Written by: Brian Hester
When I first picked up the box holding our new Stan’s No Tubes front wheel I seriously thought it was empty. After shaking it like a 5-year old on Christmas morning, I confirmed that the wheel was actually inside. My first thought was ‘these wheels are crazy light’. My second thought was ‘are they too light’?
The No Tubes web site, www.notubes.com, claims 1,370 grams for a complete disc tubeless wheel set including 32 spokes, rim tape and valves ($950.00 MSRP). Our set tipped the scales at 1,360 grams. The Race rim is a full 45 grams lighter than the gold standard Mavic Crossmax SLR 26 inch rim. American Classic hubs are standard for the Race wheels but you can also choose Lefty, 15mm, 20mm, or single speed options (our test set came with a Lefty front hub). The various hub options are all understated black numbers that look great and are on the lower end of the weight spectrum. Spokes are courtesy of DT. 32 black Revolution 2.0/1.5 spokes are complemented by silver aluminum nips. The feathery weight comes with a few caveats. No riders over 170 pounds, tire pressure must be kept below 33 psi and recommended use is race day only.
Spoke lace patterns are 2 cross on the front and the rear wheel is built with a 1 cross pattern on the drive side and 2 cross on the non-drive side. No Tubes claims they chose one cross “to transfer more of the peddling force to the non-drive side spokes.” While this build will transfer force, it will also produce more twist on the drive side and more stress on the spoke heads during acceleration and braking. They also use an all head down approach on the drive side spokes making the wheel less laterally stiff.
ZTR Race wheelset getting some abuse and liking it in Moab, Utah
MTBRaceNews.com has been breaking the “Race Day Only” rule by giving these wheels a daily beating. After over 60 hours of riding, the ZTR Race wheels continue to impress. Other than minor truing for the rear wheel the Stan’s No Tubes Race wheels have been maintenance free. The ride is solid and acceleration feels on par with a 26” Mavic Crossmax set. Once up to speed the wheels show why 29ers are all the rage. The larger diameter allows the wheel to roll over bumps and obstacles with less pounding, making it easier to maintain your speed. My only complaint is the rear wheel build. A traditional 3 cross pattern would improve overall strength with minimal weight penalty making the wheels strong enough to keep on your bike all week long. But we have noticed no appreciable decrease is wheel stiffness during our rides.
Overall the ZTR Race 29er wheelset has proven to be a speed demon on the racecourse and has put up with daily punishment on even the roughest trails like Porcupine Rim and the rocky descents of the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Disclosures: MTBracenews.com has no relationship with Stan’s No Tubes. This test was performed on a standard retail ZTR Race wheelset purchased from a supplier without the knowledge or Stan’s No Tubes. Our test riders weigh between 150-160lbs, which is within the weight restrictions of the ZTR Race wheelset.
