Schmolke TLO 50 vs Partington R-Series MKII R39/44: Save 220g and $6,455

Partington describes the R-Series MKII R39/44 as an ultimate-performance lightweight wheelset. It weighs 1,160g and is currently listed on the Partington Australian website at $12,450.

The Schmolke TLO 50 weighs approximately 940g with Extralite or NONPLUS hubs. The Extralite build costs $5,995.

Yes, the Partington costs more than twice as much as the TLO 50. It is still heavier, shallower and considerably narrower.

For anyone investing in wheels to make a high-end road bike lighter and faster, this comparison gets ugly very quickly.

TABLE A: Performance specifications

What do you gain with the TLO 50?

• Approximately 220g less wheel weight
• $6,455 left in your pocket
• 11mm more front rim depth
• 6mm more rear rim depth
• 4mm more internal width
• 6mm more external width

You are not saving 220g by dropping to a shallow climbing wheel. You are saving 220g while moving to deeper 50mm rims at both ends.

The TLO 50 is the lighter climbing wheel and the deeper all-round wheel in the same package.

TABLE B: Construction, warranty and ownership

220g is a serious weight saving

The Partington’s claimed wheelset weight is 1,160g. The TLO 50 comes in at approximately 940g with Extralite or NONPLUS hubs.

That puts 220g between them before considering that the Schmolke rims are deeper at both ends.

Independent testing has produced a similar result. BikeRadar weighed a Partington test wheelset at 1,218g with valves. Its tested TLO 50 weighed 977g with tubeless tape and valves.

That is nearly a quarter of a kilogram removed from the wheelset while retaining two full-depth 50mm rims.

The TLO 50 is deeper at both ends

The Partington combines a 39mm front rim with a 44mm rear. The TLO 50 uses 50mm rims front and rear.

That gives you 11mm more depth at the front and 6mm more at the rear.

You get the low weight wanted for climbing and acceleration without dropping to shallow rims. That makes the TLO 50 a more complete wheelset for fast bunch rides, rolling roads, racing, climbing and descending.

It is 220g lighter than the Partington without making you choose between weight and depth.

The TLO 50 is substantially wider

The Partington has a 21mm internal and 26.5mm external rim width. The TLO 50 measures 25mm internally and 32.5mm externally.

For you, the wider TLO 50 platform delivers:

• Better support for modern road tyres
• More usable tyre volume
• Lower practical tyre pressures
• Greater stability through corners
• A smoother tyre-to-rim transition
• More confidence on imperfect roads

Partington recommends a 25mm front and 28mm rear combination for riders under 70kg, moving to 28mm front and 30mm rear for heavier riders.

The TLO 50 starts with a much wider platform developed around the modern 28mm and wider road tyres now fitted to premium performance bikes.

Partington restricts who can service the wheels

The Partington uses proprietary rim-to-rim carbon spokes, composite hub shells and highly integrated construction.

According to Partington’s own user manual, the hubs are the only components serviceable outside its factory. Repair work performed outside Partington can also void the warranty.

If a spoke or structural component is damaged, you are dependent on Partington to assess and repair the wheel.

The TLO 50 uses individually replaceable carbon spokes with threaded titanium ends. You can also choose established premium hubs from Extralite, NONPLUS or DT Swiss.

The Partington’s construction is proprietary because it has to be. The Schmolke gives you extreme performance without locking the entire wheelset behind a factory service requirement.

What does the extra $6,455 buy?

It does not buy lower weight.

It does not buy deeper rims.

It does not buy a wider tyre platform.

It does not buy a longer warranty or easier servicing.

The Partington costs $12,450 because it is an unusual, highly proprietary wheelset manufactured in Australia. That may create exclusivity, but exclusivity is not a performance advantage.

You could buy the TLO 50 and still have $6,455 available for the rest of the bike. That is enough to fund a serious collection of further weight-saving upgrades rather than spending it on a heavier wheelset.

The verdict

This is not a close comparison.

With the Schmolke TLO 50, you get:

• Approximately 220g less weight
• 50mm rim depth front and rear
• A substantially wider modern rim platform
• Replaceable carbon spokes
• Your choice of premium hubs
• A longer warranty
• Less restrictive servicing
• A $6,455 saving

The Partington costs more than twice as much but cannot produce a measurable performance advantage over the TLO 50.

Instead, you pay another $6,455 for a wheelset that is approximately 220g heavier, 11mm shallower at the front, 6mm shallower at the rear and substantially narrower.

If you are investing this much in making your bike lighter and faster, the Schmolke TLO 50 wins overwhelmingly.

Specifications and current prices checked against Schmolke Carbon, Partington R-Series MKII R39/44, Partington’s user manual and independent testing published by BikeRadar. Prices and specifications may change.