These Wheels Prove You Don't Need Carbon Spokes to Be Ultralight

These ICAN Aero 50 MK2 wheels do something most ultralight carbon wheels can't: they hit around 1250g without using carbon spokes. Instead, they run standard Sapim CX-Ray steel spokes, which means a comfier ride and repairs you can get done at any bike shop, not a proprietary part you have to chase from the manufacturer.

I've had them on the bike for a couple of months now, including a hard day out in the Lake District up the Struggle, so this is a proper long-term ride impression, not a spec sheet read off a press release.

The short version: nothing about them is mind-blowing in isolation, but they're good at everything, with no real weak spot. For the money, I think that all-round consistency makes them a genuinely easy recommendation.

ICAN reached out and sent these over for review. As always, all the opinions here are my own, and they had no say in what I said.

If you want to get yourself a set, ICAN have offered me a 5% off coupon TOMBOWERS, which will also support the channel:
https://icancycling.com/?ref=THOMASBOWERS&utm_source=affiliate

Chapters
00:00 The claim: ultralight without carbon spokes
00:33 Unboxing
02:01 On the scales: how much do they weigh?
03:13 The spokes: why these are different
04:56 Bearings, rim bed and rim width
05:50 What do they cost?
06:45 Two months of riding
07:25 Crosswind stability
08:00 Steel vs carbon spoke ride feel
09:27 Final thoughts up the Struggle
11:09 The verdict: how they stack up

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Got a question about them? Drop it in the comments, and I'll answer what I can.

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