Happy with my 4550 and 5560 @1287g with steel spokes

Serenade were kind enough to send me a set of their new 65mm “Snakeskin” wheelset for review.

Full disclosure—they sent these to me free of charge, but the opinions below are entirely my own. In fact, I’d already been seriously considering buying a set because I thought they looked really interesting.

I’ve now got around 90km on them, so these are only first impressions rather than a full review.

Specification:

* 65mm front / rear
* 20/20 spoke count
* 3.9mm carbon spokes
* Claimed weight: 1,296g

I’m running Continental GP5000 30mm front and 32mm rear, which measure approximately 32mm and 34mm on these rims. The front tyre/rim transition works really well aerodynamically, while the rear is a little wider, which I don’t think is particularly important.

Initial impressions are very positive. They’re light for a 65mm wheelset, feel impressively stiff under power and have been very stable in crosswinds so far. No strange noises, no brake rub, and they’ve felt solid from the first ride.

The “Snakeskin” finish is obviously going to divide opinion. Personally, I like that it’s something different, but I know it won’t be for everyone. Whether you love it or hate it, it certainly stands out.

Are they the lightest 65mm wheels available? No. But coming in at just under 1,300g, I think that’s an impressive weight for a wheelset of this depth.

I’ll continue riding them over the coming weeks and update this thread once I’ve got a lot more miles on them, including some faster group rides and rougher roads.

If anyone is considering a set, I do have a discount code available just PM it’s also further back with some other.

If you local to Stevenage DM and you can come have a look!