Now back to the 69ers road performance. Man oh man, these wheels snap! They are wonderfully taught and lively, never feeling stiff or overly rigid. They possess gobs of lateral integrity, holding lines well and resisting out of saddle flex during climbs. With the Stelvios pumped up to the recommended, rock hard 205 psi, the 69ers tore up the road. I’ve never ridden a faster feeling wheel/tire combo. On my single, brave, rough 17 mile road commute to work with the 69ers, I set a personal time record. Was it the wheel, was it psychological? Who cares, it was faster. It’ll take it.

The 69er wheel set was test ridden extensively on two bikes, a high modulus Kestrel Evoke SL and a carbon Pedal Force RS2. In both cases the 69er instantly transformed the ride. Both bikes are great road handlers, with the Kestrel being a little softer, better suited to long distance rides. By simply mounting up the 69ers on either, the bike turned into a race rocket. The 69ers removed any soft fuzziness, transmitting every subtle change on the road, while delivering reasonable comfort. Ever driven a stiff suspension, high horsepower track car at Thunderhill? That’s what it’s like to ride around on a set of Storck 69ers with fast rolling tubulars.

Regarding durability, I’ll be honest, I used to ride, train and race on nothing but tubulars. But these days, I’ve become cautious and ride clinchers. I started out timidly on the 69ers and Stelvios, but over the course of the test rides, I’ve grown very comfortable on them, and aside from hilly road rides, don’t think twice about riding them. At 205 pounds, I’m no lightweight. The wheels have held true, the bearings spin smooth as day one, and the finish is like new.

Up the coast north of Santa Cruz, Rte.1 snakes along the cliffs and bluffs of the Pacific. There’s an infamous afternoon wind that kicks up nearly every day, coming off the shore from the northwest, gusting anywhere from 10 to 30 knots. You can almost fly on the way home, but it can be a grueling slog when heading into to it. The prevailing wind was also perfect for testing the wheel in turbulent crosswinds. On the 69ers toughest test day, the wind took a more easterly course, blowing straight off the coast from the west, around 20 kph. I could feel the gusts catching the front wheel. It never got out of control, but I was glad I didn’t have a deeper rim. In that wind, any wheel would’ve been subject to push. But the 69mm profile lightweight caught the gusts, creating a slight challenge to a steady line. If you plan on riding in windy conditions, expect more crosswind effect than a lower profile wheel, but much less than a full disc or cover. No rocket science needed on that point.

Strengths

• Light weight
• Great balance between aerodynamics, durability, and profile depth
• Use in criteriums, time trials and rolling road races
• Fantastic snap and lively ride qualities
• Transforms any bike into a race machine

Weaknesses

• Relatively expensive
• Crosswinds can push the wheel
• Loud graphics
• Diminished braking on steep descents

Bottomline
Interesting closing observation about these wheels… A set of Storck 69ers with tubulars can cost as much as some mid-level road bikes. But regardless of what bike you’re currently riding, the way these wheels absolutely transform your ride; it’s like adding a second bike to your stable, a race ready pure-bred, without taking up any more space in your garage! They handle great, are wonderfully light, yet tough. If you have a chance to test ride a set, do it. If you’re like me, you’ll retire that carbon wheel skeptic inside.

Value
4

Overall
4.5

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