New rolling stock from Sram

The US component specialist has come up with three new wheel lines: the Roam 60 wheelset features carbon and is intended for a wide range of applications. The Roam 50 wheelset has to make do with less carbon fiber, but the customer doesn't have to dig as deep into their wallet. With the third wheelset - the Rail 50 wheels - things can get really rough. The three new lines include 26, 27.5 and 29-inch formats.

This weight makes you sit up and take notice: 1495 grams in the 26-inch version. Sram achieves this mark by using a carbon rim with an inner diameter of 21 millimetres and an outer diameter of 28 millimetres. No compromises have been made in terms of stability, so Sram recommends the wheelset not only for cross-country, but also for all-mountain and enduro use. The 650b version weighs in at 1550 grams, while the 29-inch counterpart rolls in at 1625 grams.

Even lighter, but with a limited range of use: Roam 50
Without carbon, but still with less weight than the Roam 60 wheelset, Sram is sending the new Roam 50 mid-range wheelset into the race. The 26-inch version starts at 1475 grams, the 650b version weighs 1530 grams and the 29-inch version comes in at 1610 grams. The bike is not the right choice for tough enduro use, but it is perfect for trail and cross-country use. The inner diameter of the aluminum rim is 21 millimeters wide, while the outer diameter is 25 millimeters wide.

And for the rough stuff: Rail 50
The Rail 50 wheel pair is designed for really putting the pedal to the metal on enduro and all-mountain terrain and saving money at the same time. With an outer width of 28 millimetres, the aluminum rim is wide enough to allow tires to roll well on rough terrain. Here too, Sram relies on three wheel formats and good weights: 26 inch (1690 grams), 27.5 inch (1750 grams) and 29 inch (1830 grams).

Modern standards trimmed for versatility
The latest axle standards are available on all new bikes: the front wheel has a quick-release, 15 and 20-millimetre thru axle, while the rear wheel fits a quick-release or X12 axle. Thanks to an axle end system called Side Swap, the hubs can be converted to other axle standards without tools. The rear wheels can also accommodate an XX1 11-speed cassette in addition to 9- or 10-speed cassettes. The rims can be ridden with a tube or converted to tubeless use using a suitable rim tape.

System wheel design and spur geared freehub
Sram relies on a straigth pull construction for the spoking pattern. There are 24 spokes between the hub and rims. Some of the hubs use elaborately milled aluminum housings with industrial bearings.

The freewheel on the rear wheel body uses spur gearing, a system adapted by Sram from DT Swiss hubs. On the Roam 60 rear wheel, 36 engagement points ensure that the freewheel engages. With the Roam 50 and Rail 50 counterparts, 18 points of engagement are sufficient - and the rider has to turn the crank a few degrees further until the chain drives the rear wheel.