Spinergy releases GXX carbon gravel wheels for under US$1,000
With innovative designs and space-age materials, Spinergy wheels were objects of lust through the 1990s and early 2000s. And while little has been seen of the brand in cycling over the past decade, it’s very much still going (and doing particularly well in the wheelchair market).
In 2019, Spinergy made ripples in the gravel cycling pond with two new wheels. The GX (alloy) and GXC (aero carbon) wheels featured the American manufacturer’s PBO fibre spokes and claims of smoothing the terrain. One year on, the company is back with a wider carbon gravel wheel, the GXX. And at US$999, it’s actually priced pretty well.
The new GXX offers an American-made foam-core carbon fibre rim with a 24 mm internal width and hooked, tubeless-ready rim bed. Spinergy uses a similar manufacturing technique to that used by the likes of Corima, claiming that its long-used foam core construction leads to improved strength while sealing out water and grit ingress.
The PBO fibre spokes remain the big point of discussion, and the company strongly suggests that the composite Zylon fibre reduces the transmission of vibrations, all the while being lighter and stronger than steel spokes. The wheels feature 24 spokes front and rear.
The wheels feature Spinergy’s own 6061-T6 CNC machined hub shells with the company’s unmistakable flange design. These hubs feature Enduro sealed bearings and now include centerlock disc brake mounts (the GX and GXC are six-bolt). Perhaps most impressive is the fact that the aluminium freehub bodies come from Hadley Racing, an American hub manufacturer that was well known for its bombproof and quick-engaging hubs in the 2000s. The GXX’s rear hub offers a speedy 72 points of engagement (5º) and requires no unique tools for servicing.
Those freehub bodies are available in Shimano HG, Microspline, SRAM XD, SRAM XDR and Campagnolo versions.
The wheels have a claimed weight of 1,525 g. What’s interesting is that for US$200 less, the existing GX wheelset is claimed to weigh 1,475 g and does so with an aluminium rim in equal width. According to the company, the GXX’s carbon rim offers improved lateral stiffness, while the deeper shape is said to offer a more aero profile. While the carbon version may be slightly heavier, it’s still unexpected to see such a small price difference between the two.
Between the surprisingly low price, the fibre spokes, and the mention of Hadley Racing, we’re keen to learn more about these new hoops. Our global tech editor James Huang will be calling in a set for review shortly.
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