Scribe's 65mm Élan Ultras: The Fastest UCI-Compliant Wheelsets with Wavy Spokes

Introducing Scribe's Latest Innovations in Road Bike Wheels

Since its launch in 2019, Scribe has made a name for itself by crafting a range of wheels that balance performance with affordability. As a fan of the Northern Irish brand, I’ve always appreciated how their portfolio caters to practically all cycling disciplines. Recently, I had the opportunity to test both the Tempus Disc/100 wheelset and the Élan SL 50+ wheelset, and I was thoroughly impressed by both models in terms of performance, value, and what they bring to the road bike wheels segment.

Scribe has been making waves lately with its wind-tunnel testing data, particularly regarding its Tempus TT wheels. Now, the new Élan Ultras are said to be among the fastest UCI-compliant wheelsets on the market. The 65mm model weighs just 1,289g, while the 50mm version is even lighter at 1,100g. Alongside the Élan Ultras, Scribe is also launching a more affordable Ultra Core range featuring aero steel spokes but maintaining the same profiles and rim architecture.

The Ultra range is built around two popular rim depths: 50mm and 65mm. Both wheelsets are impressively light, with the Élan Ultra 5 weighing in at a staggering 1,149g and the Élan Ultra 6 at 1,289g. These models use Scribe’s new OSL8 carbon spokes, which feature a unique wavy design laced in a 20/20 front-rear pattern. According to Scribe, this design is claimed to 'blend stiffness, compliance, and optimal aerodynamic efficiency'. The new spoke measures 5.7mm wide and oscillates left to right, hence the name 'OSL8'.

Scribe conducted independent wind tunnel testing at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub. The results suggest these are the fastest bladed spokes available. When tested against a flat 5mm bladed carbon spoke, the company found improvements of 0.5W (0°), 0.5W (5°), 0.4W (10°), and 0.2W (15°) at 45km/h. Whether this is relevant in a market where carbon-bladed spokes are now down to around 3mm wide—almost across the board—remains to be seen. More data is expected later this month, so we’ll take a closer look when it becomes available.

In addition to the Élan models, Scribe will also introduce the Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 6, available in the same rim depths. Unlike the Élan models, the Core Ultra wheels are built with Italian-made Alpina aero steel spokes, which increase the weight to 1,338g (Core Ultra 5) and 1,486g (Core Ultra 6). According to Scribe, the 65mm version is set to be the fastest UCI-compliant wheelset currently available.

With the growing trend towards wider rubber, Scribe has designed the Elan Ultra range with contemporary 24mm (internal) and 30mm (external) hooked rim profiles. These are built to work well with 28-30mm tyres in terms of tyre support.

Both the Élan and Core Ultra wheelsets employ the same TPI ceramic bearings and hub assemblies. This ensures consistency in quality and performance across the range.

Pricing looks promising as well, with the Élan Ultra and Core Ultra coming in at £1,999 / $2,599 / €2,299 and £1,499 / $1999 / €1,699, respectively. Wheelsets will be available for purchase from January 2026.