Black Inc 28 / 33 Clincher Disc Wheelset

The Black Inc 28 / 33 Clincher Disc Wheelset is built around a design decision that most wheel manufacturers avoid: using different rim depths front and rear. It is not a cost-cutting move or an inventory quirk. It is a deliberate aerodynamic and handling choice — 28 mm up front, 33 mm at the rear — that reflects a clear-eyed understanding of how carbon wheels actually behave on roads that are rarely straight, rarely calm, and rarely predictable.

The front wheel does the steering. When crosswinds load a deep-section rim, the handling consequence is immediate and fatiguing — a persistent, wandering pressure that forces constant correction. Keeping the front rim at 28 mm removes that variable. You get a wheel that tracks cleanly in gusty conditions without requiring you to wrestle it through every exposed section. The rear rim, at 33 mm, operates in a more forgiving aerodynamic environment — less exposed to lateral wind loads, able to harvest meaningful drag reductions through the longer, cleaner airflow path behind the frame. The net effect is a wheelset that feels planted and composed rather than skittish, even when conditions deteriorate.

Both rims are tubeless-ready and built exclusively for disc brakes. Tubeless setup allows you to run lower tire pressures without risking pinch flats, which translates directly to more grip, a smoother ride over rough chip-seal and broken tarmac, and measurably lower rolling resistance. The disc-only construction means there is no need to engineer a braking surface into the rim wall — no heat management concerns under long descents, no brake track compromise in the carbon layup. These are wheels designed around where road cycling is going, not where it has been.

Black Inc 28 / 33 Specs at a Glance

• Front Rim Depth: 28 mm
• Rear Rim Depth: 33 mm
• Rim Material: Carbon fiber
• Brake Type: Disc brake only
• Rim Type: Tubeless-ready clincher
• Drivetrain Compatibility: HG11 (Shimano / SRAM 11-speed) or XDR Driver
• Axle Standard: Thru-axle (disc-specific)
• Spoke Lacing: Carbon-specific spoke bed construction
• Intended Use: Road racing and high-performance training
• Available Options: Black / HG11 or Black / XDR Driver

Design Benefits

1. Asymmetric Rim Depth for Real-World Handling: The 28 mm front and 33 mm rear configuration is not a compromise — it is an informed pairing. The shallower front minimises crosswind sensitivity where it matters most, while the deeper rear captures aerodynamic efficiency in a position where the frame provides natural wind shelter. The result is a wheelset that rewards riders on open, variable terrain rather than only performing on closed circuits in perfect conditions.
2. Tubeless-Ready Construction for Lower Rolling Resistance: Running tubeless allows you to drop tire pressure without the pinch-flat vulnerability that comes with a traditional clincher and inner tube. Lower pressure means the tire deforms more naturally over road imperfections, reducing energy lost to vibration and improving grip — benefits that compound over the course of a long ride or a demanding race day. The rim beds are engineered to seat tubeless tires cleanly and hold a seal reliably.
3. Disc Brake Optimisation: Designing these rims exclusively for disc brakes means Black Inc does not have to engineer around a braking surface. There is no heat-affected zone to manage, no brake track that constrains the carbon layup or rim profile. The full cross-section can be optimised for aerodynamics and structural integrity, and you get consistent stopping power regardless of weather conditions — a meaningful advantage in wet descents or technical riding.
4. Drivetrain Flexibility: The wheelset is available in both HG11-compatible and XDR Driver configurations, covering the full range of current Shimano, SRAM, and electronic groupset pairings. Whether your build runs a traditional road cassette or a wide-range XD driver for an electronic drivetrain, there is a version of this wheel that fits without adapters or compromise.

Final Take

The Black Inc 28 / 33 is a wheelset for riders who want carbon aero performance without the handling anxiety that often accompanies it — those who race on weekends but also train hard through the week on roads that do not cooperate. It suits the experienced road rider who understands that control and speed are not opposing values, and who wants a tubeless disc setup they can trust in variable conditions. This is a wheel built with purpose, and it rides that way.