Schmolke TLO 50 vs Reserve 57|64: Save 529g at the Wheels
Premium carbon wheel comparison
Schmolke TLO 50 vs Reserve 57|64
The Reserve goes deeper. The Schmolke saves 529g. Across climbing, acceleration and changing terrain, more than half a kilogram at the wheels is impossible to ignore.
The Reserve 57|64 is designed around flat-out speed. Its 57mm front and 64mm rear rims target breakaways, sprints and sustained high-speed riding.
The Schmolke TLO 50 takes a broader approach. It combines 50mm aero depth, a modern 25mm internal width, hooked rims and carbon spokes at an extraordinarily low weight.
With the same DT Swiss 180 hubs, the Schmolke weighs 1,025g. The Reserve weighs 1,554g.
The difference is 529g.
Move from the Reserve 57|64 to the TLO 50 and the bike becomes noticeably lighter, quicker to accelerate and more responsive. This is not a marginal gain that needs laboratory testing to detect.
See the weight difference
Claimed complete wheelset weights with DT Swiss 180 hubs
This is a direct DT Swiss 180 against DT Swiss 180 comparison. The 529g difference comes from the construction of the wheels, not from comparing different hub levels.
Specifications compared
Reserve carries 360g more in the rims
The position of the weight makes this comparison even more compelling.
The Reserve front rim weighs 465g and the rear weighs 525g. Together, the rims account for 990g before hubs, spokes, nipples, tape or valves are added.
Each Schmolke rim weighs approximately 315g, giving a combined rim weight of around 630g.
The Reserve carries approximately 360g more around the outside of the wheels. This is exactly where additional mass has the greatest effect on how readily a wheel accelerates.
How does saving 529g change the ride?
Faster acceleration
Less wheel mass to bring up to speed when leaving corners, attacking or responding to a change in pace.
Less weight uphill
The TLO 50 removes more than half a kilogram from the complete bike before the road starts rising.
Sharper response
The bike reacts more readily when you stand on the pedals, change direction or push out of a slower section.
More speed from each effort
Repeated accelerations demand less energy, helping the bike feel lively rather than reluctant to build speed.
This is a performance advantage you can actually feel.
Premium cycling is full of gains measured in a handful of grams or fractions of a watt. Saving 529g at the wheels belongs in a different category. The difference is apparent through the way the entire bike accelerates, climbs and responds beneath you.
How much does the extra Reserve depth matter?
The Reserve is 7mm deeper at the front and 14mm deeper at the rear. That gives it a clear design focus: sustained speed on fast, flatter roads.
Reserve developed the 57|64 around aerodynamic performance in real-world wind conditions. If your riding is dominated by flat roads, breakaways, sprinting or triathlon, the additional depth has a purpose.
But greater depth does not automatically make a wheelset faster across every ride.
Performance across the whole ride
The 529g saving benefits climbing, acceleration, rolling roads, repeated changes of speed and the overall response of the bike.
Focused on sustained speed
The deeper profile is most valuable when speed remains high and the road gives the rider time to exploit the aerodynamic design.
There is no direct independent wind-tunnel comparison between these exact wheelsets. It would therefore be wrong to invent a watt figure or claim that either wheelset is aerodynamically faster in every condition.
What we can measure is unequivocal: the Reserve is deeper, while the Schmolke is 529g lighter. For most riders across varied roads, the Schmolke advantage will be felt far more often.
50mm aero depth at an extraordinary 1,025g
The TLO 50 does not achieve its weight by sacrificing the features expected from a modern premium road wheelset.
You still get the depth and tyre platform expected from a current aero wheelset. What you leave behind is more than half a kilogram.
The premium upgrades inside the Schmolke
A complete wheelset weight that changes the feel of the bike, not just the number on the scales.
High tensile strength, low weight and high spoke tension for sharp power transfer and response.
A major reduction positioned where it has the greatest influence on acceleration.
Approximately 315g per rim despite the full 50mm depth and 32.5mm external width.
Price compared
The Reserve costs less. The additional $876 for the Schmolke brings a 529g lighter wheelset, carbon spokes, approximately 360g less combined rim weight and a substantially lighter-feeling bike.
Which wheelset should you choose?
Choose Schmolke TLO 50
For climbing and rolling roads.
For faster acceleration.
For frequent changes of pace.
For a lighter, more responsive bike.
For aero depth without conventional aero-wheel weight.
Choose Reserve 57|64
If your riding is overwhelmingly fast and flat.
If sustained aero speed is the clear priority.
If you specifically want a deeper rear wheel.
If the lower purchase price matters more than the additional weight.
The verdict
The Reserve 57|64 is deeper and costs $876 less. It is built for sustained speed, sprinting and flatter roads.
The Schmolke TLO 50 saves 529g with the same DT Swiss 180 hubs.
That is the difference that defines this comparison. It changes acceleration, climbing, changes of pace and the way the entire bike responds beneath the rider.
The Reserve offers a specialised aero solution. The Schmolke gives you 50mm aero depth with a weight advantage every rider would notice immediately.
For performance across the varied roads most cyclists actually ride, the TLO 50 is the more compelling wheelset.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Schmolke TLO 50 really 529g lighter?
Yes. Schmolke lists the TLO 50 with DT Swiss 180 hubs at 1,025g. Reserve lists the 57|64 with DT Swiss 180 hubs at 1,554g. The difference is 529g.
Would I feel a 529g wheelset saving?
Yes. This is more than half a kilogram removed from the bike, including approximately 360g from the combined rim weight. The difference will be apparent through acceleration, climbing and the overall response of the bike.
Is the Reserve 57|64 more aerodynamic?
The Reserve is deeper and specifically designed around sustained aero performance. There is no direct independent test proving how these exact wheelsets compare across every speed, tyre and wind condition.
Does the Schmolke still provide an aero benefit?
Yes. The TLO 50 uses 50mm front and rear rims with a wide 32.5mm external profile. Schmolke designed it as an aerodynamically efficient all-round wheelset rather than a conventional lightweight climbing wheel.
Which wheelset is better for mixed terrain?
The Schmolke TLO 50 is the stronger mixed-terrain option. Its combination of 50mm depth and 1,025g weight benefits climbing, rolling roads, acceleration and fast riding.
Take 529g out of your wheelset
Get the speed of a 50mm wheelset with a weight that transforms how your bike feels.
View the Schmolke TLO 50Manufacturer specifications checked August 2026. Weight comparison uses DT Swiss 180 configurations for both wheelsets. Prices and availability may change.