Columbus Cento, Gara and Spirit wheels: Italian tubist launches into carbon

Columbus has been manufacturing frame tubes since 1919. On 2 September 2026, the Italian tubist presented the first Columbus carbon wheels for the road: four pairs, Cento 50, Cento 62, Gara 50 and Spirit 50, sold from 1599€ at 3990€ for a weight of 1475g to 1279g. All share the same internal 23mm rim with hooks and carbon rays. It remains to be seen what a newcomer can bring to an already saturated market of carbon wheels.

Columbus wheels: Italian tubist moves to full wheel

Columbus is first a name on the tubes of Italian steel frames. With this first range of carbon wheels, the brand comes out of its historic business. It highlights three arguments: a wind tunnel development in Cavriago, a hand assembly in the same place and two testing seasons before marketing.

Columbus and Cinelli: the same house

To understand this launch, look who's behind Columbus. The brand and Cinelli are part of the same company in Milan.

But Cinelli needed a brand for the components that equip her new bikes. Rather than creating a name of all pieces, what better than leaning on the image of Columbus, known to all Italian frame lovers, and putting it on the cockpits then on the wheels? This is exactly what is happening: the Cinelli Aeroscoop comes with the integrated carbon Columbus Spirit cockpit. Columbus Components was already offering carbon rings, gallows and saddle rods before adding the wheels.

Three wheel families

The range is divided into three families. Cento (50 and 62mm) target price, with carbon rays from 1599€. The Gara 50 puts on weight and a DT Swiss 240 hub. The Spirit 50 is the technical showcase, with a carbon hub integrated with the rays. All-road and gravel models must follow in 2027.

A common 23mm inner rim, with hooks

The four models share the same rim section: 23mm internal width, 30mm external width, U profile and hooks.

On the width, Columbus remains measured. In concrete terms, this rim accepts a wide range of tires: Columbus announces 28 to 50mm on the Cento 50, but an optimised range of 28 to 32mm on the Gara 50. To check your editing, our guide rim and tire compatibility remains the reference.

Cento 50 and Cento 62: Vonoa carbon rays at 1599€

It's the model that's gonna make you talk. For 1599€ the pair, the Cento receive VONOA carbon rays, the same ones found on the Mavic Comet 50 and on Newmen Street Allround Vonoa tested on the blog. The Cento 50 uses the ST Super Aero version, the Cento 62 the ST Aero version, with 21 spokes per wheel washed in 2:1.

The hub is home: 6061 T6 CNC machined aluminum, ceramic bearings and double 36 teeth rock, which is a commitment every 10°. Interesting detail: Cento 62 (1465g) is announced lighter than Cento 50 (1475g). The only difference in material displayed on the plugs: T700 carbon for the Cento 50, a T700-T800 mixture for the Cento 62.

Gara 50 : 1298g and a DT Swiss 240 hub for 2399€

The Gara 50 abandons the home hub for a DT Swiss 240 CS with Ratchet EXP 36 teeth, on steel bearings. It turns to 24 VONOA SLR carbon rays per wheel, with titanium nuts. Result : 1298g pair for 2399€.

It can be compared to the DT Swiss ARC 1100 38 Carbon Spoke, sold around 3200€. The DT remains lighter, but the price gap is real. If the subject is interested, I have detailed the DT Swiss ARC 1100 Carbon Spoke in a dedicated article.

Spirit 50: integrated carbon hub and 1279g for 3990€

Spirit 50 is the most ambitious. Its 18 x Spirit Aero carbon rays per wheel are integrated into a carbon and aluminum hub, with nuts hidden in the rim. Ceramic bearings, 1279g pair and 3990€.

The counterpart of this integration, the rays being solidary of the hub, they do not replace one by one as on a classic wheel. On a wheel at this price, it is a point to weigh before buying, especially if you ride a lot.

My opinion

With these Columbus wheels, the brand comes with a readable range and consistent choices. The Cento 50 is the most interesting: Vonoa carbon rays, ceramic bearings and 1475g for 1599€, it is a positioning which will hinder the established marks and which is closer to what the Chinese carbon wheels, with a European brand behind. The Gara 50 also holds the road, with a DT Swiss 240 hub that we can maintain everywhere.

Reserves are elsewhere. An internal 23mm rim with hooks remains a prudent choice, no aero data supports the speech, and Spirit 50 asks 3990€ for a wheel whose rays do not change individually and which is not yet available. It will take a field test to judge. Would you trust Columbus for your wheels? Say it in comment.

Technical specifications of the Columbus wheels

	Cent 50	Cento 62	Gara 50	Spirit 50
Profile	50mm	62mm	50mm	50mm
Weight	1475g the pair	1465g pair	1298g pair	1279g pair
Internal/external width	23 / 30mm	23 / 30mm	23 / 30mm	23 / 30mm
Rim	Crochets, tubeless ready	Crochets, tubeless ready	Crochets, tubeless ready	Crochets, tubeless ready
Carbon	T700	T700-T800	T700-T800	T700-T800
Tyres	28 to 50mm	Not specified	28 to 32mm (optimized)	Not specified
Rays	42 (21 per wheel), VONA ST Super Aero carbon, 2:1	42 (21 per wheel), VONA ST Aero carbon, 2:1	48 (24 per wheel), VONA SLR carbon, titanium nuts	36 (18 per wheel), Spirit Aero integrated carbon, hidden nuts
Moths	Columbus alu 6061 T6 CNC, rock 36 teeth	Columbus alu 6061 T6 CNC, rock 36 teeth	DT Swiss 240 CS Ratchet EXP 36 teeth	Integrated Carbon/Alu Columbus
Bearings	Ceramics	Ceramics	Steel	Ceramics
Cassette	Shimano HG, Campagnolo N3W, SRAM XDR	Shimano HG, Campagnolo N3W, SRAM XDR	Shimano HG, Campagnolo N3W, SRAM XDR	Shimano HG, Campagnolo N3W, SRAM XDR
Braking	Centerlock Disc	Centerlock Disc	Centerlock Disc	Centerlock Disc
Axis	12×100 / 12×142	12×100 / 12×142	12×100 / 12×142	12×100 / 12×142
Guarantee	2 years, 5 years with registration	2 years, 5 years with registration	2 years, 5 years with registration	2 years, 5 years with registration
Uptime	Available	Available	Available	December 2026
Prices	1599€ the pair	1599€ the pair	2399€ the pair	3990€ the pair

Official Records: Cent 50, Cento 62, Gara 50, Spirit 50.