Sram gets mountain bikes rolling

Sram is launching a new mountain bike wheel line, with system wheels for 26er and 29er bikes seeing the light of day under the "Rise" label. The "Rise 60" uses a carbon fiber rim for cross-country use, while the "Rise 40" focuses on trail use and the rim is made from aluminium.

Zipp - an expert in streamlined carbon rims and also part of the Sram Group - contributes the know-how for the asymmetric carbon fiber rim for the "Rise 60" wheel. The low external flywheel mass of the carbon rim is intended to ensure excellent acceleration and predestines the wheel for cross-country and marathon use. The wheelset weighs around 1330 grams in the 26er format and around 1420 grams in the 29er format.

The focus of the "Rise 40" wheelset is not on the best lap time on the cross-country course, but on stability and smooth running for rough terrain. The rim is made of aluminum, but has the same inner width of 19 millimeters as its carbon counterpart. The 26er model comes in at around 1710 grams, the 29er version at around 1840 grams.

Identical wheel construction for "Rise 60" as "Rise 40"

Both "Rise 60" and "Rise 40" rely on a double-cross spoke pattern, the connection between hub and rim is made by 24 flat spokes "CX Ray" from Sapim. The rims on both versions are asymmetrically shaped to give the wheel more lateral stiffness.

The wheelsets also share axle compatibility: in addition to conventional quick-releases at the front and rear, the front wheel can be upgraded to a 15mm thru-axle and the rear to a 142x12mm thru-axle (X-12) using interchangeable end caps. Sram relies on industrial bearings to ensure long-term smooth running, while the freewheel works by means of three pawls that engage with 54 teeth in the hub.

The wheel builders at Sram have integrated systems into the quick-release version on the front wheel, as oversize end caps are available, which are designed to increase stiffness thanks to a larger contact surface in conjunction with a Rock Shox suspension fork.