Test: Pi Rope Light Bike Ahead Two Six 29 - the wheelset for the rocket launch

Test Pi Rope Light Bike Ahead Two Six 29

Pi Rope is regarded as the inventor of the textile spoke and has made a name for itself among lightweight fanatics and racers in particular. With the "Light Bike Ahead Two Six 29" wheelset, the German manufacturer presents a marathon version that weighs just 936 grams with Shimano's Microspline body!

The most important facts in brief

Thanks to the high-tech spokes, the wheels are not only very comfortable but also exceptionally light. Pi Rope relies on 6-hole hubs from Nonplus Components and rims from Bike Ahead, both German manufacturers. The carbon rim has a rim width of 26 millimetres and is suitable for tires up to 2.4 inches wide. It weighs just 265 grams. The special feature of the hub is the conical toothing. It has a 400 percent larger contact surface than conventional spur gears. The 45 teeth have an engagement angle of 8 degrees. The ventilation system is even an innovation: it prevents the build-up of negative pressure due to temperature fluctuations in the three hub chambers. Black and uncolored beige spokes (Gold Shine) are available for the standard wheelset. On request and for an additional charge, the spokes can be dyed in one of eleven possible colors.

First impression

When you turn the wheels in your hand and hold the axle, they run almost endlessly. A sign of the hub's very high-quality and smooth-running bearings. In general, every component looks high-end. But you can expect that at this price. The blue-colored spokes make the wheelset an eye-catcher.

In use

The high quality of the bearings also proves itself on the trail. The wheels roll noticeably lighter and further than other XC wheelsets. The acceleration of the bike from a standstill reaches previously unimagined dimensions with these lightweight wheels. Thanks to the damping textile spokes, vibrations are reduced on asphalt and there is noticeably more traction off-road. Compared to other, often very stiff, race bikes, the handling is much more forgiving. Of course, such light wheels also have disadvantages, their steering behavior is a little less precise and they take less momentum over obstacles. After a season of use, individual spokes show some wear, the hubs run as smoothly as at the beginning. Viewed from the side, the wheels still run straight; only when checking them in the truing stand is there a minimal lateral and radial runout of less than one millimeter on the rear wheel. The front wheel is running like a dream. In addition, the tension is no longer the same on all spokes and needs to be readjusted.

Conclusion

So much high-tech comes at a price, but you get a wheelset that enables impressive acceleration, offers a lot of comfort and scores with very low rolling resistance. In return, the maintenance effort is somewhat higher.

Price: CHF 2899.00 /EUR 3180.00