British wheel brand Parcours and Belgian hub gear manufacturer Classified have launched the first solid disc rear wheel incorporating the Classified Powershift 2-speed hub. The Powershift system replaces a front derailleur and double chainset and offers aero benefits. It also allows riders to use larger chainrings and sprockets, increasing drivetrain efficiency.

The new Parcours Classified Powershift disc wheels take advantage of the aerodynamic characteristics of the Parcours Disc2 wheels, which were launched in October 2022. At launch, Parcours claimed the tubeless-ready wheel weighed 1,240 grams and stated that its 22.5 mm inner rim width was the widest disc wheel currently available.

It is part of the brand's #thinkwider wheel lineup, which is designed to run on 28mm tires, but the company's testing has shown no aero penalty for running 30mm tires. According to Parcourt, the company's tests show that disc wheels do not affect handling any more than spoke wheels.

Parcourt has worked with Classified to incorporate Classified hubs into other rear wheel designs, including the Rondo, Stradhe, and Alta spoke wheels, but this is the first disc wheel to use Classified hubs.

The Classified Powershift hub is an internally geared hub with only two gears, with ratios that mimic a conventional double chainset. Shifting is done wirelessly from the shifter on the left side, and a signal is sent from the shifter to the Classified hub, which switches gears.

Unlike front derailleur systems, which require the rider to relax when starting to shift gears, the Classified hub can shift gears at loads of up to 1000 watts because the planetary gears used are always engaged. According to Classified, gear changes take only 150 milliseconds, making them faster than front derailleurs.

When combined with Classified's 11- or 12-speed cassette, the hub gear provides the rider with the gear spread and close ratio of a double chainset in a single chainring configuration.

Classifieds claim that the new chainset is nearly as lightweight as a conventional double chainset because it eliminates the need for one chainring and one front derailleur. Single chainrings are also likely to be more aerodynamic than double chainsets and front derailleurs. Replacing the chainset with a single ring saves about 4 watts.

According to Classified, without a front derailleur, a rider can use a larger chainring and chain to a larger rear sprocket.

Targeted at triathletes and time triathletes, the new wheels are likely to be popular on rolling courses; at the PTO European Open and World Long Distance Triathlon Championships in Ibiza in May, Ruth Astle and Kyle Smith were among the new disc wheels and beat a world-class field.

The classified-ready Parcours Disc2 wheels are priced at £1,099/$1,449/€1,429, to which must be added the Classified Powershift hub system for €1,299. More details are available on the Parcourt website.