Ascent Polaris wheels

[TobinHatesYou]

Just received. 69mm deep, 35mm external width (31.5mm at the edge), 23mm internal, hooked, DT 180 hubs, CX Ray spokes. 1549g without tape. 28mm GP5K S TRs should plump up to 30.5-31mm and are a perfect fit on them. 25mm GP5K S TRs leave a visible lip/ledge at the interface.

[wltz]

They look awesome, I'd say that's a lot of wheel for the money! Looking forward to your impressions. Mr PeakTorque is a reliable honest reviewer, but he's strong enough to rip me in half with his bare hands, so his impressions on crosswind behaviour should be taken with caution

[TLN]

Looks very interesting. How much you paid for set with dt180?

[apr46]

Just received. 69mm deep, 35mm external width (31.5mm at the edge), 23mm internal, hooked, DT 180 hubs, CX Ray spokes. 1549g without tape. 28mm GP5K S TRs should plump up to 30.5-31mm and are a perfect fit on them. 25mm GP5K S TRs leave a visible lip/ledge at the interface.

I've owned the DT Swiss 350 version since March and have had them on a custom bike for the last few weeks. The bike was built with a long front center, 50ish mm trail and low BB specifically to run 28mm tires on wheels like these paired with a very narrow handlebar. In my case the handlebar is the ENVE SES Aero in 40cm (so 35cm at the hoods). The bike handles very well, isnt twitchy and is very fast on the flats.


If these wheels, somehow, end up on something like the Domane RSL with the integrated Madone bar at 36cm at the hoods, I predict that you will love that bike.

My DT 350 set weighed 1722g taped with the 18T ratchet and no valves.

They look awesome, I'd say that's a lot of wheel for the money! Looking forward to your impressions. Mr PeakTorque is a reliable honest reviewer, but he's strong enough to rip me in half with his bare hands, so his impressions on crosswind behaviour should be taken with caution

I've ridden mine through all sorts of conditions. On a bike with higher trail you feel the wind push but its not sudden. On a bike with shorter trail, I dont feel it at all. I am small at 168cm and 57-58kg. Comparing something of similar width, these wheels are significantly more stable than my Light Bicycle WR50 based pair.

[TobinHatesYou]

The Domane RSL is on my radar for sure, especially if the 130mm/40cm (37cm) Madone barstem Mads uses isn’t available to the public. I wouldn’t be able to get the Madone to work for me without going with a non-integrated solution.

[wltz]

On a bike with higher trail you feel the wind push but its not sudden. On a bike with shorter trail, I dont feel it at all. I am small at 168cm and 57-58kg. Comparing something of similar width, these wheels are significantly more stable than my Light Bicycle WR50 based pair.

Thank you! Your ride is sublime

I'm running a set of AR55's on a bike with 59mm trail, and I am yet to experience a single
steering input from a gust on them. I was about to pull the trigger on a new set of WR50's for my gravel/audax rig, but now I'm mesmerised by the looks of these Ascents.

[TobinHatesYou]

Looks very interesting. How much you paid for set with dt180?

I ended up paying US$2230 or so with currency conversion. Regular price is around $2480.

[apr46]

The Domane RSL is on my radar for sure, especially if the 130mm/40cm (37cm) Madone barstem Mads uses isn’t available to the public. I wouldn’t be able to get the Madone to work for me without going with a non-integrated solution.

I know that bike was just released and the base Domane wasnt that interesting as someone who would ride the 52cm and is into narrower bars, but then I saw the RSL. With the wider tires, longer wheelbase and wheels with more mass--the shorter trail just keeps the steering feedback balanced and complements these wheels really well.

[apr46]

On a bike with higher trail you feel the wind push but its not sudden. On a bike with shorter trail, I dont feel it at all. I am small at 168cm and 57-58kg. Comparing something of similar width, these wheels are significantly more stable than my Light Bicycle WR50 based pair.

Thank you! Your ride is sublime

I'm running a set of AR55's on a bike with 59mm trail, and I am yet to experience a single
steering input from a gust on them. I was about to pull the trigger on a new set of WR50's for my gravel/audax rig, but now I'm mesmerised by the looks of these Ascents.

Thanks! The WR50 is a great rim. Ive ridden those LB rims a lot of miles and they are much more stable than the Rovals i had before (CLX64 and C38) but I tend to ride in some iffy conditions so have felt them flutter a little in some stronger gusts. Nothing to be concerned about but enough to notice.

The Polaris wheels are dead steady. I wouldnt use them for gravel though. Too deep and heavy. I think they have a shallower and much lighter version coming out though could be of interest.

[andreas]

Have they changed the spoke-rim interface since Hambini reviewed them? I guess he may have a stake in the game since he offers discount codes for the wheels he recommends, but still it's concerning https://www.hambini.com/ascent-polaris- ... o-be-fast/

[apr46]

Have they changed the spoke-rim interface since Hambini reviewed them? I guess he may have a stake in the game since he offers discount codes for the wheels he recommends, but still it's concerning https://www.hambini.com/ascent-polaris- ... o-be-fast/

Ascent doesnt use those carbon spokes anymore. Everything is Sapim CXrays as far as I know. You should email them, their founder is really personable and quick to respond.

[TobinHatesYou]

[mrlobber]

Pic looks nice, any more personal feedback? (especially given the numberous other brand deep wheels you've owned before)

[TobinHatesYou]

Pic looks nice, any more personal feedback? (especially given the numberous other brand deep wheels you've owned before)

Just the basics for now…haven’t ridden them enough. I feel greater sideforces with these vs SES 5.6s. However I also feel the predictability/controllability in gusty conditions is close enough that I can’t tell if one is better than the other without testing them back-to-back in the same conditions.

There may be some other sensations I’m feeling at higher speeds, but I need to ride a bit more…

[Maddie]

That looks superhot