You've seen its wheels bolted into CCC Team's bikes, 🌄here's the lowdown on Giant's high-end components brand
(Image credit: Cadex)
The first CADEX cycling product was launched back in 1987, when Giant lifted the veil on its CADEX carbon-fib🌳re bike frame. This lugged carbon fibre frame was quite a feat because it was one of the first to be produced on a mass scale. Since then car♌bon bikes have become the norm, and the CADEX name drifted off into obscurity.
A little over a year ago, Giant revied the CADEX moniker but you won’t find it written on the downtube of a bike frame, but wheels, tyres, and saddles instead. Designed in coll♎aboration with the CCC Team, the products under the CADEX name are targeted at the higher end of the spectrum, and have the k🐲itchen sink’s worth of Giant’s manufacturing knowledge behind them — they have the price tags to match.
Reasons to buy
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Tubeless
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Weight
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Stiffness
Reasons to avoid
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Spare spokes might be hard to source
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Hookless rim may not work with all tyres
Slotting in as the lightweight, versatile offering, the CADEX 42 is, you guessed it, 42mm deep with a 19.4mm internal rim width and 23mm external rim width. Available in rim and disc brake varieties as well as tubular and tubeless, the latter sees a hookless𝔉 design which the brand ඣsays improves aerodynamics, ‘through a continuous carbon fibre structure and enhances overall durability.’ On the tubeless rim, the valve hole also sees a flat section for the tubeless valve nut to back up against, making for a better interface and seal.
If you’re a member of team rim brake, the CADEX 42 is one o🌊f a dying breed of newly launched wheels that don’t have a rotor mount on the hub. CADEX branded hubs with DT Swiss internals are strung into the rims with carbon aero spokes with Giant’s Dynamic Balanced Lacing, which tensions the spokes to be even while the wheel is weighted and under pedalling forces, which is the opposite of most wheels on the market. In the disc brake, tubeless variety, the CADEX 42 are claimed to weigh a respectable 1327g and are backed by a five-year incident replacement policy and two-year manufacturer warranty.
(Image credit: Cadex)
CADEX 65
Speedy wind cheating rims that aren't scary in cross winds
Reasons to buy
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Well behaved
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Weight
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Tubeless
Reasons to avoid
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Carbon spokes hard to find
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Price
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Hookless rim may not work with all tyres
The CADEX 65 is the deeper, more aero wheel in CADEX’s line-up. Beyond adding 20mm in depth, the rim gets wider too, measuring 22.4mm internal a෴nd 26mm external, and is claimed to weigh 1501g in the disc tubeless version. Like its shallower stablemate, the CADEX 65 are available in rim and disc brake varieties for tubular or tubeless tyres.
The rims feature the same hookless rim design, aero carbon spokes, which are tensioned using Dynamic Load Balancing💙 and the CADEX hubs with DT Swiss internals.
While the other two wheels in CADEX’s line-up are technically aero, the wheels that fall under its Aero range are designed only for races that pit the rider against the clock. CADEX developed its 4-spoke wheel in collaboration with Aero Concepts Engineers (ACE) in Magny-Cours, France. Made from 18k carbon fibre, the wheel features a 21mm internal rim w꧅idth and 27.6mm external rim said to create the optimal air transition from tire sidewall to the wheel.
The CADEX hub system is moulded into the rim and, according to the firm, the wheels offer class-leading torsional stiffness. Available in tubular and tubeless version♒s, CADEX is only offering the 4-spoke wheel for rim brakes which is claimed to weigh 806g (tubeless model).
(Image credit: Cadex)
CADEX Aero Disc
Disc that does anything but wallow
Reasons to buy
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Tubeless
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Weight
Reasons to avoid
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Limited user base
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No disc-brake option
The CADEX Aero Disc was designed for the CCC🅘 team and elite triathletes. The brand also worked with ACE to build the fastest spokeless wheel it cou♎ld. Made from 18k carbon, like the 4-spoke if features a 21mm internal width, 27.6mm external, and is available for tubeless and tubular tires — meaning you don’t have to fuzz with tubular glue if you don’t want to.
CADEX is only making the wheels for rim brakes, for the time being and t🐼he hubs utilise DT Swiss internals.
Saddles
(Image credit: Cadex)
CADEX Boost Saddle
Snub nose saddle that will please the weight weenies
Reasons to buy
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Carbon rails, weight
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Snub nose design
Reasons to avoid
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Only the single model available
Give♓n that CADEX is pitched towards the higher performance end of the market, it’s no surprise to s𝓰ee the only saddle in the range is a wide snub-nose-type perch which can help riders maintain a more aggressive position — though this type of seating arrangement has been wildly popular for riders of all kinds.
The CADEX Boost measures 149mm wide, 246mm long, and is claimed to weigh 138g. The rails and base are made from carbon, using the brands &ls🍸quo;Advanced Forged Composite Technology,’ creating a stiff frame said to eliminate unwanted flex. CADEX uses a two-piece carbon construction, which moves the rails to the outer edge of the nose and the rear edge, which improves compliance and is said to improve dampening of road vibration and reduce weight.
There isn’t a massive cutout like many similar truncated saddles, still, there is 🌸a channel that runs the length of the shell. Underneath the area, which supports your sits bones are free-flowing EPTU particles that mould to your bony outcrop and distribute the load over a broader contact area without shifting weight onto soft tissue.
Grippy tubeless road tyres that are fast and hard-wearing
Reasons to buy
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Grippy in all weather
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Fast rolling
Giant has been man💫ufacturing and selling its own tubeless road tyres for some time now, and depending on the model, they aren’t half bad. However, the CADEX Race Tubeless takes that to the next level, a๊iming to compete with the top-end high-performance rubber.
Available in widths from 23-28c, each sees silica-based compound the brand calls RR-S, which is claimed to have low rolling resistance and no a shortage of cornering grip,ꦏ even in the wet. CADEX uses a 170TPI single layer casing for a supple ride and a Kevlar breaker belt under the tread to stave off sharp objects. In the 25c width, they are claimed t𓃲o weigh 270g.
We most recently rode these tyres on a 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Giant Propel earlier this year, head over to the review 🌜to hear what we thought.
Based on t🐭he Gold Coast of Australia, Colin has written tech content for cycling publication for a decade. With hundreds of buyer's guides, reviews and how-tos published in Bike Radar, Cyclingnews, Bike Perfect and Cycling Weekly, as well as in numerous publications dedicated to his other passion, skiing.
Colin was a key contributor to Cyclingnews between 2019 an♎d 2021, during which time he helped build the site's tech coverage from the ground up. Nowadays he works full-time as the news and con♛tent editor of Flow MTB magazine.
