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British aero-focused wheel brand Parcours has introduced an all-new gravel wheelset – the FKT, or ‘Fastest Known Time’ – claiming it to be the first truly aero-optimised gravel wheel.
The FKT is designed specifically for riders looking to go fast on gravel. ‘So far, so product launch normal’ you might be forgiven for thinking.
Unlike many ‘lighter, stiffer, faster, more aero’ announcements, this one comes with a 17-page white paper outlining design parameters and testing methodologies, in support of the claims being made.
A 17-page white paper not grabbing your attention?
How about, “the time saving of FKT + GravelKing X1 over a previous generation gravel wheel + “High” tread tyre at Unbound would be almost 12 minutes.
“In 2024, this was more than the difference between the 1st & 16th-placed finisher in the men’s race and the 1st & 15th-placed finisher in the women’s race.”
Details. Details. Details
Rather than looking to mitigate the aerodynamic penalty of a gravel tyre, the FKT is all about optimising performance in gravel racing.
Parcours’ hybrid truncated virtual foil design reportedly helps to manage air flow from the wider tyre reducing turbulence caused by the more extreme tread required for gravel riding.
However, the FKT is designed taking more into account than just the rim profile.
Designed around a 40mm gravel tyre, anchored around the Panaracer Gravel King X1 tread pattern, the FKT takes in the bigger picture with performance benefits from 35-45mm tyres.
The Panaracer Gravel King X1 was chosen as the benchmark tyre based on extensive discussions with athletes around their race use case.
- The FKT’s rim design uses a hybrid truncated virtual foil to simulate airflow conditions around a much deeper NACA-based airfoil.
- Unlike Parcours #thinkwider road rims, the FKT wheelset uses a symmetrical front/rear rim design as our real-world wind data collection process showed a significantly reduced difference in yaw conditions for gravel racing environments and speeds.
- The FKT has a hookless rim with a 27mm internal width and so is ETRTO compliant from a 35mm tyre width upwards.
- FKT utilises the same IMPACT+ technology as seen in existing Parcours Alta rims, with a more flexible resin used at the rim edge – increasing durability and impact resistance meaning racers can be confident, whatever the parcours.
The hubs used in the FKT are Parcours’ road disc model, which has been tested and raced at the highest level in both triathlon and road. The drive mechanism uses a 6-pawl freehub running on a 44T ratchet ring.
Race-proven real-world performance
Race proven by Parcours athletes Maddy Nutt and Joe Laverick, the FKT’s have been ridden to both wins and top 10s at UCI Gravel World Series and a podium at the Migration Gravel Race.
Dov Tate, Founder of Parcours said of the FKT wheelset, “Having been at Unbound 2024 & seen first hand the impact of aerodynamics on gravel racing, we’re really excited to launch FKT.
“With aerodynamics optimised for gravel racing, you no longer have to make any performance compromises when heading to the start line of your next off-road challenge. FKT represents the next frontier for speed.”
Research and development in partnership with Panaracer
Jeff Zell of Panaracer said of the partnership with Parcours “We were excited to see Parcours choose to work with the X1 tyre and thanks to their extensive development, it turns out they’re a match made in heaven.
“Both wheelset and tyres complement each other and bring the best out in the design elements both Parcours and Panaracer have worked so hard to achieve; speed, performance and durability. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in this project.”
FKT wheels are available to pre-order through July for delivery in August. All wheelsets ordered during pre-order in July will be shipped and include a pair of Gravel King X1 tyres.
Details:
Price: £1,199 / $1,599 / €1,559
Weight: 1,500g
Rim depth: 47.0mm
Max rim width: 40.0mm
Internal rim width: 27.0mm
Note: ETRTO compliant with 35mm+ tyres
