Venn 500 C SL Carbon Road Disc Wheelset

The 50mm depth is meticulously sculpted to maintain sail-effect propulsion in crosswinds while minimizing steering torque. The ultra-wide 30mm–32mm external and 25mm internal dimensions perfectly support 28mm to 32mm tires, dramatically reducing rolling resistance and significantly improving comfort and grip on rougher tarmac.

Venn 500 C SL Rim Profile

All 44 spokes, 20 front and 24 rear, are carbon aero blades. Carbon fibre's near-zero elongation under load means the spoke does not stretch and hand energy back on the next pedal stroke, so power arrives at the rim as forward motion rather than as wind-up. The bladed profile presents a narrow edge to the airflow, which matters more than most riders expect: spokes travel through the air far faster than the bike does, and the top of the wheel is moving at twice road speed.

The 500 C SL carries no clear coat. What you see is the Class-A surface the rim holds as it comes out of the mould, a deep gloss black that is the moulded surface itself rather than a layer applied on top of it. Skipping the clear coat keeps weight off the rim perimeter, where it costs the most in rotational inertia, and it leaves the quality of the underlying carbon structure on open display with nowhere to hide. For added customization, riders can opt for high-durability UV printed decals.

If you are cross-shopping our two 50mm wheelsets, here is the honest comparison. Both are built around the same rim, run the same carbon aero blade spokes and turn on the same S&S ceramic bearings, so neither is faster than the other in a straight line and neither rolls more freely. The 500 C UL is optimised for one variable: mass. Getting a 50mm wheelset under 1000g means the lightest hub shell we build, a 20/20 lacing, and an extra finishing step to reach its stealth matte surface, and that last stretch of weight reduction is the expensive part of the wheel. The SL keeps every component that determines how the wheel rides, adds four rear spokes, and wears the rim's own moulded gloss. They are easy to tell apart on the road: the UL is stealth matte, the SL is gloss. If your riding is decided on long climbs and you count grams, take the UL. If your riding rewards a wheel that stays in tune under sustained load and rough surfaces, take the SL. The gap between them is 122 grams and a meaningful amount of money.

- Rim Depth: 50mm - Internal Width: 25mm - External Width: 30mm (at edge) / 32mm max - Spoke Count: 20 Front / 24 Rear - Spoke Type: Carbon Aero Blade - Hub System: 36-tooth ratchet - Bearings: S&S Ceramic - System Weight: 1120g +/- 30g - Finish: Uncoated glossy Class-A surface (Optional UV Decals)

Riders who generate real power and want a 50mm aero wheel that holds its tension through a season rather than needing attention every few months. The 20 front / 24 rear lacing is chosen for exactly that: sustained high output, heavier total system weight, rough tarmac, and long intervals between services. It is a road racing and fast group riding wheel that does not ask to be treated gently.

The 500 C SL wheelset weighs 1120g +/- 30g. That is a light figure for a 50mm-deep carbon aero wheelset built with carbon spokes. The tolerance is quoted for the pair, since we publish system weight rather than a single rim figure.

Because the two wheels do different amounts of work. The front wheel steers and carries less of the rider, so 20 carbon aero blade spokes is a sound number for it and saves weight where it can be saved. The rear wheel takes drive torque, carries more weight, and is dished around the cassette, so it gets 24. Spreading that torque across 24 spokes lowers the peak load on any one of them, which is what keeps the wheel true over a long season.

Shimano HG, SRAM XDR, and Campagnolo N3W freehub bodies are available, covering all major 11- and 12-speed road drivetrains. Choose your freehub at checkout.

Yes. The 500 C SL is tubeless-ready and ships with tubeless tape and valves included. The 25mm internal width pairs well with modern 28-32mm tubeless road tires for a smooth, aerodynamic tire-to-rim transition.

The 50mm profile is tuned as an all-round aero depth, it delivers clear watt savings at speed while staying controllable in gusts. Riders in consistently windy areas sometimes pair it with a shallower front, but most find the 500 C SL composed across conditions.

Almost everything is shared: the same 50mm rim from the same mould, the same 25mm internal width, the same carbon aero blade spokes, and the same premium S&S ceramic bearings. The SL is laced 20 front / 24 rear in a more substantial hub shell; the UL is laced 20/20 in the lightest hub shell we build. The two also wear different surfaces, gloss on the SL and matte on the UL, and neither is clear-coated. The result is 1120g for the SL against 998g for the UL. Aerodynamically and on the road they behave the same way, because the rim is what meets the air.

Because the last 122 grams is the expensive part of a wheelset, not the first 1120. Taking a 50mm wheelset under 1000g requires the lightest hub shell we build, and that shell carries a real cost. The SL keeps every component that determines how the wheel rides, the rim, the carbon spokes and the S&S ceramic bearings. It also wears the gloss surface the rim already has when it leaves the mould, rather than the extra finishing step the UL's matte requires. You are not giving up quality for the lower price, only grams.

No. Both wheelsets run our premium S&S ceramic bearings. Rolling efficiency and engagement are identical across the two; the 36-tooth ratchet system is the same as well. The hardware differences are the hub shell those internals sit in and the four extra spokes in the rear wheel.

No, it is a different surface, not a lesser one. Neither wheelset is clear-coated, so neither carries the weight of a coating. The SL wears the gloss the rim has as it comes out of the mould, while the UL is taken through an extra finishing step to arrive at its matte look. That step is part of why the UL costs more. Which one you prefer is a matter of taste: stealth matte, or a deep gloss black.

Both wheelsets pass the same 15-test validation programme, so neither is under-built. The SL distributes rider load and drive torque across 24 rear spokes rather than 20, which lowers the share carried by each spoke and helps the wheel hold its tension longer between services. That is an advantage where loads are high and repetitive: sustained high power, heavier total system weight, and rough surfaces. It is a different design target from the UL, which is optimised for mass.