Review: CADEX AR 35 Disc Wheelset — Gravel Flyers?

Plenty of all-road and gravel wheels have come into the market since the CADEX AR 35’s were introduced in 2022. But, not many have surpassed the high bar set by the AR 35’s. I’m finally getting my hands on a set and they have been impressive.

CADEX AR 35 Wheelset Features:

• Ultralight weight at 1270g per pair
• 25mm inner rim width for increased sidewall support and smoother ride quality
• Versatile 35mm rim height
• 60-tooth ratchet freehub for instant engagement and reactivity
• CADEX ceramic bearings for ultrasmooth performance
• High-tensile-strength carbon spokes with Dynamic Balanced Lacing for maximum power transfer
• Hookless bead technology for added strength and impact resistance
• Compatible with 28-45mm road and gravel tires
• Integrated axle design for increased lateral stiffness and eliminated play
• Custom-tuned DBL technology for efficient power transmission and uncompromising reliability
• MSRP: $3300

So much carbon (and ceramic)

If you’re unfamiliar with CADEX, it is the component brand of Giant Bicycles. Much like Specialized has Roval, Cannondale and Cervelo have Reserve, Giant has CADEX. These house brands offer a ton of value because they can leverage the expertise of their parent company. CADEX is pushing the limits on all fronts and the AR 35’s are no exception, leading with the full-carbon spokes, ceramic bearings, hookless rims and all-new hub designs — all paired with durable, ultralight rims. Most ultralight carbon rims aren’t tested to mountain bike standards, but these rims feature the same impact resistance as XC rims.

As with most gravel wheelsets, the inner rim width is a generous 25mm, which is pretty much standard these days. In 2022, that girth wasn’t as common. Today, only a few rims are wider (notably the Zipp 303 XPLR SW at 32mm). It’s worth noting that most frame manufacturers use 25mm inner rim widths to state tire clearances on their gravel bike, so you should be good to go with the AR 35’s and your chosen tire width. As always, make sure and measure with calipers and double-check on your frame to avoid any damage.

The CADEX AR 35 gravel wheelset is incredibly easy to set up and install. Mine came with a Shimano freehub driver, but changing to SRAM XDR was a breeze. I just dabbed a little bit of Phil Wood Bio Lube on the teeth and was up-and-running. The first thing I noticed was how loud the freehub is while spinning. I immediately knew that would be both good and bad (more on that later).

I ended up installing a set of WTB Vulpine S 45 tires for a great combination of traction and speed. They measure out to just over 45mm, so everything is great on both the OPEN UPPER 2.0 and Pinarello Grevil F7. Pulling the Vulpine S onto the rims is a breeze and inflating was equally-easy. CADEX is using a high-quality tubeless rim tape that was installed to perfection — not something I can always say with other wheelsets.

Rocking the gravels

Today’s gravel scene is completely different from when these wheels were introduced, but they have honestly aged really well. With 25mm internal width, it’s easy to reliably mount and inflate tires to get a predictable tire width. For the most part, it’s easy to expect tire widths on the AR 35’s to essentially measure out to the labeled width. That’s exactly what I’ve found with the WTB Vulpine S 45’s — they are exactly 45mm. At that width, I’m about maxed out on the OPEN UPPER 2.0, but still have plenty of clearance on the Pinarello Grevil F7.

The testing routes for the AR 35’s were a mixture of 90% gravel rides or 60/40% gravel-to-road ratios. After quick road approaches, the wheels and tires come into their own in the dirt. There’s nothing gimmicky about these wheels and when you’re on the dirt, everything just clicks. With the added durability that hookless rim designs brings, it’s easy to comfortably roll with lower pressures. For my 178 lb. weight, I’m setting them up with 28 psi front and 30 psi rear.

I was a little nervous that the carbon spokes on the AR 35’s would make the ride feel harsh (which was my experience with the ELITEWHEELS Drive G45’s). Happily, these wheels are not harsh or rough in any way. Of course, low pressures will mask a lot, but you’re going to be stoked to find a good dose of comfort here.

When pushing these wheels hard, at speed, there’s nothing they can’t do. Every pedal stroke results in maximum speed. Their ultralight weight and stiff, responsive hubs feels like a masterclass in wheel building. CADEX has a ton of resources and the entire package showcases all that expertise.

Where things really shine is once the gravel or singletrack ticks upward. With their ultralight weight, it won’t be the wheels that are holding you back. I can sit and spin out any climb and stand through the steepest sections — no matter what, the AR 35’s just respond. That 60-tooth ratchet free hub comes into play and makes it easy to redirect your pedal stroke at slower speeds, when obstacles come in the way, or the gravel gets loose and you spin out. Even on the steepest pitches, if I’ve gotten stalled out, I’ve been able to balance for a split-second, and pedal my way out. You will not ever be able to blame the wheels/hubs because they are as responsive as they come.

I’ve equally been impressed with their chops on more technical, chunky terrain. Admittedly, I haven’t mounted up meatier tires yet, but with XC-wheel durability and the right combination of lateral stiffness and responsiveness translates into a great wheelset for hitting twisty singletrack in-between road and gravel stints. Even after repeated rock strikes, I’m not seeing any dings or scratches on the faces of the sidewalls.

There is no getting around just how loud the freehub is on the R2-C60 hubs. On busy trails or bike paths, it’s a blessing and a curse if you can time your coasting just right. When done right, it’s a pre-warning that you’re coming behind someone. When that coasting is done too late, it can be startling to other riders or trail users. The hubs do roll well on extended road sections too. I really don’t have any complaints with how smooth these wheels are everywhere. In the coming months, I plan to outfit them with wide road tires and add a followup.

As mentioned before, the installed tubeless tape is top-notch and these wheels hold air like champs. Both wheels continue rolling perfectly true after hundreds of gravel and singletrack miles. At only 35mm depth, they don’t get blown around in crosswinds and do have some aero efficiency, but that’s hard to measure with large, gravel tires. Stay tuned for more road-oriented updates in the coming months. 

Buy Now: Visit CADEX