AIRSPIN C45: wheels crafted like a goldsmith’s assembly

By Jeff Tatard – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

A brand born of passion, but above all, conviction

Behind AIRSPIN are two men: Jean-Charles Avenel and Jérôme Durpoix. Two different profiles, but a shared point of convergence: the conviction that the wheel remains the most transformative component on a bicycle.

For Jérôme, the story goes back to the early days of mountain biking. A competitor, passionate about mechanics, immersed very early in the world of assembly and repair, he cut his teeth at a time when bikes were tested in real conditions, when custom machines were built, and when the wheel was already a field of experimentation in its own right. He recounts this learning experience through downhill biking, the booming MTB scene, special builds, and strong mechanical constraints. It quickly becomes clear that his relationship with the wheel is not theoretical: it was born in the workshop, but also out on the trails.

Jean-Charles, on the other hand, comes from a different world. That of industrial engineering. Generalist education, specialization in production, experience in continuous improvement, machining, boilermaking, mechanical assembly of large offshore or cruise ship components. A background that might seem far removed from cycling, but which, on the contrary, becomes a strength when approaching the wheel as a complete mechanical system. His later passion for cycling then fueled the project.

The two met in Saint-Brevin. Jérôme had already opened his repair business. Jean-Charles wanted to change his life, train in bicycle mechanics, and create something. Very quickly, it became clear: working together made sense. And in Jean-Charles’s initial project, the wheel was already there. Not as a possible diversification. But as the heart of the project.

AIRSPIN was born from that encounter.

Why the wheel, and nothing else?

Their answer is clear: because no other component transforms a bike’s behavior to such an extent.

A frame, however successful, has its own qualities. But at a comparable level, it is very often the wheels that most clearly change a machine’s personality. Dynamism, stiffness, filtration, precision, traction, inertia, cornering placement, high-speed stability: almost everything passes through them.

It is also, in their eyes, the noblest component because it can be truly customized. Not just aesthetically. Technically. You don’t build the same wheel for a powerful competitor, for a sportive rider, for a bikepacker, for a lightweight rider, for someone with a herniated disc, or for a fan of long, fast descents. In this sense, the artisan wheel retains something that the industry is increasingly standardizing: its ability to adapt to a specific person.

The name AIRSPIN summarizes this vision quite well. “Air” for the idea of cutting through the air, gliding, seeking aerodynamic efficiency. “Spin” for rotation, movement, the very heart of a wheel. The name was chosen to be simple, memorable, potentially internationalizable, but also to convey an intention. That of a wheel that must both move through the air and spin true.

In other words, AIRSPIN does not use the same type of spoke on each side of the rear wheel. Why? Because the stresses are not the same. The cassette side works differently, with a tighter dish and tensions that need to be rebalanced. Using a slightly more robust spoke on this side allows for a wheel that is more homogeneous in its operation, more consistent in its tensions, and ultimately healthier on the road.

This is exactly the kind of detail rarely found in a standardized industrial wheel, and it speaks volumes about the brand’s assembly philosophy.

A counter-current artisanal philosophy

At a time when high-end cycling is becoming increasingly industrialized, AIRSPIN embraces an almost militant choice: that of artisanal assembly.

The founders’ discourse is not dogmatic. They acknowledge that industrial wheels have their advantages: reproducibility, standardization, simplified logistics, and controlled costs at scale. But what they seek lies elsewhere. In the ability to vary components, tensions, balance, finish, and even aesthetics, to produce not “a good wheel in general,” but the right wheel for someone.

An artisanal wheel, they explain, allows for a unique piece. Nut color, hub customization, spoke choice, adaptation to stiffness or comfort needs, adjustment according to practice and rider size. In the end, two customers can leave with two pairs that are very similar in appearance but different in their assembly logic.

And above all, there is this notion they insistently advocate: balancing. A topic rarely highlighted in cycling. For them, a bicycle wheel, like a car wheel, must be carefully balanced. The gain is real, they say, in stability, comfort, and efficiency. This additional work, invisible to the user, is part of their concept of high-end assembly.

Perhaps this is where the line lies between a well-sold wheel and a well-built wheel.

The C45 on the road: the feeling of the right compromise

On paper, the C45 falls into a category that has become central to the market: that of “intermediate-high” rims, capable of offering a noticeable aerodynamic gain while remaining versatile.

And in practice, this is immediately confirmed.

The 45 mm rim depth gives the wheel a feeling of fullness at sustained speeds. From 35-40 km/h, you can clearly feel that the wheel likes to maintain its pace. The bike glides well. The sensation is not that of an extreme profile that imposes its presence; it’s more subtle than that. There’s useful inertia, but not overwhelming inertia.

When accelerating, the wheel responds frankly. It doesn’t give that feeling of softness sometimes encountered on overly cautious builds, nor that of a dry brutality that becomes tiring in the long run. It is lively, but controlled. You feel a taut, precise build, designed to immediately return what you put into it.

Out of the saddle, the stability is excellent. The bike holds its line. There is no vagueness. On fast descents, the feeling is particularly interesting: the wheel inspires confidence. It allows you to maintain speed without giving the impression of having too high a mass to control. This is where you understand the benefit of the 45 mm compromise. Taller than a low-profile wheel, certainly, but still measured enough to remain playful, precise, and predictable.

This is not an ultra-aero wheel for a pure flat-terrain rouleur. Nor is it a minimalist climbing wheel. It is, very clearly, a wheel for a complete cyclist. A wheel for rolling terrain, for accelerations, for high cruising speeds, for long fast rides, for nervous sportives, for windy flatlands, and even for descents where you like to feel your bike precise.

Aivee Edition One: the big favorite

If there’s one element that particularly stands out in this build, it’s the hub Aivee Edition One.

Their presence is not insignificant. Here again, AIRSPIN makes a choice consistent with its DNA: a French manufacturer, a close relationship, great flexibility for customization, true production continuity, and a product that relies not just on image but on execution quality.

Technically, the hub is appealing due to its rather rare blend of discretion and efficiency. The engagement is frank, direct, and crisp. Nothing flashy, nothing showy. But as soon as you apply pressure, the response is there. You feel the mechanical aspect in its noble sense: precise, clean, without unnecessary theatrics.

This is undoubtedly what gives it its particular charm. It doesn’t need to be heard to exist. It works. And it works well.

The two founders also highlight several very concrete points: the quality of the relationship with Aivee, the ease of obtaining customizations, the product’s longevity thanks to mastery of machining plans, and an extremely competitive weight. Added to this is a detail that is not insignificant for enthusiasts of beautiful equipment: the possibility of choosing the color, or even customizing the marking.

But beyond the object itself, it’s truly on the road that this hub convinces. And in this test, it clearly represents one of the great emotional assets of the build.

The most fascinating point: the asymmetrical work between the two sides of the wheel

This is probably the most exciting part of the entire interview, and also one that few riders truly understand.

On this C45, AIRSPIN didn’t just settle for choosing “good spokes.” They thought about what each side of the wheel needed to do.

At the front, with disc brakes, the stresses already differ from one side to the other. At the rear, it’s even more obvious: the cassette side and the disc side do not work in the same way. The dish is different, the tensions too, and the transmitted forces as well.

And this is where a brilliant idea comes in, seemingly simple but remarkably relevant: using Sapim CX-Ray spokes at the front and on the disc side, but Sapim CX-Sprint spokes on the cassette side at the rear.

The CX-Sprint is slightly more robust than the CX-Ray. It allows for better rebalancing of the rear wheel’s tensions, where the cassette side generally imposes stronger stresses. In other words: AIRSPIN does not try to make a wheel “symmetrical in principle” within a system that is not. They accept the real asymmetry of stresses, and respond to it with an intelligent asymmetry in the build.

It’s remarkable.

Because it speaks volumes about a philosophy: one that consists of thinking of a wheel not as a display case, but as fine mechanics. A wheel in which each side has a function, a load, a role, and therefore potentially a specific technical response.

It’s also the kind of detail that profoundly changes how one perceives a pair of wheels. We’re no longer just talking about rim depth or weight. We’re talking about applied mechanics. About constructed dynamic behavior. About a build that seeks real balance, not theoretical equality.

Frankly, this part is incredible. And it almost single-handedly makes the brand worth paying attention to.

Sapim: reason over fashion

The current temptation would be to succumb to the discourse on carbon spokes. AIRSPIN, however, remains measured. They don’t close the door to innovations, but they believe that a component must bring a real benefit, not just a promise or an image.

For them, the choice of Sapim is not a lazy reflex. It’s a choice of trust, quality, reliability, and mastery. They speak of an irreproachable brand, with very few defects, a complete range, and above all, the possibility of building assemblies truly adapted to very different profiles.

The CX-Ray remains a global benchmark for a simple reason: it performs remarkably well in a very large number of situations. And with the CX-Sprint on the cassette side at the rear, AIRSPIN precisely demonstrates that it’s not enough to just take “the best spoke of the moment”: you still have to put it in the right place.

A wheel for whom?

The founders’ answer is very clear: for almost everyone, provided you understand who the person in front of you is.

Competitor, sportive rider, enthusiast, long-distance amateur, bikepacker, customer demanding comfort or responsiveness: the subject is not so much the official category as the real need. Frequency of practice, power, terrain, physical history, potential pathologies, behavioral expectations… all of this matters.

In other words, AIRSPIN doesn’t just sell a pair of wheels. They sell a customized build.

And that, ultimately, is probably what still distinguishes the artisan from the mass market.

The real issue: offering high-end without price inflation

The carbon wheel market has become extremely competitive, sometimes absurd. Prices are rising fast. Too fast. To the point where some pairs flirt with the price of a complete bike from a few years ago.

AIRSPIN advocates another path here: offering an artisanal, high-end wheel, technically competitive, but without succumbing to image overinflation.

Their pricing logic is interesting: staying within a serious, credible range, consistent with the level of performance, but rejecting the logic of artificial luxury. In short: doing better with substance, not with veneer.

In a world where many consumers no longer always know what they are truly buying behind a logo, this clarity is somewhat salutary.

Their pricing logic is interesting: staying within a serious, credible range, consistent with the level of performance, but rejecting the logic of artificial luxury. At this price, AIRSPIN clearly positions itself against the current market trend. In this configuration (Aivee Edition One hubs, Sapim spokes, and artisanal assembly), the pair is priced around 1350 €.

The 3bikes.fr verdict

The AIRSPIN C45 do not seek to impress by excess. They convince by consistency.

The 45 mm rim depth is just right.
The weight is excellent.
The Aivee hubs are a success.
The build exudes experience.
And above all, the work on spoke distribution and balancing shows that we are dealing with builders who think of a wheel in its entirety.

On the road, this results in a lively, precise, stable, fast, and enjoyable pair. A pair that can be ridden hard, but doesn’t overwhelm the cyclist. A high-performance pair, yes, but one that remains “livable”. And that’s often where true quality lies.

AIRSPIN’s great strength may lie here: reminding us that a good wheel is not just an addition of premium parts. It’s an assembly. An intention. A fine understanding of constraints. And, ultimately, a certain idea of cycling.

The C45 are a particularly convincing demonstration of this.

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