Scribe Ultra: an aero revolution through wavy spokes?
The Northern Irish brand Scribe Cycling, known for wheels with a very aggressive performance-to-price ratio, is moving up a gear with its new Ultra range. Forget entry level: Scribe is now aiming for the very top of the table with a bold claim, offering the fastest UCI-approved wheelset on the market. To get there, two new series are being launched, the Ultra Élan and Ultra Core, built around a major innovation: carbon spokes with a wavy profile, called OSL8.
The OSL8 concept: a spoke that ripples to cut through the air
The most visible and most disruptive new feature of the Scribe Ultra Élan range is without doubt the OSL8 spoke (for “Oscillate”). Developed in partnership with the Italian specialist Alpina, this carbon spoke has a flat 5.7 mm wide profile that is not straight but ripples along its length. According to Scribe, this unusual shape is not a cosmetic gimmick but the result of in-depth CFD analysis and wind tunnel validation at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub.
The manufacturer’s data are precise: compared with a standard 5 mm flat carbon spoke, the OSL8 would give a gain of 0.5 watts at 0° and 5° of yaw, 0.4 W at 10°, and 0.2 W at 15°, all measured at 45 km/h. A marginal gain, admittedly, but one that, added up across all the spokes, contributes to overall performance. A crucial point for maintenance: these straight-pull spokes are fitted with conventional nipples, making truing and replacement easy.
Technical analysis of the Ultra Élan and Ultra Core ranges
The two families share the same rim and the same hubs; the difference lies only in the spokes. The Ultra Élan opt for the famous OSL8 carbon spokes, while the Ultra Core use more conventional Alpina aero steel spokes, which cut the entry price 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 and an external width of 30 mm. This profile is optimised for 28 to 30 mm tyres, to achieve a perfect alignment between the tyre sidewall and the rim and favour smooth airflow. Scribe has chosen to keep hooked rim walls, guaranteeing maximum compatibility with all types of tubeless and tube-type tyres on the market.
The Ultra hubs: designed for performance
At the heart of these wheels are the new Scribe Ultra hubs. The freehub is a 36-tooth ratchet system, promising fast, reliable engagement. The bearings are TPI Grade 3 ceramic models. The flange design has been adapted to each type of spoke: the Ultra Élan hubs have T-shaped anchors to stop the carbon spokes rotating, while the Ultra Core hubs have chamfered edges to improve aerodynamics where they meet the J-bend steel spokes.
Full specifications and prices
The Scribe Ultra range comes in four models, with two rim depths (50 mm and 65 mm) for each type of spoke.
Scribe Ultra Élan (OSL8 carbon spokes)
- Ultra Élan 5 (50 mm): 1,149 g a pair.
- Ultra Élan 6 (65 mm): 1,289 g a pair.
- Spoking: 20 straight-pull spokes front and rear.
- Price: €2,299 for both depths.
Scribe Ultra Core (Alpina steel spokes)
- Ultra Core 5 (50 mm): 1,338 g a pair.
- Ultra Core 6 (65 mm): 1,468 g a pair.
- Spoking: 24 J-bend spokes front and rear.
- Price: €1,699 for both depths.
Our first impressions of the Scribe Ultra 2026
With this Ultra range, Scribe is no longer content to play the spoiler in the mid-range segment. The brand is taking on the market leaders head-on, with solid technical arguments and exceptional claimed weights. The 1,149 g weight of the Ultra Élan 50 is simply astonishing for a 50 mm deep clincher wheel with a 24 mm internal width.
The aerodynamic promise, in particular the claim that the Ultra Core 65 is the fastest UCI-approved wheel on the market, will need to be verified by independent tests. However, the innovation of the OSL8 spokes and the overall spec sheet position Scribe as a player that will now have to be reckoned with in the very high-performance segment. The pricing, although clearly higher than the previous ranges, remains extremely competitive against rivals with equivalent specifications.
The new Scribe Ultra wheels will be on sale from January 2026. They are covered by a three-year warranty and a lifetime crash replacement programme.
