Cadex 36 Disc wheelset review

An all-day, every-day, wheelset that’s both stiff and light

Cadex 36 Disc Wheelset
(Image: © Josh Ross)

Cyclingnews Verdict

A light, stiff, wheel that brings much of the performance from a deep wheel with more versatility. If you are willing to spend the money you get the performance to match

Pros

  • +

    Incredibly light

  • +

    No loss of stiffness in the quest for low weight

  • +

    Wide, internal rim architecture

  • +

    Ratchet-style rear hub

Cons

  • -

    Expensive

  • -

    Limited selection of approved tyres

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The best companies in the world never stop innovating. That's because they attract people with a relentless drive. Cyclists understand this need to constantly be moving forward and always getting better. When companies get really big though it gets more difficult to take the risks needed to sustain the drive. Price points and market placement can start to dull the pace of forward movement. One way to handle that is to create a moonshot group. A smaller group within the larger company that's empowered to create only the best with no regard for the business side of the equation. That is what Cadex is within the Giant group. 

In 1987 Cadex formed with the purpose of creating a revolutionary, super-lightweight, full carbon-fibre bike. The group went dormant in the 90s but in 2019 it returned. The purpose remains to keep product innovation and performance as the primary driving force. The Cadex 36 Disc is a new addition meant to extend that mindset to a new category of wheels, and it manages to compete very well against the competition in the best lightweight wheels segment. 

Buy the Cadex 36 Disc wheels at Cadex Cycling

Josh Ross

Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx