Ride Impressions: Partington Wheels

21st July, 2025 / Photos by Steve R
The Bike Tailor’s Stephen Roche is no stranger to a high-end wheelset. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to ride many of the finest and fastest wheels on the market – everything from featherweight carbon clinchers to bombproof MTB hoops. And when he’s not riding them, he’s building them at our Brighton studio. Probably as part of a custom build so beautiful it could make a grown man weep.

It’s this wealth of riding experience and wheel-building knowledge that makes Stephen’s words about Partington all the more meaningful: “They’re simply some of the best wheels I’ve ever ridden,” he says with conviction.

For the uninitiated, Partington is no ordinary wheel brand. Based in Geelong, Australia, it designs and manufactures carbon wheels inside Carbon Nexus: a cutting-edge materials research centre at Deakin University. Everything happens under one roof – design, testing, production. The result? A wheelset that feels more like something out of a NASA lab than your run-of-the-mill set of rims.

A unique feel

“I've been on the hunt for some new wheels to spec on our bikes,” explains Stephen. “Over the course of two years I’ve been through every brand you could imagine. Then I came across Partington.

“At first, we put a set onto a Mosaic RT-1. Cycling Plus and BikeRadar both reviewed it and were blown away. Four-star reviews across the board. The only reason the wheels didn’t get a full five was because of the lofty price tag. But remember, these guys are punching in the same category as the likes of Lightweight – arguably even higher.”

It’s not just the UK cycling media that has been impressed by Partington’s build quality and ride feel either. Stephen has had a pair on his bike for three months now and has a few thoughts of his own.

“They’re up there with the stiffest wheels I’ve ever ridden,” he says. “You put some power down and they just… go. Zero power loss through flex or anything like that. Just pure unbridled speed and responsiveness. It’s a very unique feel.

“When it comes to builds, we tend to pick ENVE and Chris King as our go-to brands for quality. If we need to step things up a gear, we look at Lightweight. Partington, to me, is like the new Lightweight. All in all, some of the best wheels I’ve ever ridden in my life.”

If you’d like to try some Partington wheels for yourself, don’t hesitate to get in touch to arrange a test ride. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

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