New for 2016, Reynolds Cycling has updated its top-tier 'Black Label' mountain bike wheels. On top of new hookless carbon rim designs to suit the fastest-growing segments of the sport, all Black Label wheels will now roll on US-made Industry Nine (I9) hubs.
These hubs have a strong following in the US, with one of our US staff members describing them as, "Combining the build quality of Chris King and the easy serviceability of DT Swiss". Most notably, the rear hubs offer an impressive 120 points of engagement, or just three degrees between pick-up. Compare that to Shimano XTR's 10 degrees, or even Chris King’s five degrees.
The new hubs also feature interchangeable axle options, along with either standard or XD-driver freehub compatibility. All Black Label wheels feature 28 Sapim CX-Ray bladed straight-pull spokes per end. The wheels will be shipped with tubeless tape and valve stems installed.
Black Label Enduro
Reynolds Black Label Enduro 27.5
The Enduro wheels offer a 28mm internal width with a tubeless-ready hookless rim design. In order to create a stronger wheel through balanced spoke tension, the rims are asymmetric.
Priced at a premium $2,500 (around £1,600) for the pair, the Black Label Enduro are available in either 29 or 27.5in wheel sizes, weighing 1,585g and 1,565g respectively.
Black Label Trail
Reynolds Black Label Trail 29
Using the same overall design as the Enduro wheelset, the Trails are 3mm narrower (25mm internal) to better suit narrower clinchers used by cross-country and trail riders. With this, a pair of 27.5in wheels is said to weigh 1,525g, while the larger hooped version sits at 1,545g. The $2,500 (around £1,600) price remains.
Black Label 27.5 Plus
Reynolds Black Label 27.5 Plus
Weighing just 1,625g for the pair at a price of $2,600 (around £1,700), these are designed as a premium option in the burgeoning Plus market. Tubeless-ready, the rims feature a 40mm internal (45mm external) width and a low 24mm depth. Unlike the Enduro and Trail wheels above, these do not use an asymmetric rim design.
Out of the box, they’ll come setup with Boost hub spacing.
Two new road disc options
46 Aero DB
Nearly ready, the Reynolds 46 Aero DB
Bringing Reynolds’ DET (Dispersive Effect Termination) airfoil rim profile to disc brake use, the 46 Aero DB wheelset looks set for a market awaiting UCI approval.
The disc-brake-only 46mm deep rim features a 26mm external and 19mm internal width. Featuring 24 Sapim CX-Ray straight-pull bladed spokes front and rear, the nipples are kept internal in the name of aerodynamics.
The hubs are convertible for use with all common thru-axle standards and use a centrelock disc mount, which offers compatibility with all rotor types (adaptor needed for 6-bolt rotors). Most surprising, it appears these clincher wheels are not tubeless compatible. Expect to pay $2,775 (around £1,815) for these 1,625g disc-brake aero hoops.
ATR (All Terrain Road)
ATR for gravel riders
For those less worried about the aerodynamics and more of the adventure, there’s the ATR wheelset. Featuring a 21mm internal width rim (29mm external), this disc-brake road wheelset offers tubeless-compatibility and has been designed for the gravel road market.
A 28mm rim depth offers external nipple access for easy truing and uses 24 round Sapmin Laser front and rear. Using the same hub as the 46 Aero DB, thru-axle and disc rotor compatibility should be a non-issue. A pair of ATR’s weighs a claimed 1,535g.
