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Choosing bike wheels in 2025 combines science, instinct, and demanding standards. Faced with a standardized industrial offering, craftsmanship stands out. Loïc Voodooz, founder of VDZ, unveils a pair of handmade 45/50 mm wheels, built with Aivee hubs and carbon spokes, designed at the foot of Pic de Nore in Saint-Amand-Valtirré. A high-end build combining versatility, lightness, and personality.
By David Polveroni – Photos: All Rights Reserved
45/50 mm Profile: The Ideal Balance
The 45/50 mm profile is a versatile choice for modern cycling. Aerodynamic on the flats, light in the mountains, this build offers a wavy shape inspired by references such as Zipp 353 NSW and Fulcrum Sharq. Weighing only 1110 g (depending on rims and Shimano/SRAM/Campagnolo freehub body), these VDZ wheels guarantee uncompromising performance and durability.
Aivee Hubs: Made in France Excellence
Aivee Edition One hubs, machined in France, offer smoothness, reliability, and simplified maintenance thanks to standard bearings. Robust even under high stress, they rival Swiss and Italian standards while supporting local craftsmanship. A patriotic and high-performing choice for demanding cyclists.
Carbon Spokes: Stiffness and Comfort
Carbon spokes, stiffer and lighter (100 g gain per pair), provide responsiveness during accelerations and filter vibrations better than steel. Loïc’s precise build ensures optimal reliability, offering a lively and stable wheel, ideal for climbs, fast descents, or sprints.
Their implementation is not improvised. Loïc, the head of VDZ, had to adapt his build, tension, truing, and above all demonstrate technical mastery to guarantee total reliability. The result? A lively, precise wheel that remains calm on high-speed descents while performing at its best on climbs and pushing you to drop a gear. Unfortunately, this has its limits, and gravity brings you back to reality.
Performance Tested in the Alps
Tested for 10 days in the Stelvio National Park during the GF Stelvio Santini, these wheels excel on mythical climbs like the Mortirolo (12 km at 12%) and the Stelvio (25 km at 7%). Paired with Pirelli P Zero TT tires, they outperform high-end models like the Enve 2.3, with remarkable responsiveness and comfort. Note that this is a comparison with exclusive climbing wheels. As mentioned above, the perfect wheel doesn’t exist, but this VDZ pair offers an excellent compromise, whether on flats, climbs, or descents.
Lateral stiffness is astonishing, especially when out of the saddle or sprinting, without generating discomfort. Thanks to the rim/carbon spoke combination, the feel is firm, direct, but never harsh.
As previously mentioned, these wheels offer elasticity, responsiveness, and comfort that would make wheels twice their price pale in comparison.
Customization: A Tailor-Made Wheel
VDZ stands out with a 100% personalized approach. Loïc adapts each build to the cyclist’s needs: weight, terrain, type of event (sportive, ultra, mountain), frame, pedaling style, and preferences.
Available in 30/35 mm profiles for mountain riding or 60/65 mm for flat terrain, these wheels are offered at 2300 € with carbon spokes or 1800 € with Sapim CX-Ray spokes.
Upcoming Novelty and Lifetime Warranty
Soon, VDZ will launch an ultra-light pair (312 g rims, 32 mm profile) weighing close to a kilo. Each pair comes with a lifetime warranty, underscoring confidence in artisanal quality. Exceptional value for money for high-end wheels.
Verdict: Unique Wheels
VDZ wheels combine lightness, controlled stiffness, smoothness, and a sober aesthetic. More than just a product, they embody a philosophy of artisanal, personalized, and French cycling. For more information, contact VDZ!
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