All About Zwift's New Novatec R4 Wheels

“Sporting a rim height of 45mm and an internal width up to 21mm, the Novatec R4 Disc wheelset is perfect for the serious cyclist. GetStarted GetStartedonZwift ZwiftCourseMaps HowtoRaceonZwift(Setup,Strategy,andMore) LinksEveryZwifterMustHave More“GetStarted”Posts Tips&Tricks KitUnlockCodes Training&Nutrition Racing ZwiftHacks Reference HowZwiftWorks CourseCalendar SmartTrainerIndex TopWheel-OnTrainers TopDirect-Drive TopDirect-Drive>$900 ExhaustiveTrainerList Achievements&Unlocks Frames&Wheels Routes&Maps MasterListofRoutes DownloadableWatopiaMap RebelRoutes SpeedTests News Events GameUpdates Shop Search GetStarted GetStartedonZwift ZwiftCourseMaps HowtoRaceonZwift(Setup,Strategy,andMore) LinksEveryZwifterMustHave More“GetStarted”Posts Tips&Tricks KitUnlockCodes Training&Nutrition Racing ZwiftHacks Reference HowZwiftWorks CourseCalendar SmartTrainerIndex TopWheel-OnTrainers TopDirect-Drive TopDirect-Drive>$900 ExhaustiveTrainerList Achievements&Unlocks Frames&Wheels Routes&Maps MasterListofRoutes DownloadableWatopiaMap RebelRoutes SpeedTests News Events GameUpdates Shop More Search Signin Welcome!Logintoyouraccount yourusername yourpassword Forgotyourpassword?Gethelp PrivacyPolicy Passwordrecovery Recoveryourpassword youremail Apasswordwillbee-mailedtoyou. ReferenceSpeedTests AllAboutZwift’sNewNovatecR4Wheels ByEricSchlange December21,2021 5 Zwift’sDecember2021updateaddedanewwheelbrandtotheDropShop:USA-basedNovatec. TheirR4wheelsetisnowingame,pricedatjust95,900Drops.Rated2starsforweightand3aeroperformance,thesehoopsareavailableforlevel24+riders.Here’showtheyaredescribedintheDropShop: “Sportingarimheightof45mmandaninternalwidthupto21mm,theNovatecR4Discwheelsetisperfectfortheseriouscyclist.AlightweightrimprovidingminimalrotationalweightcombinedwiththeclassicRseriesshapeprovidesexactlywhatyouneedinracesituations.” NovatecR4wheelset,IRL Thestarratingsdon’ttellusenoughtodeterminehowthesewheelsactuallyperforminZwift,soweranthemthroughourstandardbatteryofteststolearnjusthowwelltheyperforminZwift’svirtualworld. Here’severythingyouneedtoknowaboutthenewNovatecR4wheelsinZwift… AeroPerformance TheR4wheelsturninalacklusterflattesttimewhichplacestheminthelower16%oftheuniverseofZwiftwheelsets.They’rejustabitslowerthantheZipp202wheels,andabitfasterthanthestockZwift32mmCarbonhoops. Novatec’sR4wheelsturnedinatimeof51:21.5onourtestcourse(twolapsofTempusFugit).Bycomparison,thefastestwheelsingame(DTSwissdisc)turnedinatimeof50:25.5. ClimbPerformance TheR4wheelsareratedjust2starsforweight,sowefiguredtheirclimbperformancewouldnotimpress.Anditdidn’t!TheycameinjustbehindtheENVESES8.9andslightlyaheadoftheMavicCosmicUltimateUST,rankingitinthelower25percentileoverall. ThesenewwheelsturnedinanAlpeduZwifttimeof49:33.That’s21secondsbehindthetwotopclimbingwheelsets(LightweightMeilensteinsandRovalAlpinistCLX). Note:alltestresultsabovearefroma75kg,183cmriderholding300WsteadyusingZwift’sstock32mmcarbonwheelset. Conclusions TheNovatecR4wheelsonZwiftdon’tperformwellonflatsorclimbs,sowe’rehard-pressedtofindareasontorecommendpickingupavirtualpairunlessyouownsomeIRLandliketheideaoftwinningwithyouravatar. WheneveranewwheelsetisaddedtotheDropShopweaddittoour MasterZwiftWheelsList.Wewillalsoaddrelevanttestresultstothefollowing: WheelRankingChartsWheelandFrameScatterPlotsZwiftShoppingGuide:WhatToBuyatEachLevel QuestionsorComments? Sharebelow! Importantnote:thispostcontainsspeedtestresultsforZwiftframesorwheels.Theseresultsmaychangeovertime,andabike’sperformancerelativetoothersmayalsochange.Wedon’talwaysrevisepostswhenperformancerankingschange,butwedokeepcurrent,masterversionsofourspeedtestresultswhicharealwaysavailable.Seetheframecharts,wheelcharts,andTronvsTopPerformersforcurrentperformancedata. RelatedPosts RelatedPosts FacebookTwitterPinterestReddIt EricSchlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.comEricrunsZwiftInsiderinhissparetimewhenheisn'tonthebikeormanagingvariousbusinessinterests.HelivesinNorthernCaliforniawithhisbeautifulwife,twokidsanddog.FollowonStrava 5COMMENTS Subscribe Loginusing Notifyof newfollow-upcomments newrepliestomycomments Label Emoji Name* Email* Website Δ Loginusing Label Emoji Name* Email* Website Δ 5Comments oldest newest mostvoted InlineFeedbacks Viewallcomments BenNicholson 9monthsago Itwouldbegreatifzwiftrankedtheequipmentwithapercentageratinginsteadofoutof5stars–wouldenableustomakemoreinformedequipmentchoiceswhenservaloptionsareat3stars. 0 Reply Kyle 9monthsago Replyto  BenNicholson That’swhatthissiteisfor. 0 Reply CarstenRe.fromGermany 9monthsago Theverybestthingonwheels(insteadofframes)is,thatthecommunitydoesn’tneedtowasteonlyonelittlethoughtifthislameduckcouldturnintoatopdogovernightwithouthavingtheDura-Aceissue🙈🤣 0 Reply ThomasChristiansen 9monthsago Replyto  CarstenRe.fromGermany Waitforit! Iheardthey’regonnachangethehubonseveralwheelsets.ExpecttheMeilensteinstogainweightandbecome14secsloweruptheAlpe…. 0 Reply CarstenRe.fromGermany 9monthsago Replyto  ThomasChristiansen HahahaThomas😉🤣🤣🤣 0 Reply   wpDiscuz FreeZwiftTrial CreateAccount NewestFeaturedPosts AllAboutTomorrow’sZwiftGrandPrix“SquadSkirmish” Events ZwiftGrandPrixWomen’sRound2Recap News ZwiftRacingLeague2022/23Round2Details Events SupportThisSite Contributeapost,shopthroughus,makeadonation,advertiseonthissite.SeehowyoucansupportZwiftInsider! Thiscommunity-drivensiteismaintainedbyEricSchlangeandateamofZwiftenthusiasts.ZwiftInsiderisindependentofZwiftcorporate(www.zwift.com),althoughZwiftdoesprovidefundingtohelpdefraysitecosts. ThissitecontainsaffiliatelinkstoAmazon,Wahoo,andotherbrands.ZwiftInsidermakesasmallcommissiononpurchasesmadefromtheselinks,sopleaseshopthroughthemtosupportourefforts. TermsofUse/DMCACopyrightPolicy PrivacyPolicy [email protected] Latestarticles AllAboutTomorrow’sZwiftGrandPrix“SquadSkirmish” ZwiftGrandPrixWomen’sRound2Recap ZwiftRacingLeague2022/23Round2Details PopularCategories Racing922News712Training&Nutrition567Events437Interviews436Routes&Maps290 50Wouldloveyourthoughts,pleasecomment.x()x|ReplyInsertCommentAuthorInfo YouaregoingtosendemailtoSendMoveCommentMove Don’taskagain RelatedPosts