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Wheels and Tyres

Bontrager Big Earl Wheels

A good reliable set of wheels is an essential part of any bike, and these seem to fit the bill nicely. Both hubs have cartridge bearings that mean servicing is minimal, and the rear has a solid feeling ratchet and pawl mechanism. This can all be disassembled with ease in order to clean out any muck, but judging by the quality of the seals this shouldn’t be needed too often. The hubs are available as either QR, or 20mm front and 10mm Saint compatible rear. This flexibility is increased further by the use of separate disc brake adaptors that allow the use of both 6–bolt and Shimano splined rotors. In terms of strength the hubs will certainly take a fair bit of abuse, but the rims feel a bit more fragile. With their relatively low weight and 32 spokes these wheels are probably best suited to a lighter rider or an enduro bike. Having said that they seem to be holding up fine so far, no doubt helped by the offset rim design that reduces the dishing in both wheels. Most importantly the build quality seems good, with just the right amount of spoke tension, and after the first short ride they were still nice and true. These may not be the best wheels money can buy, but I doubt you can find anything much better at this kind of price. EH

Price: £109.99 (F), £129.99 (R)

Weight: 1210g (F), 1290g (R)

Trek UK 01908 282626

www.trekbikes.com

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