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Black Inc, the component manufacturer for Factor Bikes, is introducing a pair of 48/58 mm wheels, which are already available. Designed and developed in tandem with Factor’s latest aerodynamic road bike, the Ostro VAM, Black Inc’s engineers sought to create a wheel that strikes the right balance between lightness, stiffness, and aerodynamics.
Source: press release
The wheels have already appeared on several podiums early in the 2024 season, notably Stevie Williams’s overall victory and Katia Ragusa’s win at the Santos Tour Down Under, Tom Van Asbroeck’s victory in Stage 3 of the 2024 Tour de la Provence, and Lily Williams’ third-place finish at the Nokere Koerse. In total, the wheel set has contributed to 45 podium finishes for Human Powered Health and Israel – Premier Tech combined.
Ensuring the best handling in all conditions
The Black Inc 48/58 wheelset was developed using wind tunnel validation and tested in the field by professional riders.
The rim design features a reduced rim height at the front (48 mm) and an increased rim height at the rear (58 mm) to improve both stiffness and stability. At the same time, the spokes feature a true aerodynamic profile to promote airflow and reduce the occurrence of dynamic stall, giving the rider a greater sense of control in gusts and crosswinds.
The wheels are aerodynamically optimized for 28 mm tires and feature an internal rim width of 23 mm.
Responsive wheel feel without compromising weight or aerodynamics
The new wheel set uses hub flanges optimized for Black Inc.’s exclusive ultra-high-stiffness carbon spokes, allowing for a wider spoke pattern with shorter spokes, resulting in a wheel with greater lateral and vertical stiffness, while maintaining balanced spoke tension between the freehub side and the non-freehub side. The number of spokes has been reduced to 20 carbon spokes per wheel, offering enhanced aerodynamic benefits while maintaining the same strength as traditional 24-spoke steel wheels.
The hubs feature new custom CeramicSpeed bearings, designed exclusively for Black Inc. wheels. These bearing advancements reduce friction by up to 20% compared to the previous generation, without compromising durability.
Weighing 1,300 grams per pair, the Black Inc 48/58 are lightweight while offering a responsive and aerodynamically optimized pair of disc-brake wheels.
Rob Gitelis, founder of Factor Bikes and Black Inc, said: "Following the 28/33 profile launched during the 2023 Tour de France, the 48/58 represents a brand-new line of high-end performance wheels that we’ve developed to meet the ever-evolving needs of cyclists. In addition, we have other products currently in development that we look forward to sharing with our athletes and consumers in the near future."
Pricing and Availability
The new Black Inc 48/58 wheel set is available exclusively on blackinc.cc and through authorized Factor and Black Inc dealers worldwide. Shimano- and SRAM-compatible hub options are available.
Suggested retail price: €2,789
Learn more: Black Inc 48/58
=> SEE ALSO: All our New Products articles
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