Formula Linea 3 wheelset review
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Formula Linea 3 wheelset review

Light but occasionally loud alloy wheels

Our rating

4

780.00

Georgina Hinton / Immediate Media

Published: November 8, 2019 at 11:00 am

Our review
Competitive weight and fast rolling hubs but slightly noisy when pushed or stamping on the pedals

Pros:

Light enough to mix with carbon wheels; good ride quality; low-drag hubs; fast freehub engagement

Cons:

Slight ringing sound from non-interlocking spokes when battering through rocks or punching the pedals

Formula’s Linea 3 is the Italian brand’s enduro wheelset, which joins the Linea 2 (XC/trail) and Linea G (downhill) wheels.

At 1,870g, including valves and rim tape, they’re fractionally lighter than the benchmark alloy Enduro wheelset, the DT Swiss EX1501 at 1,893g, and comparable in weight to some similarly intentioned carbon wheels.

The skinny hubs may look disconcertingly spindly, but that’s because the driveside bearing sits outboard of the hub shell inside the freehub body rather than being housed inside the hub shell. This provides a wider bearing stance which should, in theory, help the bearings to last longer because less load is placed on them when the wheel is pushed laterally.

Formula Linea 3 wheelset review
Formula's Linea 3 wheelset weighs 1,870g. Georgina Hinton

The hubs are easy to take apart and, according to Formula, should be easy to service too, although I haven’t put enough time on them to need to see for myself.

The freehub uses four large pawls which provide 60 points of engagement and a rapid 6o engagement angle. The pawls are lightly sprung and lubricated with a relatively thin grease to minimise coasting drag. The hub's axles and freehub spin particularly freely, though I can’t say I noticed a significant speed boost on the trail.

Formula Linea 3
The freehub uses four large pawls which provide 60 points of engagement. Georgina Hinton

Formula Linea 3 ride impressions

Unlike most wheels, the 28 straight-pull spokes cross with a gap between them, rather than passing behind each other and locking together.

As a result, there is an occasional ringing sound from the spokes when hammering through rocky terrain or when stamping on the pedals. However, the freehub is quiet when coasting.

Ride comfort is on par with other enduro alloy wheels which were tested in parallel, and in my opinion slightly the Formula Linea 3 is comfier than most carbon-rimmed wheels.

Formula Linea 3
The Formula Linea 3 has a measured internal rim width of 29.7mm. Georgina Hinton

Product

Brand formula
Price 780.00 GBP
Weight 1870.0000, GRAM (29in) - Measured weight (with valves and tape)

Features

br_rimMaterial aluminium
br_wheelSize 27_5in_650b
br_wheelSize 29in_700c
br_brakeTypeSimple disc
br_spokes Straight Pull Double Butted Laced 2-Cross
br_freehub SRAM XD
br_rimInternalWidth 29.7mm measured
Features Measured Internal rim width: 29.7mm

External width: 34.6mm

Rim sidewall thickness: 2.45mm
br_spokeCountRear 28
br_spokeCountFront 28