To most Internet trolls there are two things that stand out about these wheels: the fact that they’re plastic and the fact that they cost $4300 for a set. These two standout facts have produced a barrage of opinion. So how do these wheels stand up to the real wild world of riding?
The front wheels come in 9 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm sizes, and the rear wheels come in 10 mm and 12 mm. Front and rear are sold separately, so you can have any combination you like. I took possession of a set of these wheels seventeen weeks ago, and as I sit here writing this the wheels are as straight as the day I pulled them out of the box. At only 1.45 kg per pair they are lightweight, long range, heavy hitting bombers. I have cased jumps, rattled through square-edged rock gardens, and drunkenly ridden into curbs. Even with this reckless assault upon the wheels they remain as reliable and round as the moon’s orbit. After a month, my rear hub developed a little play, but this was quickly solved with a spanner turn. More recently, the rear hub felt a little bit gritty. No spoke work has been required whatsoever.
The ballistic grade carbon rims hold up to abuse. My final test will be aiming a couple of rounds at them come stag season. Easton backs these wheels up with a two year, no-questions-asked insurance policy, so if you do manage to mangle them in a lump hammer incident, or by dropping the bike off the roof rack at highway speeds, then a new pair will spin their way back to you.
These wheels have been stiff and durable, they hold tyres well, they’re light and they make me a better lover. They may be expensive, but they might be the final word in wheels. I’ll keep you posted. SEB KEMP
Crankworx Cairns 2023
Meg Elliot May 22, 2023
The Crankworx World Tour made its second stop this weekend in Cairns, Australia. Cradled between the Great Barrier Reef and a World Heritage tropical rainforest, Cairns has become synonymous with steep terrain, great racing and rowdy crowds. Take a look at what the weekend had in store.
