Wheelsets

After a few years of real-world testing, Roval went back to the drawing board with their entire series of mountain wheels before launching things last summer in Whistler. The latest Roval series features a number of refinements and has the potential to put the Roval wheelset near the top of everybody’s aftermarket upgrade list. Let's dig in. Strengths Weaknesses Excellent balance between stiffness and compliance Much quieter on trail than previous version 30mm inner width is perfect for most modern tires Tubeless from the box Same spoke length throughout J-bend spokes all of the same length...

Anew company by the name of “8150” in Vail, Colorado, are assembling wheels using an all-new method of spoke lacing theory for carbon rims that challenges modern convention. Implementing forward-thinking techniques in the construction of their wheels, former World Cup downhill racer and “wheel guru,” Jamas Stiber, calls the patented process “Force Specific Lacing.” Why create a new way of building a wheel? The introduction of disc brakes on bicycles created new demands on the wheel, and 8150 feels wheel technology has yet to catch up. Now, the wheel requires its spokes to be tugged and pulled...

As part of the Gravity Cartel, Spank have been sponsoring an eclectic collection of riding talent: World Cup descenders, Enduro World Series dominators and top-level freeriders all rest their confidence in the company with a name for the naughty. Spank seem to be able to think outside the box to try new elements in product design that they feel will offer a discernible ride quality and technical advantage for riders. Many of these riders are relying on Spank’s Vibrocore product line and its newest addition, the Spike 350 wheelset. With a slew of acronyms and bold claims of technological...

Ask anyone with lots of carbon wheel experience and they'll express a preference for stiffness or compliance. It's a surprisingly polarizing topic. What happens when you combine those two worlds into one wheelset, with a stiff rear and compliant front? Agreement across the board during blind testing. This revelation lead to the creation of the new Crankbrothers Synthesis wheels. Recognizing the potential to improve their wheelsets, Crankbrothers invested in two forward-thinking individuals from varying schools of thought. Jason Schiers, one of the co-founders of ENVE, long held the belief that...