"Take two already successful products, combine their best features, and get something completely new." It is with this philosophy that FFWD presents the new RAW PACE and RAW CONTROL, two gravel wheels developed for those who seek maximum performance without compromise.
After the success of the DRIFT range, which over the last year has achieved numerous victories in international gravel competitions thanks to its responsiveness, agility, and riding safety, Dutch engineers have decided to take another step forward.
The goal? To bring the technical solutions developed for the prestigious RAW Road series to the gravel world.
When gravel meets road technology
The birth of the RAW PACE and RAW CONTROL aptly illustrates how modern gravel riding is evolving.
More and more athletes are tackling races where the average speed significantly exceeds 30 km/h, alternating between fast dirt roads, compact white roads, and long asphalt transfers. In this scenario, technologies that, until a few years ago, were exclusively reserved for road wheels are now finding their way into off-road riding.
FFWD starts precisely from this observation. Some of the brand's athletes had begun to use RAW Road wheels in gravel races, appreciating their stiffness and immediate response. This led to a simple question:
Why not combine the robustness of DRIFT with the performance of RAW?
A simple recipe... yet very sophisticated
FFWD describes the project with a curious culinary metaphor: like a starred chef combining top-quality ingredients to create a new dish, the engineers selected the best existing technologies within the company.
The result is a completely new platform composed of:
- the gravel rims developed for the DRIFT series;
- the VONOA carbon spokes already used on RAW Road;
- proprietary FFWD hubs;
- CeramicSpeed bearings;
- the 36-tooth Ratchet freehub system.
The most evident effect is also the one that immediately catches the eye on the scale: up to 150 grams of savings compared to the DRIFT platform.
The new RAW CONTROL stops the needle at just 1,295 grams, while the RAW PACE declares only 1,380 grams.
Two wheels, two different ways of interpreting gravel
More than just two models, RAW PACE and RAW CONTROL represent two different riding philosophies.
RAW PACE: when every watt counts
The RAW PACE is clearly geared towards faster gravel racing.
The 48 mm rim with an aerodynamic LAW (Laminar Airflow Wing) profile is designed to reduce air resistance without compromising stability in crosswinds.
The wide 28 mm hookless internal channel allows the use of 38 to 60 mm tires, a choice that provides an excellent balance of efficiency, comfort, and control.
This wheel is designed for those who tackle fast races, smooth courses, and long sections where maintaining high speed means saving valuable energy.
RAW CONTROL: lightness and precision
The RAW CONTROL follows a different philosophy.
Here the profile drops to 36 mm, while the weight reaches only 1,295 grams.
The goal is not maximum aerodynamic penetration, but rather to offer an extremely reactive wheel for courses with greater elevation gain, in marathon races, and on long bikepacking adventures where agility and precision become fundamental.
Also in this case, we find the 28 mm hookless internal channel, compatible with tires from 38 to 60 mm, thus maintaining the same stability and control characteristics as its bigger sibling.
The real innovation? Carbon spokes now available for gravel
Probably the most interesting element of the entire project is the use of VONOA Carbon Bladed spokes.
While until recently this solution was almost exclusively reserved for high-end road wheels, today FFWD is bringing it to gravel as well.
The stated advantages are numerous:
- reduced weight;
- high lateral stiffness;
- more direct power transfer;
- improved steering precision;
- ability to dampen high-frequency vibrations;
- reduced fatigue over long distances.
This choice well illustrates the evolution of modern gravel, increasingly oriented towards maximum performance.
CeramicSpeed and dedicated hubs
The adoption of carbon spokes also required the development of a completely dedicated hub.
FFWD uses the same design already employed on RAW Road, equipping it with CeramicSpeed bearings and the proven Ratchet 36T system, which guarantees rapid engagement and immediate power transfer.
A solution aimed at reducing friction and improving the overall efficiency of the wheel.
Gravel is changing
Looking at these new RAW wheels, a clear trend emerges.
Gravel is no longer just a "hybrid" discipline between road and mountain biking. It is becoming a category with its own technical requirements, where aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, and component quality are becoming increasingly important.
The new FFWD RAW PACE and RAW CONTROL perfectly represent this evolution: two wheels born from the fusion of technologies developed for the road and adapted to the needs of modern gravel.
These are not simply two new models in the catalog, but a clear signal of the direction the industry is taking.
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