Santa Cruz Bicycles

Reserve 22 700c DT Swiss Wheelset

When Santa Cruz and Juliana announced the new Stigmata and Quincy, we thought it was only appropriate that the brand crafted up some carbon hoops to match, and the new Reserve 22 700c DT Swiss Wheelset is ready to get rolling on a gravel grind near you. With the resurgence of rigid rides, we've been on a hunt to find new ways to reduce chatter and impact on old country roads and gravel trails that lead us to abandoned ghost towns. Some steeds opt for carbon leaf-springs, others try to damp the jarring vibrations with gimmicky seatposts, but we find the most effective way to take the edge off is by starting with lofty hoops that allow for larger volume tires that offer a bit of pneumatic suspension to take the sting out of things. With Santa Cruz's carbon prowess, and knack for laying up some of the sleekest hoops we've gotten our hands on, we're not surprised that these gravel-ready wheels are ready to offer a wide profile that eats up chatter well beyond the tarmac.

The Reserve 700c wheels required some special attention to ride tuning. While they offer a loftier profile than your go-to road hoops, compared to their 650b siblings they just don't have the space to cushion your ride as much. When you're hunting out high-end hoops in the size, most of what you'll find are deep-dish aerodynamic wheels that feel jarring and harsh off of pavement. With this in mind, Santa Cruz's designers took a gander at the Spring Classics, which are notorious for hand-numbing cobbles that put a hurt on more than just your rear-end. With the Classics in mind, they decided to opt for a profile that looks more akin to a box-section alloy rim, but with Santa Cruz's signature carbon strength. The stiff carbon layup enabled the designers to drop the spoke count down to 24, and utilize offset spoke drillings, just like you'd find in other Reserve rims, to equalize bracing angles and spoke tension on each side of the hub.

Unlike other hoops in the Reserve wheel lineup, the 700c rim uses a bead hook that resembles a UST rim. This provides additional burp-resistance — particularly critical when you're running lower tire pressures with narrower tires, in hopes of soaking up jarring trail chatter. The rims feature a 22-millimeter wide internal, which plays well with tires from 30-to-45-millimeters wide, so you can add in a big dose of volume compared to narrower road-only wheels. They are laced up with Spim CX Ray bladed spokes that give just a touch of extra compliance, and wind-slicing properties. DT Swiss 350-hubs finish off the wheels, providing you with snappy engagement and near instant power. Lastly, 12-millimeter thru-axles secure these to your steed for a stiff, powerful hold that won't flex when you're riding the line into dusty corners.