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Scribe Ultra: Aero revolution by wavy rays?

ByStan Updated on

The North Irish brand Scribe Cycling, known for its very aggressive performance/price ratio, is moving to a higher speed with its new Ultra range. Forget the entry-level, Scribe now aims at the very top of the board with a bold statement: offer the fastest pair of wheels on the market certified by the UCI. To achieve this, two new series, Ultra Élan and Ultra Core, have emerged, built around a major innovation: carbon rays with a wavy profile, called OSL8.

The OSL8 concept: a radius that waves to split the air

The most visible and disruptive novelty of the Scribe Ultra Élan range is undoubtedly the OSL8 (for « Oscillate »). Developed in partnership with the Italian specialist Alpina, this carbon radius has a flat, 5.7 mm wide profile that is not straight, but that wave over its length. According to Scribe, this singular form is not an aesthetic artifice, but the result of extensive CFD analysis and wind tunnel validation at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub.

The manufacturer's data are accurate: compared to a standard flat carbon radius of 5 mm, L-OSL8 would yield 0.5 watt at 0° and 5° yaw, 0.4 W at 10°, and 0.2 W at 15°, all measured at 45 km/h. A marginal gain, of course, but which, accumulated over all the rays, contributes to the overall performance. A crucial point for maintenance, these straight-pull spokes are mounted on conventional nuts, allowing easy unwinding and replacement.

Technical analysis of Ultra Élan and Ultra Core ranges

Both families share the same rim and hubs, the difference being only at the level of the rays. Ultra Élan opts for the famous OSL8 carbon, while Ultra Core uses more classic Alpina aero spokes, which reduce the entrance ticket by 500 €.

The rim: wide, modern and hooked

Scribe has designed a new T1100 carbon fibre rim that fits perfectly with current standards. It has an internal width of 24 mm with an external width of 30 mm. This profile is optimized for tyres from 28 to 30 mm in order to achieve a perfect alignment between the sidewall of the tire and the rim, favouring air flow. Scribe has chosen to keep hooked edges, ensuring maximum compatibility with all types of tubeless and tube-type tires on the market.

Ultra hubs: designed for performance

At the heart of these wheels are the new Scribe Ultra hubs. The freewheel body is a 36-tooth rock system, promising fast and reliable engagement. Bearings are TPI Grade 3 ceramic models. The design of the flasks has been adapted to each type of radius: the Ultra Elan hubs have T anchors to block the rotation of the carbon rays, while those of the Ultra Core have chamfered edges to improve the aerodynamics in contact with the steel J-bend rays.

Full specifications and tariffs

The Scribe Ultra range comes in four models, with two rim heights (50 mm and 65 mm) for each radius type.

Scribe Ultra Elan (OSL8 carbon rays)

  • Ultra Elan 5 (50 mm) : 1149 g the pair.
  • Ultra Elan 6 (65 mm) : 1289 g the pair.
  • Radiation : 20 straight-pull rays front and rear.
  • Prices : 2,299 € for both heights.

Scribe Ultra Core (Alpina steel stripes)

  • Ultra Core 5 (50 mm) : 1338 g the pair.
  • Ultra Core 6 (65 mm) : 1468 g the pair.
  • Radiation 24 front and rear J-bend rays.
  • Prices : 1,699 € for both heights.

Our first review of Scribe Ultra 2026

With this Ultra range, Scribe is no longer just playing the party troubles on the mid-range segment. The brand frontally attacks market leaders with strong technical arguments and exceptional weights claimed. The weight of 1149 g for the Ultra Élan 50 is simply bluffing for a 50 mm high tire wheel with 24 mm internal width.

The aerodynamic promise, including the assertion that the Ultra Core 65 would be the fastest UCI wheel on the market, must be verified by independent tests. However, the innovation of OSL8 rays and the global technical sheet position Scribe as an actor with whom we will now have to count in the very high performance segment. Tariff positioning, although significantly higher than the old ranges, remains extremely competitive against competition with equal specifications.

The new Scribe Ultra wheels will be available for sale from January 2026. They are covered by a three-year guarantee and a life-long replacement programme in the event of an accident.

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