difference is more than 10g. According to Bontrager, 5g of drag equates to a time saving of 1.5-2.5 seconds per hour.

The rims are 23mm wide, following the trend towards wider wheels in the aero market. Bontrager have designed them this wide to reduce the drag with 23c tyres fitted, recognising that this is what most people want to use. The idea is that the wider profile will control the airflow that's separated by the tyre before it can create a large wake. The smaller the wake, the lower the drag.

The alloy hubs contain sealed bearings with the freehub using a three-pawl drive mechanism. It's Shimano/SRAM 9/10-speed compatible although you can get a Campagnolo-compatible freehub body if you need one. The front wheel is laced with 18 DT Aerolite bladed spokes while the rear uses 24.

The alloy braking surfaces mean you can use the Auras in all conditions without sacrificing control. Get caught in heavy rain and water can get inside the carbon section through the spoke holes but it soon comes out again via holes in the sidewall; that's not a problem.

These are certainly quick wheels – quicker on the flat than wheels of a similar price with standard-depth rims. You roll faster with aero rims, no question about it. Okay, there's a slight weight penalty and that affects acceleration slightly, but the carbon sections on the Aura 5s really aren't heavy and the overall wheel weight is reasonable. On all but the steepest climbs, you're at an advantage using these.

Handling is fine. I've been using these wheels over the course of a couple of months and I've only been on one ride where the Aura 5s were difficult to control in a crosswind. Even then, they were manageable; I just needed to be switched on to the possibility of a sudden gust affecting the steering. On all my other rides, I didn't give them a second thought.

One thing I would say about these wheels is that they're not the stiffest option out there. There's a noticeable amount of flex when you get out of the saddle and sprint. I prefer more rigid wheels but these do add some comfort that you might appreciate, especially if you have a harsh-feeling frameset.

As for durability, a quick inspection reveals that no water or gunk has got into the sealed bearings or the freehub during testing and the rims are still true. The closest I've been to damaging them is when I went to hang up a bike by the front wheel. You can't do that because of the flexibility of the carbon.

Verdict

Fast, mid-section wheels that offer good control in a wide variety of conditions.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Bontrager Aura 5 wheels

Size tested: One size

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Bontrager say, "Using all the lessons from designing our new Aeolus D3 wheels, the brand new Aura 5 wheelset has an aluminum rim mated to a 50mm carbon profile. Proven to be crazy fast in the wind tunnel, the Aura is the highest performance for the price on the road.

- The everyday wheel for the performance cyclist

- 23mm x 50mm profile provides fast aerodynamic rim

- Aluminum Carbon Construction (ACC) rim combines 6061 alloy with UD carbon optimal tire support in a lightweight construction

- Stiff 15mm rear axle with sealed bearing hubs and 3 pawl drive mechanism for quick dependable engagement

- 18 front 24 rear DT aerolite spokes with Alpina locking alloy nipples

- Includes Bontrager internal-cam skewers and alloy presta valve extenders

- Compatible with both Shimano and SRAM 9/10 spd cassettes

- Campy compatible with free hub part number 420390

- No rider weight restrictions"

They are suitable for everyday road use – as long as you're comfortable with using a £900 set of wheels for everyday riding.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

If you want to know about Bontrager's aero wheel philosophy, check out their white paper relating to the Aeolus range:

http://media.bontrager.com/images/features/201108_aeolus/bontrager_aeolu...

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

The carbon profile is very thin and flexible. That's not a problem but you need to remember it when you pack/store the bike.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

No worries on the aluminium rims or the well-sealed hubs. My only concern would be damage to the flexible carbon profile but it's been fine so far.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

These aren't as light as 58mm-deep Zipp 404s, but then, they're considerably cheaper.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

There's a bit more flex in these wheels than in most so you get a softer ride.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tricky. You can get a Planet X 52mm-deep set of wheels for £500, Shimano Dura-Ace C50s at £1,200. The price of these is okay considering the technology.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They're fast, easy to control and suitable for nearly all conditions.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The flatline speed. The braking performance is good in all conditions compared to carbon which can be hit and miss.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I was always a bit concerned that I'd damage that flexible carbon profile and wreck the performance although, to be fair, this never happened so maybe I was worrying unnecessarily.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Well worth considering at this price.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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4 comments

Avatar
shogun337 | 6 years ago
0 likes

I have used these wheels for training and racing.   I got them aftert a friend, who I would drop easily on downhill section, got Zipp 404s and that stopped.  Got the Aura 5's and am back to dropping him on downhills.   I have over 10k miles on these and only trued them once after a hi speed hit on RR tracks.  Easily trued, indicating great initial build.   I am a heavier rider at 200 pounds, and enjoy the alu braking power and dependability.     I don't see any better wheels out there in this price range.  Pay 2 or 3 times as much and you can improve a bit if willing to use carbon brake track.   Maybe no problems if you are 50 pounds lighter.   

 

Avatar
jamjam | 11 years ago
0 likes

oh yea, and they're really fun to ride too  21

Avatar
Sarah Barth | 11 years ago
0 likes

Trying extremely hard not to insert a lewd comment here, JamJam.

Avatar
jamjam | 11 years ago
0 likes

look and sound very similar to my old cosmics, but at least they're super stiff.

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