After busting onto the market with its recyclable carbon mountain bike and gravel wheels in 2023, Forge+Bond made its first foray into road cycling this season by adding a two-model CR series to its wheel offerings.

Forge+Bond is CSS Composites‘ in-house brand known and known for its exclusive use of thermoplastics to manufacture its FusionFiber carbon rims.

Most carbon components are made of sheets of epoxy-impregnated carbon fibres. The carbon fibres are ‘glued’ together with a resin that is cured in a chemical process called thermoset. Once cured, the resin cannot be returned to its previous form, meaning it cannot be broken down and remolded. Traditional carbon products are difficult and costly to recycle, downcycle or reuse and often ends up in landfills instead.

“We may have started our company around our line of stellar MTB products, but as cyclists, we know whether you’re riding dirt or tarmac, you want the best of both worlds: performance and comfort,” says Brett Stahl, VP of Marketing at Forge+Bond. “The CR Series achieves this perfect balance through the use of our patented FusionFiber material, allowing riders to confidently push themselves over real road conditions—you know, everything from the smoothest to the ‘Crappiest Roads.'”

Rim Depth: 45mm
Outer Rim Width: 30.5mm
Inner Rim Width: 25mm
Bead Wall Thickness: 2.7mm
Spoke Count: 24h
Spoke: Sapim CX-Ray
Rim Type: Hookless/Tubeless
Tire Size Range: Built for 28-32mm, up to 47mm
Max Tire Pressure: 28c-90psi, 32c-70psi, 40c-50psi
Reviewed here is the wheelset with the F+B Shift hubs, the lowest option, which retails for $1250 and weighs 1584g with a SRAM XD freehub.
The CR Series is available at select retailers and online at www.forgeandbond.com

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Forge + Bond CR45 carbon wheels — (Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)

The CR45 is a distinct departure from the Forge + Bond 25GR wheels I reviewed last year. Highly capable, lively, light and robust, the 25GR’s are made for underbikers and those who prefer the rough-and-tumble of a Grinduro event over the long, smooth gravel of FNLD or SBT GRVL. The CR45s serve the latter demographic. Designed for comfort and efficiency, the CR45 is an aero wheelset that will help you save watts and stay comfortable as you sail over tarmac, chipseal or champagne gravel.