ENVE

G27 650b Chris King Disc Brake Wheelset - Tubeless

To say that gravel riding and racing has blossomed would be an understatement. More and more cyclists are adding gravel bikes to their stable, or trading in their pure road bikes for the versatility of an all-road drop bar bike, creating the impetus for components designed exclusively for riding over mixed terrain. Whether it’s a multi-week bikepacking trip or just exploring some B-roads not far from the house, all-road riding provides new adventures and an escape from traffic. And just as we've seen in other cycling disciplines, wider tire widths are dictating rim sizes and influencing wheel design. We've reached a point in all-road riding where, just like in mountain biking, some riders are opting for "plus" tires which in short, use a smaller diameter wheel (650b) with a larger volume tire that make up most of the circumference of a 700c tire. What's achieved is more floatation over loose terrain and more traction and comfort over chunky gravel. ENVE Composites is always happy to accommodate the discerning rider with top quality components and its newest gravel rim, the US-made G27, is built at its Ogden, UT facility and is an excellent option if your bike is road plus ready and your riding would benefit from wider, lower pressure rubber. Lacing these hoops to 24h Chris King hubs with 11-speed Shimano/SRAM freehub and 12mm thru axles front and rear with centerlock rotor mounts takes the wheels over the top blending performance and bling. As part of ENVE's first gravel specific rims, these 650b tubeless hoops are extremely light at 320-grams per rim making short work of climbs and improving the overall handling of your bike. Factor in ENVE's Wide Hookless Bead technology for improved tire and rim durability and its optimized width for 650b tires between 2 and 2.2-inches wide and you have a premium setup that's tough enough to train on but still light and fast enough for race day. The G27 650b Disc Brake Wheelset with Chris King Hubs should be on a very short list in your quest of a wheel upgrade or new dream build spec.

As we mentioned above, this is part of the ENVE G-Series that's the first rimset from ENVE specifically built for gravel training and racing. As part of its development, it received valuable feedback from its in-house riders as well as sponsored racers with a goal to build a super lightweight set of hoops with the durability needed so you aren't stranded in the middle of nowhere with a mechanical. And since gravel bikes tend to sport very little to no travel and tires are run at a very low pressure, its wide rim bead is extremely welcome as it virtually eliminates the rims cutting lightweight tires during bottom out as well as providing reinforcement for the rim and increasing durability.

Hookless rim beads first appeared on ENVE's last generation M-Series and are currently used on all of its mountain rims. They provide a vast improvement over the former XC, AM, and DH rims offering easier tubeless setup, improved rim durability, and increased weight savings. After a few seasons, the only complaint was the narrow bead hook proved sharp on bottom outs, often leading to sliced tires. With the G27, it employs a wider hookless bead that's the culmination of over 2 years of development met to address both rim and tire durability. The rim shape features a broader leading edge on the bead which creates a more forgiving platform for the tire to bottom out, thus reducing the likelihood of pinch or snake-bite style flats. The design also allows for greater impact resistance for the rim when smashing it through washboard descents and chunky gravel. You can now confidently run lower tire pressure improving traction and decreasing rolling resistance without fear of a dreaded pinch flat miles away from civilization. The 27mm internal width on the G27 is designed for gravel tires between 2.0 to 2.2-inches wide providing the ideal profile for improved cornering stability, braking, and rolling efficiency.

What we find so remarkable with this wheelset is how durable it is given its feather weight. The team and its sponsored athletes put countless miles on samples and it absolutely refuses to drop weight if it means a drop in durability and its testing yields the exact carbon laminate, resin, layup, spoke counts, and even lacing patterns to achieve the desired durability, weight, and all important ride qualities for the wheel's intended use. The end result builds the G27 which is a no-compromise gravel wheelset and its lower rim depth, relative to its road offerings, provides greater vertical compliance helping to reduce fatigue over the long miles in the saddle without losing its prized lateral stiffness which corners like it's on rails. The 24-hole count further improves the ride comfort and sheds every gram possible.

Unique to every ENVE rim is the patented molded in-spoke holes, nipple seats, and valve holes, offering the highest strength-to-weight ratio in the industry. The nipple pocket is super strong making rim-pull through is a thing of the past. When laying up the rim, ENVE places pins in the layup at the spoke hole locations so it can maintain continuous fiber integrity versus the industry standard of drilling post cure, which cuts into the fibers and weakens the structure. This results in increased rim rigidity, a stronger anchor point for the nipples and weight savings at the spoke face.

The internal nipples are able to articulate in their pockets much like a ball-and-socket joint. This yields a higher and more uniform spoke tension key to strong, true wheels from day one and throughout the many years of ownership. To save every gram possible, ENVE removes the bladder after curing where other composite manufacturers leave the rim-shaping, inflatable bladder in the rim. This process takes more time and expertise, but the end result is a lighter wheelset and one that is more perfectly balanced.

This particular build sees the 650b G27 rims laced to the smooth rolling and supremely durable Chris King R45 Disc hubs. The Portland, OR made hubs are noted for their bomber construction, excellent made-in-house bearings, and serviceability. It only comes ready for 12mm front axles, so check your current fork's dropouts or that future dream build. These hubs are for centerlock rotors and can be used with 6-bolt rotors with the proper adapters. Standard HG 11-speed road freehub works with Shimano and SRAM road cassettes. ENVE recommends tires between 2.0 and 2.2-inches wide and offers a 5-year warranty and lifetime crash replacement for the original owner.