HED Vanquish V45 Carbon Aero Disc Bicycle Wheelset

The HED Vanquish V45 Carbon Aero Bicycle Wheelset is a mid-depth carbon disc-brake road wheelset. It's built for road racing, fast group rides, climbing and all-road riding. The 45mm-deep hooked carbon rim sits between shallow climbing wheels and deep aero wheels. HED designed it to give a real aerodynamic advantage over a conventional low-profile rim, while staying shallow enough for climbing, changing winds and everyday riding.

The details are what set the V45 apart. Every wheel is hand-built, tensioned, trued and inspected at HED's Roseville, Minnesota facility, using 24 Sapim Sprint spokes, external alloy nipples and HED GP Performance Centerlock hubs with sealed EZO Japan bearings. The 22.4mm internal width is optimized around a 28mm measured road tire. The hooked bead works with both tubeless tires and clinchers with inner tubes. The result is a carbon aero wheelset you can service easily and ride every day, not just on race day.

Who It's For

• Road riders moving from stock alloy wheels to their first carbon aero wheelset

• Racers and fast group riders who want aero speed without the crosswind handling of a deep rim

• Riders who climb often and want one wheelset for mixed terrain

• Riders who run 28mm road tires, whether tubeless or with tubes

• Consider a different wheelset if your bike uses rim brakes or quick-release axles, or if your riding is mostly flat time trial or triathlon, where a deeper rim is the usual choice

What to Look For

• Frame and brake compatibility: The V45 uses 12x100mm front and 12x142mm rear thru-axles with Centerlock rotor mounts. Check that your frame and rotors match before ordering.

• Tire size and clearance: The rim is built around a 28mm measured tire and has a 30.9mm external width. Check that your frame has room for that tire on this rim.

• Rim depth vs. your riding: 45mm is an all-rounder depth. If you're choosing between one versatile wheelset and a dedicated deep aero wheel, think about your local terrain and wind first.

Key Features

Rim profile: The 45mm depth with a 30.9mm external and 22.4mm internal width is designed to balance aerodynamic efficiency with predictable handling as wind conditions change. The wide internal width gives a modern road tire a stable shape. That helps with cornering grip and comfort, and the smoother transition between tire and rim supports the tire when you're leaning hard into a corner.

Hubs and engagement: HED GP Performance hubs use sealed EZO Japan cartridge bearings throughout, for smooth rotation, weather resistance and easy bearing replacement. The rear hub's four-pawl freehub with 13-degree engagement gives reliable power transfer when you accelerate out of corners or respond to attacks.

Braking interface: Centerlock disc mounts at both ends match the rotor standard used on many current road and all-road bikes.

Tire compatibility: The hooked, tubeless-ready rim works with tubeless tires or conventional clinchers with inner tubes. You can choose your setup instead of being locked into one system.

Build and serviceability: 24 double-butted Sapim Sprint spokes per wheel add stiffness through the center section while keeping fatigue resistance. External alloy nipples make truing simple for any experienced mechanic, which matters for long-term ownership.

Rider Intent Summary

• Biggest strengths: Versatile 45mm depth, hand-built Minnesota construction, a wide rim optimized for 28mm tires, and serviceable hubs and nipples

• Tradeoffs: Not as aerodynamic as a deep-section wheel on flat, fast courses; fits only 12mm thru-axle, Centerlock disc frames

• What makes it different: Designed, manufactured and hand-built in Minnesota, with a choice of tubeless or tubes

Victory's Take

At Victory Bicycle Studio, we see the HED Vanquish V45 as the right one-wheelset answer for most serious road riders. It's fast enough to race, easy enough to live with on climbs and windy days, and built so we can keep it running true for years.