Mountain  bike cranksets are very important when it comes to the proper functioning of your MTB bike. With most cranksets having external type bottom brackets that have larger bearings, this makes them sturdier and stronger with a longer bearing life. Let’s look at how they function and how you can choose the perfect set-up. [Read more…]

The components that make up a mountain bike can be drastically different depending on many things. For example, the person who uses the bike, as well as the terrain and type of biking the bike is used for can all be major factors. [Read more…]

Buying new tires for your mountain bike can seem intimidating. There are so many factors to consider and so much to think about. Then, once you get the tires, you have to worry about how difficult they will be to maintain.

To ease your worries, think about it like this: before buying new wheels, envision the style of riding you enjoy most. From this image, picking wheels will come easily.

Race Face Turbine R 29” Wheel

Regular readers will know, we’re big fans of all things Race Face. The Race Face 29″ Wheel is a great option if you are looking for a large, wide, heavy wheel. The wheel has a large flange to improve the bracing angle, plus a strong alloy for good impact resistance. This is certainly the wheel for the mountain biker who enjoys catching air and riding rough trails.

Industry Nine Enduro 305 Torch 29” Wheels

If you’re a rider who likes to change up your style, the Industry Nine Enduro 305 Torch Wheels would be a great option.

The tires have wide rims, which makes them able to accommodate rough riding. But they are also tubeless, making them a more lightweight alternative to other wide-rimmed wheels.

Industry Nine Trail-S Torch 29” Wheels

Another option from Industry Nine, the Trail-S Torch Wheels come with the same versatility as the Enduro 305 Torch Wheels. These tires are also tubeless and have the option for a 6-pawl upgrade.

Stan’s Notubes Flow Mk3 29” Wheels

These wheels are another great tubeless options that come equipped with Stan’s WideRight Technology, which means they are optimized for all tires up to 2.8”.

Like the other wheels on this list, they are flexible to multiple riding styles. They come with many features, such as bead socket technology and Neo hubs with 36 engagement points.

Buying Guide to Get the Best 29″ MTB Wheels

 

Size

One of the first things to consider when buying new MTB wheels is wheel size. Mountain bikes are typically only compatible with a single wheel size, so you should check your bike before purchasing new wheels.

Wheel size largely depends on your riding style. If you are more of a street rider or don’t do much off-trail riding, 26″ is what you want.

On the other hand, 29″ wheels are best for riding in conditions with many rocks, hills, and bumps. 27.5″ is a great in-between size for the rider who enjoys a bit of everything.

Weight

The weight of the mountain bike wheels you choose also depends on your riding style. Lightweight wheels will allow you to accelerate quickly, maneuver sharply, and race. Heavy wheels, on the other hand, are best for jumping and trail riding. If you are looking for the lightest possible, you need to be looking at carbon mountain bike wheels.

Weight should be considered carefully, as you may want to mix and match weight combinations to specifically meet your needs. For example, if you enjoy riding down bumpy trails but still want quick acceleration, a heavy wheel with a light rim may be a good choice.

Spokes

A major contributor to wheel weight is the spoke count of the wheel. While more spokes increase wheel durability and capability, they also add to weight.

This means that using a bike with a low number of spokes, such as around 20, would wear down and break more quickly on rocky trails than wheels with around 30 spokes.

Width

Like wheel weight and spoke count, width is also an important factor to consider. It also depends on the style of riding you enjoy. 19-23mm makes for a narrow wheel that pairs well with a lightweight style for fast riding. Above 23mm is a wider wheel that is great for riding down rough trails.

Getting to Know the Rim and Tubes

Rims

Wheel rims are what hold the tire in place. They run along the outside edge, determining the width of the wheel. This means the size of the rim is vital to the style of riding the wheel can handle.

For example, wheels with a wider rim will have a wider tire. Because of this, they most likely will be heavier, and will be better suited for bumpy MTB riding.

Rims are typically made out of aluminum, but can also be made from carbon fiber. Aluminum is cheap and used for beginner to intermediate-level mountain bike riding.

Carbon fiber rims, better suited for advanced level riding, are gaining popularity in the MTB world, thanks to their flexibility in stiffness-to-weight ratio.

Tubes

Tubes, or inner tubes, are used to hold the air inside the tire. They are typically made of butyl or latex, plus they’re made to be difficult to puncture. However, tubes contribute to tire weight, so more and more mountain bike tires are shifting toward a tubeless design.

New tubeless wheels are much lighter and work with a layer of rubber that lines the inside of the tire. This makes them airtight and hard to puncture.

Switching your mountain bike tires to ones with tubeless rims is a great idea if you’re wanting to decrease your tire weight.

MTB Wheels Care and Maintenance

Adjust and Replace Spokes

Making sure all spokes have equal tension and are functioning properly is vital to your bikes performance. If your spokes aren’t properly adjusted, your wheel’s tracking may not be properly aligned and can result in damage to the wheel.

You’ll want to replace faulty spokes by getting a new spoke of the right length and properly placing it into the wheel.

Grease Hub Bearings

Depending on how much you ride and the type of riding you do, your hub bearings will need to be regularly maintained.

This can be done at your local bike shop, or you can do it yourself. You will need to remove the alloy seal covers, replace the bearings with an identical version, and thoroughly grease them.

Make Sure the Rim is in Good Shape

Another important step to making sure your wheels function properly is checking the rim for damage. Dents are the most common form of rim damage and can be easily fixed with a wrench.

Other forms of damage, such as chips and scrapes, can be more difficult to fix. But they are important to wheel functionality and safety.

Conclusion

Before buying new MTB wheels, you should take into consideration what style of riding you enjoy and what type of wheels your bike can accommodate.

Consider their weight, size, and width to make sure you are getting the perfect tires for what you love to do. Then, pack your bag and hit the road.

When it comes to handlebars for your bike, you want something that is going to be solid and effective. Handlebars not only steer your mountain bike where you need it to go, but also bears most of your weight while you’re riding or racing. [Read more…]

Niner are a Colorado based company obsessed with mountain biking, and have grown a cult following over the last for years. And rightly so, their products are awesome.  The Niner RLT 9 frameset is the bike frame to get when you want to get on some gravel and do some off-road riding.

It’s meticulously designed and tuned to handle the rough terrain that you encounter when you go off MTB trails. You get a more comfortable ride whether you’re going out for a short afternoon ride or a long countryside tour. [Read more…]

From supposed wood frames to iron, bikes have been around for centuries. Yet they weren’t always considered comfortable or lightweight. [Read more…]