“From the performance to the looks, these wheels are one thing: polished! The Emporia GA Pro – Silver Edition are gravel wheels for those who want to go fast and make a statement.” – Hed Cycling
“Featuring the same supremely wide 25mm internal width as the Emporia GA Pro, the Silver Edition is designed to pair with a wide range of gravel tires without pinching tire sidewalls like other narrower wheels on the market. Enjoy a smoother, quicker ride quality with increased tire volume. Ride fast and flashy with the Emporia GA Pro – Silver Edition.”
Features
- 1,535g per wheelset
- 25mm Internal Width, 30mm External Width
- Tubeless Compatible
- Centerlock disc brake only
- Hand-built in the USA
The Details
Improving on the Ardennes was never going to be an easy task. When HED’s team of engineers started working on alloy gravel wheels, it did so with nearly a decade of “wide” rim expertise in the rearview, having pioneered wider internal rim widths with the Ardennes Plus in the early 2010’s.
When it comes to gravel, however, “Plus” just isn’t wide enough. This is where the idea for our entire line of Emporia gravel wheels started.
The Emporia GA Pro – Silver Edition is the next edition in our Emporia alloy gravel line, building off over a decade of high-quality rim design and throwing in a dash of bling to create our lightest, flashiest alloy gravel wheel yet.
At 1,535g and a 25mm internal width, the Emporia GA Pro – Silver Editions beat many of its carbon competitors in both weight and width.
Why does that matter? Gravel is one of the most demanding cycling disciplines to design for – the terrain can be so variable that it is necessary to leave no stone (or pebble) left unturned. When it comes to wheel design, a point of major importance is the pairing of the wheel with a variety of tires, ensuring that the tire bed allows the tire to perform at its absolute best, dampening vibration and enabling speed.
With a lighter, wider wheel, HED’s Emporia GA Pro – Silver Edition is agile and allows a wide range of tire sizes to roll without pinching the tires’ sidewalls. This allows for the tire sidewalls to provide the natural suspension they are designed for, enabling the rider to roll at lower tire pressures and experience a smoother, suppler ride quality. That means more comfort, more speed.
Pair that with HED’s signature Fat Lip Technology, with rim strengthening reinforcement at the rim bead, and you have a set of wheels that are gravel-ready through-and-through.
The Emporia GA Pro – Silver Edition is 700c only and with hubs that are centerlock disc brake-specific. Price on this wheelset is $US 1,200 and is available with Shimano, SRAM XDR, and Campagnolo hub body options.
What do the rims weigh?
Sorry, no idea. Perhaps you can ask the manufacturer for more information beyond what is here in the press release.
You think those rims would look good on a polished Ti gravel bike or have the opposite effect being bland and washed out? Your thoughts.
I reckon with tan or brown sidewall tyres, it would be a pretty attractive setup. Obviously some dirt is unavoidable.