Strada Gravel Aero Plus 2 wheelset review: a mixed-depth gravel performance upgrade worthy of the outlay

The need to go faster has turned gravel racing into an arms race, with everything from helmets and clothing to frames and components undergoing extensive R&D and wind-tunnel testing to improve overall speed. One of the easiest and cost-effective ways to unlock performance is upgrading to a set of the best gravel bike wheels, and this applies to all disciplines - even gravel riding.

While several companies, such as Zipp and Parcours, have been early adopters of the aero gravel wheel concept with their respective 303 XPLR SW and FKT, West Sussex-based Strada Wheels has also jumped on the aero gravel bandwagon and developed a go-faster gravel wheelset - the Strada Gravel Aero Plus 2.

The Strada Gravel Aero Plus 2 has been designed to provide a reliable gravel wheel at an affordable price, with myriad build options and weights available. I say ‘developed’ because these are not generic, open-mould wheels but rather designed and built in-house by Strada, to improve speed, control and comfort on technically demanding, rough terrain.

We’ve been using the Gravel Aero Plus 2 wheels in all manner of terrain and weather, including traditional gravel and mountain bike trails, and the results have been mighty impressive.

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Technical details

The Strada Gravel Aero Plus 2 wheels are constructed from unidirectional carbon fibre and built to modern standards, featuring a mixed front/rear rim height of 40/45mm and matched to a 30mm internal rim width, positioning it squarely between the Parcours FKT (27mm) and Zipp 303 XPLR SW (32mm) wheelsets. Owing to the nature of gravel terrain and the reality of bottoming out tyres at lower pressures, the wheels have been constructed with hookless uprights and a 3.5mm impact zone. Like the Parcours Alta and FKT gravel wheels, the flatter rim edge has been raised and reinforced to reduce stress concentrations around the rim, improving impact protection and compliance.

The front and rear wheels utilise tailored rim profiles and layups, as the air path, rim impacts, and applied forces differ greatly between the front and rear. As a result, while both wheels employ the same internal width and 36.5mm external width, the front rim is constructed from T700 fibres, while the rear rim is made from T800-grade carbon. The big party trick here, however, comes from resin used in the layup to bind the fibres, something Strada calls advanced viscoelastic resin matrix, which is claimed to “absorb vibration, increase durability, and enhance overall ride feel”.

In terms of tyres, the Gravel Aero Plus 2 was optimised around 40-45mm tyres, but is compatible with widths spanning everything from 35mm to a gargantuan 62mm (2.4-inches), so it will play nicely with a slew of recently launched wide-tyre gravel bikes such as the BMC Kaius, Factor Sarana and Open Wi.De 2.0.

Both wheels are laced using 24 aero-bladed Alpina spokes: Ultralite at the front and Extralite at the rear. The wheels can be built to your personal specifications and needs, with hub options from Hope, DT Swiss, ExtraLite, and Tactic. Our test pair came with DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs featuring a 36T ratchet that provides a 10-degree engagement angle.

Visually, the wheels are stealthy yet striking and should complement most gravel bike colour schemes and design themes. Our test pair came with black-on-black decals, but if you require a bolder visual impact, a white decal kit is included in the box.

While system weight was not the chief focus of this wheelset, the Strada Gravel Aero Plus 2 tipped our scales at 1,465g (680g/785g front/rear with rim tape and valves fitted) for the pair - a little heavier than the claimed 1,426g but still lighter than both the Parcours FKT (1,500g) and Zipp 303 XPLR SW (1,496g) wheels.

Performance

While the Strada Gravel Aero 2 has some stiff competition, they don’t feel inferior in any way. In fact, out in the real world, they feel as controlled and fast as rivals from Zipp and Parcours, maybe even better on lumpier terrain and in windy conditions.

At just under 62kg, I paired the Stradas with 45mm Vittoria Terreno T30 rubber, set at 25psi all round – a little lower than I usually ride but, considering my tyre inserts ( a non-negotiable for me since Gravel Burn), wide internal rim width and tall hookless beads, I felt confident with the setup throughout my testing period. The front-end control on my Cannondale SuperX Lab71 was sublime, allowing me to eke out maximum traction around fast, washed-out corners, and the ride quality was plush yet communicative.

While I can't say I actively felt the effects of the viscoelastic resin matrix, it didn't feel like I was wrestling with the bike or bouncing off the pedals when the terrain was choppy and corrugated, unlike with other wheels I’ve sampled. Of course, this reduction in upper-body fatigue can be attributed to the low tyre pressures, but there’s only so much pressure manipulation can do to nullify high-frequency vibrations, and I never felt that the wheels slowed me down during these situations.

I feel the 40/45mm rim depth is a sweet spot for gravel riding and racing. This height is deep enough to improve aerodynamics and shallow enough to stave off crosswinds. Throughout the test period, the wheels tracked accurately on high-speed descents and provided the confidence needed for off-road riding.

Climbing is a breeze, too. They’re not the lightest wheels around, but are far from the heaviest either, so you can wind them up pretty quickly and sail over rolling terrain. The rear hub engages quickly and helps keep progress swift and hesitation-free. It’s only on super-steep pitches where you’ll need to summon your skills to ensure weight is evenly distributed over both axles to avoid wheelspinning and coming to a halt.

I also tested the wheels on some mountain bike singletrack that comprises sections of my gravel test routes. These trails are notably technical, with small drops and very sandy corners, but the Stradas managed comfortably and, dare I say, even smoothed off some of the step-downs and bumps. Very impressive indeed.

Value

With such quality options among the best aero gravel wheelsets, it’s going to come down to preference and brand loyalty, but it’s hard not to recommend the Strada Gravel Aero 2 wheels. While the Strada Gravel Aero 2 wheels are £250 pricier than the Parcours FKT in base spec, they’re £100 cheaper than the Zipp 303 XPLR SW, trumping both when it comes to weight and spread of compatible tyre widths. (Pricing creeps up depending on hub choice).

As someone who considers themselves neutral and objective, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance and stability afforded by the Strada Gravel Aero 2 wheel platform - not only do they feel fast on all terrain, they are super-reliable and durable, and that’s what you want on technically demanding gravel events and even stage races. They comfortably dismissed washboard surfaces and ensured average speeds on flat gravel roads were high.

While it’s hard to quantify whether they’re better than their rivals, based on the ability to run super-wide tyres alone, I’m inclined to say the Strada Aero Gravel 2 wheels will stay relevant for the next couple of years. Well, at least until we know where the whole 32-inch wheel agenda is headed…

Tech specs

• Price: £1,499 / $2,020 / €1,750
• Weight: 1,465g (actual)
• Hubset: DT Swiss 240 EXP
• Freehub options: Shimano HG11/12, SRAM XDR, Campagnolo
• Rim depth: 40mm front, 45mm rear
• Rim width: 30mm internal, 36.5mm external
• Spoke count: 24 front/rear
• Rim: Hookless