New Easton Wheels!

On another wheel-related theme, Easton have announced a new wheelset – the Heist, which mates the new ARC rim to a new hub – the X5.

The ARC rims are available in 3 internal widths – 24, 27 or 30mm, for a variety of purposes and tyre widths. The idea is basically that for an alloy rim there’s a tradeoff: wider rims equal more weight and rotating mass. Which is bad. But narrower equals more squirmy and fidgety tyres, which is also bad. Mind you, 24mm internal is still relatively wide (certainly by yesterday’s standards). They’re kind of loosely labelled as XC, trail and AM respectively, and they range from 425g (per 27.5in 24mm rim) to 535g (per 29in 30mm rim). We approve of the new wider rim predilection in this office, as you’ll have seen if you read issue 95 of Singletrack.

The Heist wheels have these laced in a 3x stylee to X5 hubs which have bearings wider apart than normal hubs for more stability (or sutin). And you can run the usual array of axles/freehubs/whathaveyou – no mention word on BOOST. They’re touted as having excellent serviceability and longevity – we’ll see! Total weights (for the 27.5in narrow wheels) start at 1650g, which is pretty respectable. Price per pair is £450.

Rims are available now, and wheelsets soon, from Silverfish

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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