Boyd Prologue series 44mm wheelset review

Boyd’s Prologue wheel borrows the wind tunnel-optimised rim shape of the brand’s premium line Podium. With a few manufacturing tweaks to reduce costs, these are top-quality disc wheels at a low price point, something we’ve seen recently with Enve’s Foundation, Zipp’s 303 S and Mavic’s Cosmic SL range.

The rim profile is 44mm deep with a 27mm external diameter and 19mm internal width. It’s optimised for a tyre width of around 25mm to 28mm. If you’re a rim-brake fan, Boyd offers the Prologue in a suitable incarnation (it also has a shallower, 28mm version of the Prologue in a disc-only option).

These wheels are designed to be run tubeless and Boyd’s tubeless valves are neat with a teardrop-shaped base that corresponds to the moulding on the rim so you won’t over- or under-tighten them.

They sealed first time of asking with both 25c and 28c tyres and have stayed leak-free throughout testing. The Skyuka hubs have traditional flanges for ‘J’ bend spokes so replacements, if needed, won’t be an issue, and with a 24-spoke front and 28-spoke rear these wheels are built to last.

The freehub has a 10-degree engagement so the pick-up from pedalling is quick enough to be unnoticeable.

They’re not exactly light on the spec sheet, weighing in at 972g for the rear and 873g for the front (including tapes and valves). However, on the road they do roll lighter than the numbers would suggest.

The 44mm depth of the rim cuts through crosswinds without drama and I experienced only the slightest feeling of pressure on the front rim when hit side-on by a big gust.

The Prologues have some give that feels akin to a quality, hand-built wheel of old and, thankfully, not like some of the overly stiff, machine-built carbon wheels out there. Boyd may not be a household name on these shores but, on the evidence of these cost-effective hoops, I’d imagine that’s about to change.