The wheels are the most important components for high-performance road bikes. Strong, lightweight wheels mean a fast dependable, and competitive bike. Shimano's advanced component technology has been applied to the development patter in which the head of the spoke is anchored through the sidewall of the rim with the threaded end crossing over to the opposite side hub flange. The hub incorporates four beefy flanges on each side with two spokes axially anchored to each flange. The innovative design provides the following four benefits:

1) The nippled end of the spoke is mounted at the hub to reduce rotating mass at the rim. The result is a lighter and faster wheel with less speed-robbing inertia.

2) Mounting the head of the spoke through the side of the rim applies tension in the line with the rim wall. This eliminates the need for a thicker cross section at the rims inner circumference where the spokes normally mount. Spoke tension can be safely increased, and the rim can be made lighter with no reduction in strength.