Nine G Exos T5: Review

A wheel designed for road racing and time trials, the Exos optimizes the balance between aerodynamics, light weight and control in technical handling. With a 55mm rim profile, bladed DT Swiss Aerolite spokes and a proprietary rim design to reduce drag, the Exos slices through the wind with exceptional efficiency. The Exos also maintains agility and precise handling due to its aerospace engineered rim profile. The profile of the rim, which has been designed and developed to create lift and limit turbulent air that not only inhibits the speed of the wheel, but its handling capability in crosswinds as well. The wheel is then handbuilt with the highest quality components to exact specifications and very high spoke tensions. This creates a wheel that is not only durable, but exceptionally torsionally and laterally stiff for precise cornering and all-out efforts of sprinting or climbing. Built around the 5 Series rim, the Exos wheelset is available in both carbon tubular and aluminum-carbon clincher configurations. The carbon tubular rim utilizes Nine Gs HM Braking Technology for stopping power and modulation unmatched by any other carbon rim on the market. This process creates a braking surface using High Modulus resin that is both very durable and consistent for even power and modulation in even the worst conditions. The HM Braking found on Nine Gs tubular wheels has a similar braking performance to that of a high-end machined aluminum rim. The carbon-aluminum version - the C5-A, integrates the carbon and aluminum braking surface mechanically for an essentailly one-piece rim that is both strong and durable. The result is a light weight carbon-aluminum clincher that is suitable for racing and training in almost any condition. Both versions of the Exos are built using DT Swiss 240s hubs and Aerolite spokes. With 20 radially laced spokes up front and 24 laced 2-cross in the rear, the Exos is the perfect balance between light weight, strength and aerodynamics.

The NineGs were introduced to Echappe by the MetLife Pro-Am cycling team based out of Boston. Their riders have been testing the NineGs for a season and after their approval, Echappe was given a set by the head honcho at NineG, Sergio Fontana.

There are a lot of great designs out there for one reason or another, but when it comes to a complete package with carbon fiber wheels, you really need to have three essential things: Rim design, spoke tension and hub quality.

Rim design: There are two very impressive qualities about the NineGs. First off, they have an aluminum strip embedded into the top of the carbon fairing. For a wheel builder, this is a dream come true: threading a nipple into an alumimum thread on a carbon tubular wheel. Many other designers have tricked the wheel lacing for high tension by molding a carbon faring to an aluminum box rim. The nipples are threaded to the box rim and the spokes extend from the rim to the hub as any other box rim wheel. Zipp is able to reinforce their rims to be able to thread into the top of the fairing, but NineG has an actual aluminum thread. The result? A super high spoke tension with a shorter spoke resulting in a lightweight, snappy wheel.

The second element of the rim design (more than one revolutionary thing on one rim!!) is the amazing braking surface. NineG has developed a braking surface on the carbon rims to have the texture and durability of a machined sidewall wheel. Can you say, "Awesome!"? One of the most troubling things about carbon tubulars is you take an elevated risk everytime you race in the rain. Carbon is slick when wet, and even with proper pads, you aren't going to get the braking quality of a machined sidewall. NineGs offer this braking control in all conditions (you still have to use carbon specific pads) making this a truely versatile wheel.

Spoke tension: Again, because of the aluminum strip in the carbon fairing, you get a very high spoke tension. This means better power transfer, better climbing, better sprinting and immediate acceleration. Why would you want to lose any of these qualities?

Hubs: NineG makes use of DTSwiss 240 and 240sl hubs. We really like these hubs a lot and there really isn't much we can say about them that other reviews online haven't. Shortly put, its a great hub that should not deter you from testing these wheels.

With the road season in full swing, we will be looking to get riders on these wheels for Green Mountain Stage Race and other New England specialities. If you're a west coaster, you should make a six day reservation and give these wheels a few good rides to really appreciate them. After that, welcome to the best cyclocross wheel on the market?!!

Rent the NineGs here.