Who’d have thought a set of wheels for almost two grand wouldn’t raise a fiscal eyebrow? But compared to Enve’s SES range and other USA-made models that peak at over three grand, these are more affordable. Unlike the SES, which exhibit the contemporary idea of different rim shapes and depths front and rear, both of the Foundation’s 65mm rims are identical.
Their design is still modern with a 21mm internal width and 28mm external width optimised for 25-28mm tyres, while the rim itself is tubeless-ready and comes with a hookless design for easy set-up. The included tubeless valves create a leak-free seal and fitting is tight enough to prevent valve rattle. A caveat, though – keep your sealant topped up. An attempt to fit a standard inner tube in a roadside emergency was so painful that we’d recommend the Foundations as tubeless only.
Our test set tipped the scales at 1,640g, which is impressive for a wheelset of this depth and only 160g heavier than the equivalent top-spec SES 5.6 disc wheels that retail for £1,500 more. Tubeless valves and tapes add mass, yet we were impressed with how well the 65s roll. The hubs use the same internals as the SES range but substitute ceramic bearings for more affordable steel ones. The freehub picks up power quickly, too.
As for the real-life impact of that 65mm rim depth, on still days these are phenomenally rapid. Typically, the deep section takes longer to get up to speed than shallower depths but, once at high velocity, it holds onto that speed with commendable tenacity. In strong winds, however, you’ll be pushed and pulled off-line. In crosswinds, buffeting isn’t as extreme, but these rims are affected more than shallower sizes.
The risk with wheels this deep is too much stiffness, leading to discomfort. The opposite’s true here, with the 65s absorbing high-frequency road vibrations, feeling equally as good as the shallower carbon Fulcrums they replaced on our test bike. Over more prominent ruts they vocalise their displeasure with a solid clunk but, overall, they don’t feel harsh. There’s a ‘lifetime of incident protection’ (if you damage them in a crash Enve will replace the parts for free – you just pay for shipping), plus a five-year factory warranty.
If you’re looking for fast wheels for tri, TTs or simply for riding quickly over rolling terrain, we’d recommend the Foundations even over Enve’s more ‘Gucci’ SES models. For the sake of less than a 200g weight saving and more care needed in high winds, we’ll take the £1,500 saving.
Verdict: Well made; high-speed holding ability; relatively good value 85%
Warren Rossiter