Description
Gravel wheels occupy a peculiar space in the component hierarchy—asked to survive rougher terrain than road wheels while remaining light enough that riders don’t curse them on long climbs. Zipp’s 101 XPLR front wheel addresses this tension with a 25mm internal width rim that supports the high-volume tires gravel demands, paired with a depth shallow enough to stay manageable when crosswinds sweep across open farmland. The 101 XPLR sits at the entry point of Zipp’s gravel-specific lineup, bringing the brand’s aerodynamic thinking to a price point that doesn’t require justifying the purchase to anyone.
The 30mm rim depth keeps weight reasonable while still offering some aerodynamic benefit over a box-section rim. More importantly for gravel applications, the shallower profile reduces the sail effect that deeper wheels create in gusty conditions—a real consideration when you’re already managing loose surfaces and unpredictable terrain. The 25mm internal width accommodates tires from 35mm up through 50mm, giving riders flexibility to run narrower rubber for smoother gravel or balloon tires for chunk and sand.
Zipp builds the 101 XPLR around their ZR1 hubset, which uses a 66-tooth ratchet engagement system. That translates to roughly 5.5 degrees of engagement—quick enough that power transfers without the momentary dead spot some hub designs exhibit when you stomp on the pedals after coasting. The hub shells are alloy rather than carbon, keeping costs down while maintaining the durability gravel riding requires…. Read More
Tubeless compatibility comes standard, with the rim bed designed for tubeless tire mounting without tape modification. The disc brake interface uses Center Lock rotor mounting, compatible with 160mm or 140mm rotors depending on your frame and braking preferences. The 12x100mm thru-axle fitment matches current gravel fork standards.
The rim construction uses Zipp’s ABLC dimpled surface technology, the same sawtooth dimple pattern found on their higher-end wheels. Whether the aerodynamic benefit registers at gravel speeds and tire widths remains debatable, but it doesn’t hurt, and it gives the wheel a visual identity that reads as distinctly Zipp. The finish is a matte black with subtle graphics—understated compared to the bold decals on Zipp’s road racing wheels.
Spoke count sits at 24, laced to the ZR1 hub with straight-pull spokes. This count balances weight against the durability demands of gravel, where wheels encounter impacts that road wheels never see. The front wheel sells separately from the rear, allowing riders to replace individual wheels or build mismatched sets if their riding doesn’t demand identical pairs.
