Ibis

941 29in Wheelset

As with its radically progressive frame designs, Ibis thinks differently, pushes the envelope, and as a result, its machines are incredibly capable. Recognizing that the average mountain bike wheel's performance was limiting the potential performance of its bikes, however, Ibis unleashed its usual creativity and engineering expertise in designing its own hoops. In the case of a set like the Ibis 941 Wheelset in particular, it didn't just put the rest of the mountain bike wheel industry on notice — it created a pair of absolute monsters.

So what sets them apart? Width. Wheel manufacturers have slowly started to figure out that, on both dirt and pavement, going wider pays dividends. Wider internal rim widths (note: not simply a wider rim body) means the tire beads can sit farther apart, which means greater tire volume, which means that lower tire pressures can be run for greater traction and handling, because the tire is more free to deform and deflect around obstacles without drastically altering the path of the wheel's momentum. Ibis says you can run 4-6 less PSI of pressure, on average, with the 941s. Wider rims translate into a wider tire footprint, again boosting traction and increasing stability at the same time. A wider footprint also means that your tire fattens up relative to its labeled size; for example, a 2.2-inch tire can widen to the volume of a 2.3- or 2.4-inch tire, depending on the rims themselves, so you can run lighter tires without giving up capability or gnar-ability.

Now, take a closer look at all-mountain wheels these days and you'll find internal rim widths from 21-26mm. Ibis takes that average and gives it an "F." Witness the 941: thirty five millimeters. That is gigantic. That is tremendous stability. That is traction for days. But they must weigh a mega-ton, right? False. The 941's rims' carbon construction keeps weight down to an astounding 490 grams per hoop, totaling 1770g each, and coming from the company that raised legendary all-mountain machines like the Mojo and the Ripley, you know durability is a given.

Need numbers? Ibis tested the gravy out of the best competitors' rims for comparison and found its new 941s to be anywhere from 50% to 300% stronger in various tests. Part of what made this possible was the hookless bead construction of the rims, which optimizes tubeless tire compatibility while strengthening the bead by replacing traditional musical note-shaped beads with stout rectangles of carbon. Spoke holes are reinforced by additional carbon to ensure strength, too. Ibis opted for traditional J-bend spokes (triple-butted: 2.2 - 1.5 - 2.0), and standard 7075 alloy spoke nipples — all available from your local bike shop in a very-worst-case scenario. Ibis' proprietary hubs are precision built and feature Enduro bearings for durability and longevity.

The Ibis 941 Wheelset is for 29-inch mountain bikes. Please be sure to check your frame's specs to be sure that it can accommodate the 941's very wide rims. Out of the box, the front wheel comes ready for a 15mm thru-axle, while the rear comes ready for a 12x142mm thru-axle. End caps are available separately to convert both wheels to quick-release compatibility. Running a 20mm thru-axle on the front wheel is not currently possible. The wheels will come with either a standard SRAM/Shimano HG freehub body or a SRAM XD freehub body.