ffwd wheels review
Back in the Summer of 2020 Dutch brand FFWD launched its versatile RYOT44 and lightweight RYOT Raw wheelsets, which eschewed their earlier 'double-arc' rim profiles in favour of wider, straighter, more blunt designs that – according to FFWD - are better designed for today's wider tyres. Now, just a few months later, they're following that up with a new numerical suffix, the 77mm-deep RYOT 55, which aims squarely at time triallists and triathletes (and pairs perfectly with a disc rear to help you take those high-speed breakaway wins).
The 77mm-deep front and rear tubeless-ready carbon clincher wheels come paired with DT Swiss 240 and 180 hubs, which are durable, strong and light enough for road use, and they have an internal ratchet system for easy wheel removal. The rims use FFWD's LAW Technology, a profile that supposedly minimizes cross wind interference with the tyre and rim by widening slightly further out than previous rims, with a series of eye-catching indentations along the sides of the rim that FFWD calls 'DARC'.
We tested a set of the new RYOT55s on our test bike with 23mm tyres, and we found them to be incredibly versatile wheelsets. They're light enough to work for all road disciplines from training rides to race day, and they can be thrown around a bit on gravel too, although you'll want to opt for some knobbly tyres if you plan on using them off-road.
