FFWD (Fast Forward): The Commitment of Dutch Hand-Built Wheels

The Netherlands, a country renowned worldwide for its cycling culture. On this low-lying land, cycling is not just a sporting tool but a way of life. FFWD (Fast Forward) is a wheel brand born from this cultural soil—a Dutch company that insists on fully hand-built assembly and pursues ultimate quality.

Brand History

FFWD was founded in the Netherlands in 2006. The brand name Fast Forward directly expresses its product philosophy—making you ride faster. Unlike many brands, FFWD chose the “fully hand-built” route from the very beginning; every pair of wheels is hand-assembled by technicians at the Dutch factory.

FFWD’s growth has paralleled the prosperity of Dutch professional cycling. The Netherlands is one of the countries with the highest density of professional road cyclists in the world. FFWD started by sponsoring Dutch Continental-level teams, gradually advanced into the WorldTour level, and is now the wheel supplier for several top-tier teams.

Product Line

RYOT Series (Top-Tier Carbon)

Model	Rim Depth	Weight (Front + Rear)	Internal Rim Width	European Price	Approx. Taiwan Price
RYOT 33	33mm	1,275g	19mm	€2,600	NT$95,000
RYOT 44	44mm	1,350g	19mm	€2,600	NT$95,000
RYOT 55	55mm	1,420g	19mm	€2,600	NT$95,000
RYOT 77	77mm	1,550g	19mm	€2,600	NT$95,000

The RYOT series is FFWD’s latest flagship. The name carries the connotation of “riot”—representing that this wheelset aims to spark a performance revolution in the market. It uses DT Swiss 240 hubs and Sapim CX-Ray spokes.

RAW Series (Advanced Carbon)

Model	Rim Depth	Weight (Front + Rear)	European Price	Approx. Taiwan Price
RAW 44	44mm	1,470g	€1,600	NT$60,000
RAW 55	55mm	1,540g	€1,600	NT$60,000

The RAW series uses DT Swiss 350 hubs, with the same carbon rims as the RYOT, offering a more economical choice.

DRIFT Series (Gravel)

Model	Rim Depth	Weight	European Price
DRIFT 36	36mm	1,410g	€1,800

FFWD’s Core Features

Fully Hand-Built Assembly

Every pair of FFWD wheels is hand-assembled at the Dutch factory. The assembly process includes:

1. Carbon Rim Quality Inspection: Each carbon rim undergoes checks for weight, roundness, and surface quality
2. Hand Spoking: Technicians hand-thread each spoke
3. Tension Adjustment: Using precision tensiometers for repeated adjustments, ensuring each spoke’s tension deviation stays within 5%
4. Stress Relief: After initial adjustment, load is applied to let the spokes and nipples “settle,” followed by fine-tuning again
5. Dynamic Balancing: Inspected and corrected on professional equipment
6. Final Quality Control: Including final confirmation of roundness, lateral runout, and spoke tension

DT Swiss Hubs as Standard

All FFWD wheels use DT Swiss hubs—the top-tier RYOT uses the 240, while the economical RAW uses the 350. This ensures global availability of replacement parts.

Carbon Rim Quality

FFWD’s carbon rims are manufactured in Asia under contract (which is the industry norm), but FFWD has extremely high quality requirements for its carbon rims. Each batch of rims must pass FFWD’s quality inspection; those that fail are returned. According to FFWD, their rim rejection rate is on the higher side in the industry—this may sound like a drawback, but it is actually a reflection of high quality standards.

The Influence of Dutch Cycling Culture

Design Philosophy

Dutch cycling culture emphasizes practicality and reliability. This has influenced FFWD’s design philosophy:

• No pursuit of extreme lightness (which sacrifices durability)
• No use of overly avant-garde technology (which may be unstable)
• Emphasis on all-weather usability (the Netherlands is rainy and windy)
• Focus on crosswind stability (the Netherlands is a flat, windy lowland)

Crosswind Performance

The Netherlands is one of the flattest and windiest countries in the world. Riding in such an environment makes crosswind stability a survival skill. FFWD’s rim shape design places particular emphasis on crosswind behavior—the curvature and width of the rim profile are specifically optimized to remain controllable in strong crosswinds.

Performance in the Professional Peloton

FFWD is the wheel sponsor for multiple WorldTour and Pro Continental teams. FFWD wheels can be seen at major races such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.

Feedback from professional riders is an important source of product improvement for FFWD. Throughout a full race season, team mechanics record every wheel issue (if any), and FFWD’s engineers use this to improve the next generation of products.

The Taiwan Market

Availability

FFWD is imported into Taiwan through a distributor, but the product line may not be fully complete. Purchase channels include:

1. Taiwan distributor dealers
2. European online retailers (e.g., Bike-Discount)
3. Direct purchase from the FFWD official website

Price Analysis

FFWD’s pricing sits in the mid-to-high range of the European carbon wheel market. The RYOT series at €2,600 is close to the DT Swiss ARC 1100, with comparable weight and specifications. The RAW series at €1,600 represents a more competitive price point.

Buying Recommendations

Need	Recommended Model	Budget
All-rounder	RYOT 44	NT$95,000
Aero	RYOT 55 or 77	NT$95,000
Climbing	RYOT 33	NT$95,000
Budget-conscious	RAW 44	NT$60,000

Summary

FFWD represents the best qualities of Dutch cycling culture—pragmatic, reliable, and quality-focused. In a market full of gimmicks and marketing hype, FFWD lets the quality of hand-built assembly and Dutch riding experience speak for itself. If you are looking for a pair of carbon wheels with solid quality, reliable performance, and the durability to withstand daily use, FFWD is a trustworthy choice.

Related Reading

• FFWD RYOT 55: The All-Rounder War Machine Hand-Built in the Netherlands
• The Dutch Wheel Duo: A Guide to Choosing Between FFWD and Scope
• A Tour of Australian Wheel Brands: The Southern Hemisphere Power of Craftworx and XLR8
• Fulcrum Wheels: A Complete Analysis of Campagnolo’s Sister Brand