Cycling and motorsport have always drawn close parallels, and that's undoubtedly true of Partington. Originally a machinist, Jon became a design engineer, working on transmissions and powertrains for companies like Prodrive, Antonov, and eventually Ford, before returning to academia as a PhD scholar at Deakin University in Advanced Composites. That collective experience and dedication to knowledge set him on his path to founding Partington Wheels.
We're plenty familiar with boutique bike wheels at Above Category, and clearly, we've got a bit of a thing for Australian design and craftsmanship, so it should come as no surprise that Partington wheels caught our attention. However, while there's no shortage of exceptional bicycle wheels these days, it's a rare occurrence that a brand appears and elevates the art at their first attempt.
Partington's flagship product, the R-Series wheels, are nothing short of exceptional. From a distance, they look like a modern aero wheel but get them in your hands for a closer look, and you'll soon realize they're anything but. Spin one in your hands, and you'll be struck by their weight - or lack thereof. Tipping the scales at only 1200g, the R-Series are about as light as an aero disc-brake wheel gets. Take another look, and the eye will skip from one stunning detail to another.
You'll likely notice first the striking carbon spokes, still a rarity even in this late age of bicycle technology. Follow one down from the rim toward the hub, and you'll note that the spoke doesn't simply end at a flange but rather wraps around the hub shell and returns to the rim again.
