Industry Nine

1/1 Enduro S 29in Super Boost 157 Wheelset

Every year we tell ourselves that we're going to budget our bike expenses, and inevitably every year we also hear new hype thrown around, new buzz words, and find ourselves craving upgrades on our steed — but you don't need to leave your car rusting in the driveway to toss on a new wheelset. Industry Nine's 101 Enduro S 29in Super Boost 157 Wheelset offers a set of hoops that balance performance with affordability, so you can hammer down harrowing trails with serious power, and still save money for a few other upgrades (or, you know, bills). The 101 Enduro S combines I9's new 101 hub, which is modeled after the Hydra, but built up to be a little more pocket friendly. They're laced up to I9's beefy Enduro S rim, providing a solid platform to tackle black diamond runs and all-day epics in the backcountry. And since they're constructed with 28 J-bend steel spokes instead of the aluminum found on the 305's, you can enjoy them at a more approachable price that leaves you with extra cash for other upgrades, or even a few race entry fees.

The 101 hub utilizes a 45-tooth spline, and six phased pawls that engage two at a time, making for 90 engagement points as you spin. We won't try to convince you that the 101 will feel as snappy as the Hydra, it measures in at 4-degrees of engagement as opposed to the 0.52 that the Hydra packs, but it does fallow closely to the ever-coveted Torch which was long revered as one of the snappiest wheelsets on the market — that is until I9's engineers had to go and out-do themselves. What this means is that power is nearly instantaneous when you hammer on the pedals, leaving little energy wasted, and a responsive feel through the ride. When it comes to tackling the mountain we don't think everyone should have to break the bank, and the designers at I9 don't think so either, which is why this particular model laces up the classic Enduro S rims to the 101 hub using the more economical J-bend steel spokes, which is where this wheelset gets its "S" designation. The Enduro rims used are the same you'll find in the higher-end builds, with lightweight construction, and a wide 30.5-millimeter internal width that accommodates 2.3-to-2.8-inch tires, finding the balance between reduced rolling resistance and plush control in corners.