2026 CRW CS Series
2026 CRW CS Series
Performance: Refined.
Headline Stats - What's New?
- Increased rear wheel widths to better match the front
- 40g lighter across the board
- Tuneable bearing preload
Chasing Perfection
In the two year life of the CRW CS Series the wheels gained massive critical acclaim from professional riders and serious amateurs alike. The combination of lightweight, comfort and responsiveness won the wheels many fans and propelled the wheels to the top of the Panda Podium best sellers chart. For the past two years CRW have been quietly working on small refinements to the winning formula.
Bigger in the Rear
While tire width will no doubt be debated amongst roadies until the end of time, it is generally acknoledged that more air volume in a tire has multiple advantages ranging from being able to run lower tire pressures without the risk of rim damage, but also more stable tire pressures as the tire deforms. Combined with the continuing trend for wider and wider tires on road bikes CRW listened to feedback and widened the rear rim to better match the front. The internal width of the rear has risen from 21mm upto 24mm with a similar increase in external widths.
Weight Reduction
While the CS series were already the lightest in their class, the 2026 version improves on that by reducing the weight of the wheelset by 40g. This means the 2026 CS 5060 (50mm front, 60mm rear) now has an official weight of just 1250g ±2%! The CS 4045 (40mm front, 45mm rear) now weighs just 1140g ±2%! These are weights that were inconceivable for disc brake wheels just a few years ago.
Bearing Preload Adjustment
Bearings are a key component in the performance of a wheelset. All bearings need a set amount of preload to provide optimum performance and guarantee a longer lifespan. In the disc brake thru-axle world the amount of preload on the bearing can vary from bicycle to bicycle. Therefore the 2026 hubs come with an adjustable pre-load system. From the factory they're preset for optimal performance on road bikes with 10-12N·m of torque through the thru-axle. However, if upon installation the user finds suboptimal perfomance of the bearings, they can loosen the grub screw, adjust the pre-load and re-tighten the grub screw. (This should be done with the wheels clamped in the bike in an as-ridden setup.) If during the life of the bearings some 'play' appears in the bearings, the preload collar can be tightened to restore optimal performance and increase bearing life.
There's supposed to be an epic pic of me riding the wheels here, but it's been raining for weeks so... just use your imagination.
How do they ride?
Riding back-to-back you're hard pressed to tell the difference between the old wheels. The increase in air volume at the rear means you have to drop out a few PSI for the same feeling. The 40g difference is obviously making a difference on the climbs, but it's not immediately obvious when riding.
Other than that, they retain the same riding characteristics of the previous generation. That is to say a wheelset that accelerates crazy fast, asborbs road imperfections better than it's carbon-spoked rivals and still feels direct and stiff when laying down the power.
Specifications
2026 CS 4045
Brake Type: Disc
Weight: 1140g ±2%
Front wheel
Rim Depth: 40mm
Internal Rim Width: 24mm
External Rim Width: 31.6mm
No. of Spokes: 16
Min. Tire Size: 28mm
Max. Tire Size: 45mm
Max. Tire Pressure: 100psi or tire's maximum pressure. (Whichever is lower.)
Thru Axle Size: 100 x 12mm
Rear wheel:
Rim Depth: 45mm
Internal Rim Width: 24mm
External Rim Width: 31.6mm
No. of Spokes: 20
Min. Tire Size: 28mm
Max. Tire Size: 45mm
Max. Tire Pressure: 100psi or tire's maximum pressure. (Whichever is lower.)
Thru Axle Size: 142 x 12mm
Tubeless compatible, Hooked rim.
Freehub: 36T Star Ratchet. Shimano 11s, SRAM XDR or Camp. compatible options.
2026 CS 5060
Brake Type: Disc
Weight: 1250g ±2%
Front wheel
Rim Depth: 50mm
Internal Rim Width: 25mm
External Rim Width: 34mm
No. of Spokes: 16
Min. Tire Size: 28mm
Max. Tire Size: 45mm
Max. Tire Pressure: 100psi or tire's maximum pressure. (Whichever is lower.)
Thru Axle Size: 100 x 12mm
Rear wheel:
Rim Depth: 60mm
Internal Rim Width: 24mm
External Rim Width: 32mm
No. of Spokes: 20
Min. Tire Size: 28mm
Max. Tire Size: 45mm
Max. Tire Pressure: 100psi or tire's maximum pressure. (Whichever is lower.)
Thru Axle Size: 142 x 12mm
Tubeless compatible, Hooked rim.
Freehub: 36T Star Ratchet. Shimano 11s, SRAM XDR or Camp. compatible options.