ec90 road series - easton cycling road series.pdf · 6 ec90road series white paper we tested the...

EC90 ROAD SERIESEC90AERO 55 | EC90SL | EC90SL DISC

3EC90Road Series WHITE PAPER

PEOPLE SAY

‘YOU SHOULDN’T RE-INVENT

THE WHEEL…’

WE DID ANYWAYA NEW LINE OF HIGH-END ROAD WHEELS ENGINEERED FOR SUPERIOR AERODYNAMICS, WEIGHT, AND DURABILITY.

When you set out to make the strongest, lightest and most aerodynamic wheels possible, there’s no

such thing as a trivial detail. That’s because a wheel isn’t a simple component, but rather a collection of

several distinct components, each of which must be perfectly formed, matched and assembled.

Our new race-ready road wheels are as light as many competition wheelsets, yet boast the

strength of the most durable training wheels. Every component of our new EC90 line of wheels has

been designed with durability in mind—the resin in our rims, the super wide bearing span in our new

Echo hub, the deliberate cross-lacing pattern of our Sapim spokes—everything.

HERE’S HOW.

4 EC90Road Series WHITE PAPER

Every wheel product has a specific yaw angle or “sweet spot” at which it’s going to be particularly aerodynamic. What matters most is how aerodynamic your wheelset is on average. The wind – and you – constantly changes direction on your rides. You don’t need a wheel that’s fast at just one, random wind angle. You need a wheel that’s flat-out fast in all conditions.

Aerodynamicist Len Brownlie and the Easton engineering team designed the Fantom rim using Wind Averaged Drag (WAD)— an analytic tool originally developed within the automotive industry during the 1970s and introduced to the sporting goods industry by Brownlie in 2009. WAD averages the wheel’s aerodynamic drag across all possible wind angles.

We experimented with WAD, over the course of several years, a myriad of rim depths, widths and profiles until one combination stood out above the rest as the best: strong, yet very light, very aerodynamic and incredibly stable in crosswinds. The Aero55 was born. For the EC90 SL we went back to the wind tunnel and experimented with different rim depths with a greater focus on making an ultra-light wheel that is still maintains the aerodynamics characteristics of the Aero55. That same blunt shape has been maintained across our new high-end line of road wheels: the Fantom.

FANTOM RIMS ENGINEERED FOR REAL-WORLD AERODYNAMICS

70-90MM FRONT WHEEL IN TT FRAMEWheel Description Rim Depth

(mm) Weight (g) Wind Average Drag' (g)

Time Savings over 40km TT (s)

Bontrager Aeolus 7 D3 Tubular 70 1518 425 21

Hed Jet 9 Clincher 90 1870 425 21

Hed Stinger 9 Tubular 90 1692 441 15

2015 Easton EC90 Aero 55 Tubular 55 1345 444 14

Enve 8.9 Tubular 85F / 95R 1545 452 11

Bontrager Aerolus 9 D3 Tubular 90 1606 453 11

Mavic Cosmic CXR 80 Tubular w/ C01 blades 80 1630 455 10

Zipp 808 FC Tubular 82 1630 460 8

Hed 3 (trispoke) Clincher 54 1850 478 1

2012 Easton EC90 TT Tubular 90 1440 482 0

Note: Test results from San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Values include drag from strut fixtures and frameset. Front wheels tested with disc rear wheel in time trial frameset with Continental Podium 22 tubular or Hutchinson Atom 23 tubeless clincher tires. Drag values normalized to standard conditions: 101kPa (sea level) and 20deg C (68deg F)... divide by 1000*Q/g = 11020 Pa to get Cd*A. WAD’ is the calculated average of drag values for all possible wind angles (phi: 0-360deg) where the resultant vector from wind speed (the average North American wind speed = 6.6MPH) combined with the rider’s ground speed is 30MPH. Time savings are estimated for flat TT course with wind+ground speed = 30MPH. Repeatability +/- 3g (95% Confidence Interval)

50-70MM FRONT WHEEL IN TT FRAMEWheel Description Rim Depth

(mm) Weight (g) Wind Average Drag (g)


2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular 55 1345 371 32

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher 55 1630 381 29

Enve 6.7 Tubular 60F / 70R 1549 411 18

Hed Stinger 5 Tubular 50 1545 422 13

Zipp 404 Firecrest Tubular 58 1445 426 12

2012 EC90 Aero Tubular 56 1335 458 0

Note: Test results from San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Values include drag from strut fixtures and frameset. Front wheels tested with HED Jet Disc rear wheel in BMC TM01 frame/fork. Tested with Continental Podium 22 tubular or Hutchinson Atom 23 tubeless clincher tires. Repeatability ± 6g (95% confidence interval).

FOURTEEN TIRES...

COUNTLESS COMBINATIONS

& RESULTS

Wheel Description Tire Wind Average Drag (g) 30mph


2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Bontrager R4 Aero Clincher 364 35 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Zipp Tangente Clincher 21 368 34 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Zipp Tangente Tubular 21 mm 370 33 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Continental Podium TT 22 371 32 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Vittoria Corsa Evo-Ks Tubular 372 32 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Zipp tangente tubular 23 mm 374 31 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Hutchinson Atom 23 mm RT clincher 381 29 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Continental Competition Tubular 22 383 28 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Hutchinson Fusion3 23 mm RT Clincher 386 27 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Maxxis Padrone RT Clincher 388 26 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Velo Flex Carbon Tubular 398 22 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Continental Competition Tubular 25 405 20 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Zipp Tangente Clincher 23 428 11 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Clincher Vittoria Open Corsa 23c Clincher 437 8 seconds

2015 EC90 Aero 55 Tubular Continental Competition 22 478 0 seconds

FANTOM WITH A VARIETY OF TIRES

We tested the tubular and clincher versions (as well as a range of competitor wheels) with six different tubular and eight different clincher tires and found that the results of those wind tunnel tests varied dramatically depending on which tire was being used.

We didn’t simply grab the tire that produced the least amount of drag on our new clincher and tubular Fantom rims. Instead, we asked ourselves, “Which tire would riders actually use out there on the road?” Most riders gravitate towards well-rounded tire models, so we picked control tires that were readily available, modestly priced and popular with riders. For the tubular wheels, we chose the Continental Podium TT 22mm. For the clincher wheels, we measured all contenders with the Hutchinson Atom 23 tubeless.


We tested the Fantom shape in several different rim depths and found the gains of a rim beyond 55mm to be miniscule—yes we could shave a couple grams of drag, but we’d also add weight and perhaps create a less stable wheel in certain conditions. The Fantom is an exercise in balance—balancing weight, aerodynamics and stability into the best overall package.

Depth of the rim is not the only factor at play in the matter of stability; rim shape also has an impact here. The Fantom possesses a much curved and almost oval profile that blends smoothly with the shape of the tire. As far as the wind is concerned, the rim and tire form an almost continuous profile, which is why the shape proves so aerodynamic.

FANTOM RIMSTABLE NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS

THE BLUNT NOSE OF THE FANTOM RIM IS DESIGNED FOR MORE LAMINAR AIR FLOW IN CROSS WINDS. THIS “CLEAN SHAPE” EXHIBITS

THE BEST STABILITY IN CROSSWINDS.

30-50MM WHEELSET IN ROAD FRAMEWheel Description Rim Depth

(mm) Weight (g) Wind Average Drag' (g)


2015 Easton EC90 SL Tubular 38 1167 693 34

Hed Stinger 4 FR Tubular 46 1381 703 31

Zipp 303 FC Clincher 45 1540 712 27

Zipp 303 FC Tubuar 45 1310 715 26

Mavic Cosmic Carbone 40 Clincher 40 1545 716 25

2015 Easton EC90 SL Clincher 38 1473 718 25

Enve SES 3.4 Tubular 35F / 45R 1335 744 15

Zipp 202 FC Clincher 32 1380 748 13

Enve SES 3.4 Clincher 35F / 45R 1482 748 13

Reynolds RZR 46 Tubular 46 968 750 12

Bontrager Aeolus 3 D3 Clincher 35 1479 753 11

Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate Tubular 40 1185 759 9

FFWD F4R Tubular 45 1281 760 8

2012 Easton EC90 SL Tubular 38 1250 782 0

Note: Test results from San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Values include drag from strut fixtures and frameset. Wheels tested as front+rear sets in road race frameset with Continental Podium 22 tubular or Hutchinson Atom 23 tubeless clincher tires. Drag values normalized to standard conditions: 101kPa (sea level) and 20deg C (68deg F)... divide by 1000*Q/g = 11020 Pa to get Cd*A. WAD’ is the calculated average of drag values for all possible wind angles (phi: 0-360deg) where the resultant vector from wind speed (the average North American wind speed = 6.6MPH) combined with the rider’s ground speed is 30MPH. Time savings are estimated for flat TT course with wind+ground speed = 30MPH. Repeatability +/- 2g (95% Confidence Interval)

8 EC90Road Series WHITE PAPER FASTER | STIFFER | LIGHTER

COMPATIBLE WITH:Shimano 9/10/11 speed | SRAM 9/10/11 speed | Campagnolo 9/10/11 speed

DURABLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT: THE ECHO HUB

NO ADJUSTMENTS. NO HASSLE.The Echo features full steel radial bearings for longevity, practicality, and ease of serviceability. Ceramic hybrids may sound nice in theory; however, they act more like rocks along a metal tube, wearing down the cartridge and developing play. With this new bearing system, we were able to machine down to within microns of zero internal clearance to produce a hub that requires no preload adjustment. Simply put, you can hammer on these wheels without worrying about hub play. Just ride.

ALL OF OUR NEW HIGH-END RIM BRAKE ROAD WHEELS ARE EQUIPPED WITH

EASTON’S AWARD-WINNING ECHO HUB

FASTER, STIFFER AND LIGHTERThe Echo features a redesigned bigger hub shell and driver engagement that allowed us to use thinner walls and change the drive ring and pawl orientation.

By reversing the drive mechanism (the pawls are attached to the hub shell and the drive ring on the cassette body) we were able to give the Echo a quicker, 7-degree engagement (as opposed to our previous 12-degree design). This also distributes the drive forces in a more tangential direction directly underneath the crossed drive-side spokes, resulting in a tighter, torsionally-stiffer feeling wheel. Finally, redistributing those drive forces enabled us to also cut the axle weight down from 47 grams to 11 grams. Or to put that in plain English: faster, stiffer and lighter.

DURABLE BEARING ARCHITECTUREThe Echo is considerably wider than that of the majority of hubs on the market today. The Echo hub has an extra-wide bearing stance of 95 millimeters that massively increases the lifespan of the hub bearings.

By reducing the load on the bearings, it allows for the use of smaller diameter bearings to save weight while balancing durability and performance. The end result? Longer, smoother and more consistent bearing performance. Easton Custom 6901 C0

Sealed Cartridge Bearing

Easton Custom 6901 C0Sealed Cartridge Bearing

Easton Custom 6801 C0Sealed Cartridge Bearing

95mm

COMPARATIVE BEARING SPANS

SHIMANO DURA ACE

EASTONMAVIC

DT SWISS ZIPP


OUR LITTLE SHOP OF TORTURESWe spent six years creating the technology required to make carbon clinchers perfectly safe under extreme and extended braking; doing so required, for starters, that we invent a testing fixture and protocol designed to simulate hard, prolonged braking on long, steep descents. In our testing fixture, a wheel (with tire mounted) is spun at 600 watts for two miles with brake caliper loads adjusted to maintain constant pressure on the rim’s brake track. Or to phrase that more simply, imagine pedaling down a mountain with your brakes death-gripped for two, non-stop miles. That’s what our machine simulates and in doing so, it sends rim temperatures into the stratosphere. We routinely destroy competitors’ wheels before finishing the first test cycle. It’s brutal.

During testing, we monitor the temperature of the rim surface as it exits the brake pads on both sides. All loads and temperatures are recorded with one sample per second. We also measure rim width before and after the test.

THE STRONGEST CARBON CLINCHER ON THE MARKETOnce we built the perfect torture test (it absolutely mangles wheels), we needed to create technologies that would enable our wheels to actually survive the tests.

The result is a proprietary carbon laminate on both our clincher and tubular carbon rims that’s designed to stay rigid under high heat conditions—up to an extraordinary 500-degrees Fahrenheit. Our proprietary carbon laminate pulls heat through the system and reduces the effect of heat on carbon sidewalls. Essentially our carbon rims feel like aluminum rims when you’re on the binders.

We don’t make that claim lightly—we’ve tested plenty of our competitors’ wheels and all, with the exception of our EC90 Aero55, EC90 SL wheels and Zipp’s 404, have failed before making it to the test’s two-mile end point. Our EC90s are, by contrast, so good that they routinely withstand this punishing test twice and remain in ride-worthy condition.

THE VERY BEST BRAKING


Disc brakes have largely been adopted by cyclocross since the change in UCI rules for ‘cross; the 2015 Elite Cyclocross World Championships were won on disc brakes by both elite men and women. Expect to see disc brakes in the pro peloton in the coming seasons.

Making a disc brake road wheel is not the same as slapping a mountain bike hub on a traditional road rim – this is especially true for carbon rims. The Achilles Heel of carbon road rims has been braking performance and heat dissipation. The switch to disc brakes completely eliminates these issues but adds new design considerations related to the increased braking

forces of disc brakes. Furthermore, the EC90 SL disc rims use a completely different resin that improves stiffness and durability possible since controlling heat on the rim is not as necessary with a rotor.

EC90 SL disc wheels move from 16 radially laced spokes to 20 spokes on the front, and from 20 to 24 spokes on the rear, in a pattern designed to prevent the hub from twisting in relation to the rim, reducing spoke and rim fatigue while improving braking performance whether you’re descending the steep wet roads or modulating your speed on a slippery ‘cross course.

DISC BRAKES: COMING TO THE PRO PELOTON

15EC90Road Series WHITE PAPER

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A “TRIVIAL” DETAIL

We designed each component to mesh perfectly with the next. We fixated on things like the bevels

that finish off the edges of the hub flange spoke holes—redesigning them a half dozen times to balance

tolerance, finish and accuracy and ensure that our spokes meshed precisely with the Echo hub.

PATENTED EYELET-NIPPLE SYSTEMIn our patented system the nipples actually thread into the

eyelets, which distribute the loads more evenly around a larger area of the rim; this reduces stress and lets us use less

material without sacrificing strength. It also enabled us to attach the spokes to the rim without penetrating the tire bed.

THE BEST SPOKES POSSIBLEThe EC90s are laced with the highest quality steel

spokes available: double-butted, straight-pull Sapim spokes. The bending process that creates J-bend spokes stresses the spoke before it ever hits the road. Countless

in-house fatigue tests and field trials have proven that straight-pull spokes have a much higher fatigue life.

LACED FOR STIFFNESS AND RELIABILITY Spoke configuration is absolutely critical to rear-wheel

durability, which is why we tested different lacing patterns when developing both EC90 SL and EC90 Aero 55.

The front wheel features 16 radially-laced spokes, which keeps weight to a minimum, while the 20 cross-laced spokes

on the rear rim-brake wheel will withstand the torque of pedaling and the most brutal riding conditions possible.

This lacing pattern, however, also provides a tangible improvement in ride quality—they increase the stiffness of

the wheel. The moment you stand on the pedals, there’s an immediate “snappiness” to both wheelsets.

100% HAND BUILT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

High, uniform spoke tension is key to building strong wheels that stay true. These wheels are 100-percent hand built and

acoustically tuned by Easton-trained builders.

TUBELESS OPTION, ZERO COMPROMISEThanks to our patented spoke nipple system, there’s no need to

resort to rim strips to create an air-tight seal. They are easy to set up tubeless and provide absolutely trouble-free performance.

Since no rim-strip or tape is required, our system is lighter without penalty. This system is tubeless when you want it, but

still perfectly compatible with traditional tubed tires.

RIDE


WORLD LEADING AERODYNAMICSEC90 AERO 55

WHEELSET WEIGHT 1345g

FINISH MATTE CARBON, WATER TRANSFER DECALS

TYPE CARBON TUBULAR

RIM MATERIAL EC90 CARBON

RIM DEPTH 55mm

INTERNAL RIM WIDTH NOT APPLICABLE

EXTERNAL RIM WIDTH 28mm (AT BRAKE TRACK)

SPOKES SAPIM CX-RAY, STRAIGHT-PULL

FRONT SPOKE PATTERN 16 / RADIAL

REAR SPOKE PATTERN 20 / 1x ND / 2x DS

BRAKING SURFACE CARBON

NIPPLE TYPE DT INTERNAL ALLOY

FRONT/rear HUB EASTON ECHO

BEARING TYPE SEALED CARTRIDGE BEARINGS

55mm TUBULAR

Talk about features! These wheels have everything: leading aerodynamics, certified Road Tubeless™ compatibility without rim strips, unrivaled braking performance, outstanding durability and competitive weight. Don’t take our word for it—check out the results from our exhaustive wind tunnel testing. Riding these wheels in a 40-kilometer time trial saves a whopping 14 seconds over the next fastest wheel, Enve’s 6.7 tubular. Riders concerned with finishing times and power output can’t afford not to buy these groundbreaking new wheels.

These aren’t simply race-day only wheels, they’re built strong. Easton’s industry-leading carbon lay-up process provides smooth, consistent braking. Like every high-end wheel in the Easton line, EC90 Aero 55 wheels are entirely built by hand from start to finish and acoustically tuned. These wheels combine top-end materials, a methodical build and an advanced rim design. They are extraordinarily fast wheels that will roll true for years to come.


FINISH MATTE CARBON / WATER TRANSFER DECALS

TYPE ROAD TUBELESS™ CARBON CLINCHER


RIM DEPTH 55mm

INTERNAL RIM WIDTH 19mm


SPOKES SAPIM CX-RAY / STRAIGHT-PULL


REAR SPOKE PATTERN 20 / 1x NDS / 2x DS


NIPPLE TYPE EASTON UST ALLOY

FRONT/REAR HUB EASTON ECHO


55mm TUBELESS CLINCHER


Disc brakes are the future of road cycling. They’re proven in mountain and cyclocross, and with the new EC90 SL Disc wheels combined to the latest brake systems, there are no longer any compromises associated with going disc. The EC90 SL takes the proven Fantom rim shape and scales it down to a shallower 38-millimeter depth. These wheels offer fierce acceleration, smooth, dependable durability and impressive aerodynamics. From the spring classics to rough and tumble cyclocross racing, you’d be hard pressed to find a condition where the EC90 SL Disc was out of its element.

The EC90 SL is available in tubular or certified Road Tubeless™ carbon clincher. EC90 SL wheels are entirely built by hand from start to finish and acoustically tuned. These wheels combine top-end materials, a methodical build and the proven M1 hubset. Best of all, these wheels are future proof in that they can convert to 15x100 (front hub) and 12x135 & 12x142 (rear hub); parts sold separately.

EC90 SL DISC DISC-EQUIPPED RACE WHEELS

38mm TUBULAR 38mm TUBELESS CLINCHERWHEELSET WEIGHT 1335g


TYPE CARBON TUBULAR


RIM DEPTH 38mm


EXTERNAL RIM WIDTH 28mm

SPOKES SAPIM STRAIGHT-PULL / DOUBLE-BUTTED

FRONT SPOKE PATTERN 20 / 2x

REAR SPOKE PATTERN 24 / 2x

BRAKING SURFACE DISC


FRONT HUB EASTON M1 / SIX-BOLT DISC / 9X100†

REAR HUB EASTON M1 / SIX-BOLT DISC / 10X135‡

†Convertible to 15x100, parts sold separately.‡Convertible to 12x135/142, parts sold separately.





RIM DEPTH 38mm


EXTERNAL RIM WIDTH 28mm

SPOKES SAPIM STRAIGHT-PULL / DOUBLE-BUTTED

FRONT SPOKE PATTERN 20 / 2x

REAR SPOKE PATTERN 24 / 2x

BRAKING SURFACE DISC


FRONT HUB EASTON M1 / SIX-BOLT DISC / 9X100†

REAR HUB EASTON M1 / SIX-BOLT DISC / 10X135‡

†Convertible to 15x100, parts sold separately.‡Convertible to 12x135 & 12x142, parts sold separately.

These are the medium-depth aerodynamic road wheels that your customers have been waiting for. The EC90 SL takes the proven Fantom rim shape and scales it down to a shallower 38-millimeter depth. These wheels offer fierce acceleration, smooth, dependable braking and impressive aerodynamics. From the spring classics to rough and tumble cyclocross racing, you’ll be hard pressed to find a condition where the EC90 SL is out of its element.

The EC90 SL is available in tubular or certified Road Tubeless™ carbon clincher. EC90 SL wheels are entirely built by hand from start to finish and acoustically tuned. These wheels combine top-end materials, a methodical build and the award winning Echo hubset.

EC90 SL BEST ALL-AROUND RACE WHEELSET

38mm TUBULAR WHEELSET WEIGHT 1167g


TYPE CARBON TUBULAR


RIM DEPTH 38mm



SPOKES SAPIM CX RAY / STRAIGHT-PULL






BEARING TYPE SEALED CARTRIDGE BEARING

38mm TUBELESS CLINCHERWHEELSET WEIGHT 1473g




RIM DEPTH 38mm



SPOKES SAPIM CX RAY / STRAIGHT-PULL







M1

EASTONCYCLING.COM

ec90 road series - easton cycling road series.pdf · 6 ec90road series white paper we tested the...

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