The RR 21 Dicut is a premium low-profile clincher. Blunt-profiled alloy rims are laced with DT’s alloy nipples and straight-pull spokes (20 front, 24 rear) to a version of its Grand Tour-proven 240s hub. The rear rim is offset for a more even tension between the right and left sides.
The wheels are supplied with tubeless tape and valves, but are also happy with standard clincher tyres. DT includes its clever RWS skewers that tighten with a simple turn rather than a cam lever. We’ve got on well with the system in the past, but the curved levers on this version proved awkward as they fouled on the frame and fork, slowing wheel changes considerably.
The 21mm-deep RR 21s weigh 802g for the rear and 645g for the front, plus 106g for the skewers. External width is a middling 21.6mm (nominally 22), but narrow hooks make for a reasonably wide 18.1mm internal measurement – a 25mm Continental GP4000S II tyre measures an impressive 27.5mm when mounted.
The RR 21s’ low weight makes them lively and responsive when you start to crank it up. Coasting is rewarding, as DT’s signature star ratchet freehub purrs expensively.
Ride quality is on a par with box-section alloy rims, and the extra tyre volume afforded by their internal width lets you drop the psi a tad for extra comfort.