DRIVE 2 CLIMB TEST
I'm the happy owner of a pair of DRIVE II wheels with a 36/50 profile.
They're exceptional 1296g wheels, very easy to ride, with a good feel, just the right amount of stiffness but not too twitchy. I think that's due to the 23mm inner width.
Thanks to the 23mm inner width, with my 28mm tires removed from my old wheels with a 20mm inner width, the tires feel wider and provide better cornering grip.
The wheels are built with great care, you can tell.
Performance: I'll just tell you that on a climb I often do, behind my house, from 4km at 5%, I saved 28 seconds, using 3 watts less on average according to my power meter... Let's also say, with the same power, 7 seconds per km better than the 1500g wheels I had before, made of mid-range Bontragers...
That said, I'd add the most important thing: the customer service is spectacular. Many more well-known brands should just learn from their customer service!
Reply from Elitewheels
Hi Luigi,
Wow, thank you for this incredible deep dive into your Drive II 36/50 wheels—we’re absolutely thrilled they’ve exceeded your expectations!
Hearing how their 1296g weight, balanced stiffness, and 23mm inner width elevate your ride is music to our ears. The way that inner width transforms your 28mm tires (from a 20mm rim) into a wider, grippier setup for cornering? That’s exactly the thoughtful design we pour into every wheelset. And the build quality shining through—we take pride in that, so it means a lot you noticed.
But those climb stats? Chef’s kiss. Saving 28 seconds over 4km at 5% with 3 watts less average power, and beating your old 1500g wheels by 7 seconds per km at the same effort? That’s the kind of real-world performance we dream of delivering. Amazing work out there!
And your shoutout to our customer service? We’re humbled. We strive to set the bar high, so knowing we’re hitting that mark (and that bigger brands could learn from us) is the ultimate compliment.
Here’s to many more PRs on that climb behind your house—and every ride beyond. Thank you for choosing Elitewheels!