Until now, Crank Brothers' wheels have used the so-called Twin Pair Spoke design, which made do with just a few spokes and used highly system-integrated, self-contained rims without actual spoke holes. In the Cobalt and Iodine wheels, for example, one pair of spokes is connected to the rim via a kind of rod.

At first glance, the new "Synthesis" wheel series looks much more traditional. There are 28 spokes on the front wheel and 32 on the rear wheel, with J-bend spokes in the hub flange. So no Twin Pair Spoke and no Straight Pull story, but somewhat surprisingly: very traditional wheel construction. Conventional spoke nipples also sit in the spoke holes of the carbon rim. And then it becomes less traditional again: the new wheels are based on the basic idea of giving the front and rear wheels their own specific riding characteristics.

The number of spokes and the shape of the rim should make the rear wheel more robust and stiffer and ensure good rolling characteristics. On the front wheel, a wider rim should support the use of wider tires than on the rear wheel and provide plenty of grip. Stiffness is not at the top of the priority list on the front wheel, the design with 28 spokes and lower spoke tension than the rear, in conjunction with the inherently stiff carbon rim, should support a forgiving, good-natured ride.

The new wheels are available for the Cross Country (29"), Enduro and Downhill (29" and 27.5") disciplines, each with two designs. In the top class, a rear hub is used that does not work with conventional pawls for the freewheel as in the cheaper model. In cooperation with the US hub manufacturer Projekt 321, a hub is used that relies on magnetic pawls. Here, no springs press pawls into the drive ring of the hub - instead, magnets pull the pawls into this drive ring. In combination with a drive ring with 144 teeth, this results in a very small angle of 2.5 degrees that has to be overcome in order to move the rear wheel.

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