Are carbon tri-spoke wheels the next big thing?
Something is different here…
Don’t look now, but the tri-spoke wheel could be making a comeback — in enduro. Indeed, U.K.-based wheel maker Spengle has been making waves on the internet this week, touting the benefits of its full-carbon tri-spoke 27.5 wheel, going so far as to call it the most advanced bike wheel in the world.
As you can see, the Spengle hoop ditches tradition hub-and-spoke lacing for a one-piece monocoque design, which is claimed to spread riding forces across the entire wheel and not allow them to be focused on one area. Spengle also says this improves overall shock absorption without sacrificing strength or stiffness.
Key metrics include a 24mm internal rim width, centerlock disc attachment, hookless bead, tubeless ready, and hub availability in boost or non-boost. The hub itself is a custom Spengle design. Claimed wheelset weight is 1750 grams, and price starts at $1824 for the wheelset or $2191 for a wheelset, rotors, cassette, and tires. Here’s a look at the wheel in action.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnKs6awaqAY
Among the benefits Spengle touts are enhanced safety, the ability to run extremely low tire pressure, and the aforementioned even distribution of riding forces, which presumably means you’re less likely to crack the rim bed or snap a spoke. They even espouse on the idea that because there’s less surface area, the rims will produce less air turbulence, and are thus more aerodynamic.
For those unfamiliar, Spengle has been in the wheel game for a long time, producing product for triathlon, time trial, and BMX bikes, where tri-spoke wheels are commonplace. But whether that trend can take hold in the mountain bike world remains to be seen.
What do you think? You ready to rock a set of tri-spokes on your Nomad, Enduro, or Mach 6? Learn more at www.spengle.com.
The post Are carbon tri-spoke wheels the next big thing? appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.