French wheel brand Duke has released two new carbon 32in wheelsets: the XC-focused Lucky Jack SLS5 32in and gravel-oriented Sierra 42 32in.
Duke says the cross-country model is "already a winner” after a prototype version tasted victory under Felix Stehli on a stage of the Cape Epic earlier this year.
The brand says both wheelsets have been designed from scratch for the bigger size, rather than simply scaling up Duke's existing 29in and 700c rims.
Duke says it has done this because a bigger wheel behaves differently on the trail or road, with more leverage acting on the rim, more inertia and different spoke angles.
Complete Lucky Jack SLS5 32in wheelsets start at €1,559 for a DT Swiss 370 CL SP hub and top out with Chris King-equipped hubs priced at €2,489. You can buy the rim for €607.
The Sierra 42 32in complete wheelsets start at €1,659 with a Baron CL SP hub and rise, with Chris King R45 CL hubs, to €2,599. The rim is also available for €649.
Lucky Jack SLS5 32in
The Lucky Jack SLS5 is Duke's cross-country wheel. Beyond Stehli's Cape Epic result, Singer KTM Racing is also lined up to race it at the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup.
The wheel has been around in different size variants for a little while, but the brand says the 32in version was designed from the ground up.
Duke says the rim is made using its SLS5 manufacturing process, which it claims makes it 10% lighter than the previous generation, with better vertical compliance, more resistance to impacts and improved vibration damping.
The rim is hookless, with moulded spoke holes and a varnish-free finish.
Duke lists three available rim variants, with two featuring a 31mm internal width, 4mm of offset and a 28h spoke pattern, weighing 360g and 400g.
The other has a 29mm internal rim width and weighs in at 410g, while featuring the brand’s AntiPinch rim edge, which is said to minimise the risk of punctures.
Duke recommends pairing a lighter front rim with the 410g rear.
In its lightest build, with Duke's own hubs and Sapim spokes, Duke quotes a full wheelset weight of 1,233g, with a stated tolerance of +/- 30g.
The brand recommends a 2.2 to 2.4in tyre width, which is up to date with modern XC expectations.
Sierra 42 32in
The Sierra 42 is Duke's gravel wheel, positioned as an update to the existing Sierra 42 with the added rollover of a bigger wheel.
It's built from Toray T1100 carbon fibre using Duke's SLR5 process, which the brand says cuts weight by up to 23% compared to the older version.
Unlike the XC rim, it uses a hooked profile, aimed at road and gravel tyre pressures.
The rim is 42mm deep and weighs a claimed 390g, with a 28mm internal width.
Duke quotes a starting weight of 1,270g for complete pairs, and recommends tyre widths of 40mm to 2.2in.
Further gravel rim options are said to be in development, although Duke hasn't given a timeline.
