Today WTB has released information on its newest and fastest gravel wheel set, the CGR i28. If you are at all familiar with WTB's naming convention, you already know the internal rim width is a nice, wide 28mm.
However; this is only a small fraction of what is going on with these new wheels. WTB has built these wheels up around the new, World Cup proven Frequency 7X hubs which are incredibly light, strong, and feature larger ball bearings for improved axle stability and durability.
Starting off with the hubs we have the patent-pending ratchet design of the free hub which is over-sized and coated with what WTB calls "DLC" which is an acronym for Diamond-Like Carbon. This coating is claimed to lend a slickness to the ratchet which is said to "significantly lower friction" between the ratchet parts over traditional hard chrome plated ratchet parts. WTB also employs a splined inner (hub side) ratchet ring over the traditional threaded type ring. WTB claims this gives the Frequency 7X rear hub an ability to handle twice the torque of a threaded in ring. WTB says this keyed ratchet ring requires no specialist tools to service it.
WTB is also using larger than typical Enduro bearings which they claim increases the load rating by a margin of 38% over competing rear hubs. This is claimed to create a stiffer axle assembly. This also lessens the amount of times the hub would need servicing, theoretically.
WTB claims the hubs are weather sealed and have been "rigorously tested" to show that these hubs keep dirt and water out.
The hubs are laced to the new CGR Light rims with 24 straight pull spokes. The Frequency 7X hubs come with a choice of Shimano HG or MicroSpline free hub or a SRAM compatible free hub.
CGR Light Rims:
The new deep section CGR Light rims feature an offset spoke bed design to help achieve a more balanced spoke tension for the 24 spokes used on each wheel build. The spokes also sit in WTB's 4D, internally reinforced spoke beds. This design keeps the spokes from exiting the rim perpendicular to the hub axis and instead better aims each spoke to its corresponding hub flange.
The CGR Light rims are hooked and feature WTB's patented TCS tubeless design for simple, easy tubeless tire set ups. As of this time, neither the rims or hubs are sold separately. So, wheel weights and pricing will reflect current wheel assembly options offered by WTB.
Weights & Pricing:
USD: Front $850 / Rear $950 / Wheelset $1,800
EUR: Front €727.45 / Rear €822.45 / Wheelset €1,549.90
GBP: Front £563 / Rear £636 / Wheelset £1,199
Ride With Confidence Guarantee. If you break a WTB carbon rim
while riding, as long as you’re the original owner, we’ll send you a
replacement for free. No exceptions.
Front Wheel: 644 grams
Rear Wheel Weight: SRAM XDR 729 grams, Shimano MicroSpline 729 grams, Shimano HG 740 grams
All hubs utilize Shimano CenterLock rotor mount standard.
For availability see your authorized WTB dealer or check out the wheels at wtb.com
Comments:
I saw this wheel set in the release for the WTB aero gravel tires which are on review here. I was informed these would be coming, so it was with some anticipation that I awaited this news. I have to say that I am a little bit surprised by the inner rim width choice and thoughts behind this. I know it will seem unlikely to readers here, but I had an article written up before the press release landed concerning this very subject, and that will appear here tomorrow.
This new wheel set also falls right into line with current gravel trends for deep section wheels, wider internal rim widths, and light overall weight, which - honestly - when have light weight wheel sets not been a thing?
At a bit under 1,400 grams for both wheels (1,373), this isn't bad for a deep section wheel set. In fact, it is quite good. I'm a little surprised WTB did not go for a carbon spoke, or a fiber spoke option to lower weight even further, but given the price at well under 2K, maybe WTB did not want to go there. Carbon or fiber spokes would have raised the prices significantly. And who knows? Maybe this will be an upgrade for a future CGR wheel.
Beyond this, I will say that I am not at all surprised WTB designed a wheel set to compliment its tire release. It makes sense to do this, since WTB has traditionally done complete wheel systems and tires since the early 2010's.
4 comments:
Are 24 spokes enough for general use? I've never had less than 32 and I'm curious about the tradeoff between speed and durability for different applications.
@Stuart - Wheels have changed a lot in the last 25 - 30 years. Once we were thinking 32 spokes were "the standard" and if you wanted really durable wheels, then 36 spoked wheels were the way to go. Back in the 1980's 36 spokes were "the standard" for mountain bikes and 32 spokes were for racing.
What changed? Materials technology and design.
Now specific to these wheels, what you are relying on here to make up for the "lack of spokes" is the carbon rim structure. While carbon can flex, it doesn't really "bend" in this application, and it really doesn't like to deform, as a metal rim would.
Aluminum has advanced as well, and therefore you have lower spoke count aluminum wheels due to the structural integrity of the newer aluminum alloys. Older rims were not even heat treated and would bend if you looked sideways at them. (I'm exaggerating for an effect)
So, perhaps if you are a heavier weight person, or looking to go bike packing/loaded touring, this would be a concern with only 24 spokes. But for most folks this wheel will likely outlast their purposes for it. The Lifetime replacement to the original owner for any failure of the CGR i23 wheel is also a nice backstop for anyone looking to get these.
I think these are hookless rims, there is one closeup on the WTB website and you can't see a hook, but I didn't see it mentioned either way in the description.
@Jeff - It wasn't called out either way in the press release either. TCS has always been a hooked bead design, to my knowledge.
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