Rolf Prima Hyalite ES 700C Wheelset
The Rolf Prima Hyalite ES is the lower-cost way into Rolf's gravel wheels. It uses the same 21mm deep, 22mm inner width asymmetric aluminum rim as the standard Hyalite, the same 24-spoke paired lacing, and swaps the US-made XST hubs for Rolf's XR 3.1 hubset. Rolf lists the pair at 1615 grams in 700c.
The Hyalite ES is for the rider who wants a hand-built, warrantied gravel wheelset that moves between surfaces and seasons, but does not need titanium freehub bodies, the T2 drive or a long list of axle options. It is also the sensible choice for a second bike or a cyclocross race set that gets muddy every weekend. Riders who later want the T2 drive and titanium freehub can step up to the standard Hyalite; the rim will be identical.
Rolf's paired-spoke lacing is unchanged on the ES. The spokes still meet the rim in pairs, canceling left and right pull and allowing higher, more even tension than a conventional 24-spoke wheel. That, plus the asymmetric rim, is why the Hyalite ES rides stiffer and stays truer than its price and spoke count suggest.
Design and construction
The rim is an asymmetric aluminum clincher, 21mm deep, 22mm inner width, tubeless ready and shipped taped with a valve. Rolf says the asymmetric profile improves spoke tension balance by up to 30 percent.
The hubset is XR 3.1, which Rolf lists as designed in the USA rather than machined there, with sealed steel cartridge bearings and a forged aluminum freehub body. It does not include the T2 high-engagement drive found on the XST hubs, and that hub is the main place the Hyalite ES saves cost over the standard Hyalite.
Spokes are 24 front and 24 rear, round Sapim Race, paired at the rim. Brake interface is disc. The Hyalite ES comes in one axle configuration: 12mm thru-axle front and 142mm thru-axle rear. Freehub bodies offered are Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR and Shimano Micro Spline.
How it rides
On the road the Hyalite ES is a shallow, unfussy wheel that climbs well, ignores crosswinds and takes a 28mm road tire happily. The round Sapim Race spokes are a little heavier than the Laser spokes on the standard Hyalite, which adds a touch of stiffness and durability rather than weight you will notice on the bike.
On gravel and cyclocross courses the 22mm inner width supports a 35mm to 42mm tire well, and the aluminum rim shrugs off rock strikes and mud. The XR 3.1 hub engages more slowly than Rolf's T2-equipped hubs, which you will feel when ratcheting through technical sections but not on open roads. For a rider who wants a reliable everyday gravel wheel, the Hyalite ES does the job without fuss. Rolf's five-year warranty and lifetime crash replacement apply to the Hyalite ES the same as to the XST-equipped models, which is not something most entry-level gravel wheels can claim.
Specifications
| Wheel type | Adventure / Gravel |
|---|---|
| Rim | Alloy clincher, asymmetric |
| Rim depth | 21mm |
| Rim width | 25mm, internal 22mm |
| Brake | Disc Brake |
| Spoke count (F/R) | 24/24 |
| Spokes | Sapim Race, round |
| Hubset | XR 3.1 Steel cartridge bearings |
| Front axle | 12mm |
| Rear axle | 142mm |
| Freehub | Shimano HG 10/11 or SRAM XDR 11/12, MS12 |
| Tire size | Please refer to chart in product images |
| Weight | 1615g [730g/885g] |
| Includes | taped |
What this page sells
About this Hyalite ES 700C Wheelset listing. The choices on this page are driver type: Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR, Shimano Micro Spline. This listing is the complete wheelset - front and rear together, not a single wheel.
Fit and compatibility
The Hyalite ES is 700c only and disc only, with 12x100 front and 142x12 rear thru-axle spacing. It does not offer QR or Boost end caps, so check your frame before ordering; if you need Boost or QR, the standard Hyalite has the full menu.
Freehub bodies are Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR and Shimano Micro Spline. Rolf's tire chart governs sizing; we recommend 28mm to 45mm on this rim, with 35mm to 42mm the best fit for gravel. The Hyalite ES ships taped with a valve, so tubeless setup on your end is sealant, tire and a floor pump.
Rolf Prima's testing and certifications
Rolf Prima builds every complete wheelset by hand at its facility in Eugene, Oregon. The company states that all orders are built by hand there by its own builders, and describes its process as building each wheel three times with two stress cycles in the build to seat and stretch all components. Rolf Prima says hand building lets it hit uniform spoke tensions that machine building cannot match, and that its design allows higher and more targeted spoke tension than a traditionally laced wheel, which it credits with increasing stiffness and improving spoke durability by decreasing the load cycle on each spoke.
The defining feature of a Rolf Prima wheel is Paired Spoke Technology, introduced in 1997. Bringing the spokes to the rim in pairs neutralizes the left and right outward pulling forces, which Rolf Prima says allows it to build true wheels on lighter rims with fewer spokes. Fewer spokes and lighter rims are the basis of the brand's aerodynamic and weight claims. The wheel systems combine paired spokes with the Delta rim profile, internal nipples, and patented details including the Jacketed Nipple, Self-Aligning Nipple, Differential Flange Diameter and Dish Reducing Design. Rolf Prima cites eleven patents behind its technology.
Rolf Prima runs an in-house engineering and testing lab and states it uses the ISO 4210 standard as a base starting point but considers it not tough enough, so it applies its own in-house standards. Published test capabilities include an in-house drum fatigue tester it calls the Thrasher, which compresses years of riding into days; an impact test using a weight calibrated steel anvil that exceeds the UCI 40 joule requirement, striking at spokes, between spokes and at the valve hole; lateral and radial stiffness measurement of rims alone and complete wheels; brake energy, distance and temperature testing developed for carbon clinchers; wind tunnel evaluation; and field testing by sponsored athletes. The Certainty page cites over 10,000 hours of lab testing to above industry standards.
On racing eligibility, Rolf Prima explains that UCI approval only matters for mass start UCI road races, UCI cyclocross and draft legal ITU triathlon. Its standard wheels (Aspin and the Elan family) do not require approval, while most of its deeper or lower spoke count models are non standard and are listed on the UCI approval registry. Rolf Prima does not publish a fixed rider weight limit; it says every wheel has limits that involve riding style and road conditions as well as weight, and directs heavier or more aggressive riders toward stiffer models such as Vigor, Echelon or Ares6. All road wheels can be set up tubeless with the brand's tubeless kit, and adventure, cyclocross and mountain models ship tubeless ready with tape and valves installed.
Rolf Prima backs its wheels with the Certainty program: a five year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original owner, lifetime crash replacement at a discount for registered wheels, a 30 day trade out or return window in the USA, replacement parts availability for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, and stated service response times of same day to 24 hours on calls and email with service work resolved within three days of receipt.
Rolf Prima's videos
From Rolf Prima
Warranty and certifications
- Limited warranty — Five years from original retail purchase against defects in materials and workmanship (2016 and newer wheels), original owner, non transferable; decals and bearings two years (source)
- Certainty program — Five year warranty, lifetime crash replacement, 30 day trade out or return in the USA, replacement parts for any Rolf Prima wheel regardless of age, same day to 24 hour service replies, service work resolved within three days of receipt (source)
- Crash replacement — Lifetime crash repair or replacement discount for the original owner; wheels must be registered within 30 days of purchase; proof of purchase and serial numbers required; freight not covered (source)
- UCI approval — Non standard models (rims taller than 25 mm, fewer than 16 spokes) are listed on the UCI approval registry; Aspin and Elan are standard wheels that need no approval (source)
- Test standards — ISO 4210 used as the base with tougher in-house standards; impact test exceeds the UCI 40 J requirement; in-house drum fatigue, stiffness, brake and wind tunnel testing (source)
- Hand built in USA — All wheels hand built in Eugene, Oregon; each wheel built three times with two stress cycles; eleven patents (source)
Sources on Rolf Prima's site:
- Rolf Prima: Testing
- Rolf Prima: Paired Spoke Technology
- Rolf Prima: Our Technology
- Rolf Prima: Certainty Program
- Rolf Prima: Warranty
- Rolf Prima: FAQ (UCI, rider weight, build process)
The figures, certificates and media above are Rolf Prima's own. ProWheelBuilder does not run these tests; we sell the wheel and stand behind the order.
A note on Rolf Prima
Rolf Prima builds by hand in Eugene, Oregon. Hand-built at the factory means what it means here, that each wheel is tensioned and trued by a person rather than released by a machine, which is why we are comfortable selling them beside the wheels we build ourselves.
Ordering it from ProWheelBuilder
Rolf Prima builds each Hyalite ES to order in Eugene, Oregon. We sell it from ProWheelBuilder in Georgia and check the freehub selection against your cassette before the order goes to Rolf. Because the ES is thru-axle only, we also confirm your frame spacing so nothing gets built that will not fit. Lead time is set by Rolf's build queue, and we pass along the estimate when we place the order.
If you would rather have a similar alloy gravel rim laced to a different hub, a hub with faster engagement, or a higher spoke count for a loaded bike, we build custom wheels on Astral rims, Rolf's rim brand, and can quote that next to the Hyalite ES so you can see where the money goes.
Warranty
Manufacturer's warranty. Rolf Prima gives a one-year limited warranty on its wheels under normal use. Astral is Rolf Prima's rim brand; ask us and we will confirm the current terms for the exact rim before you buy.
ProWheelBuilder. This is a complete wheelset built by its manufacturer rather than in our shop, so the maker's warranty above is the one that applies to it. ProWheelBuilder's own one-year wheel warranty covers the wheels we build. We will still handle a manufacturer claim on your behalf.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
Hyalite ES 700C questions
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the Hyalite ES?
No. Rolf Prima builds the Hyalite ES in Eugene, Oregon. We are a reseller.
What is the difference between the Hyalite ES and the Hyalite?
Same rim and spoke count. The ES uses the XR 3.1 hub with an aluminum freehub and fixed 12x100/142x12 axles. The Hyalite uses US-made XST 4.4 hubs with a titanium freehub, T2 drive and QR, thru-axle and Boost options.
Does the Hyalite ES fit a QR or Boost frame?
No. It is 12mm front and 142mm rear thru-axle only.
Can I get a Campagnolo driver on the Hyalite ES?
No. Rolf offers Shimano HG 10/11, SRAM XDR and Shimano Micro Spline on the XR 3.1 hub.
Is the Hyalite ES tubeless ready?
Yes. It ships taped with a valve.
Is the Hyalite ES covered by Rolf's warranty?
Yes. Rolf's Certainty program applies: five-year warranty, lifetime crash replacement and permanent parts availability.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build wheels for a living.
