Eurobike 2016: WTB 26+ Tyres, Carbon Rims

At Eurobike, WTB had a few new things to show including new wider carbon rims and a new Deva saddle. Foremost though was a pair of 26+ tyres. Altogether, they seem to show a company slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding human bodies and bike sizing. Clayton Wangbichler talked us through their new products:

Hey, a plus-tyred XC bike. But what’s that?

*gasp* it’s a 26 inch tyre! 3.0 at the front…

… 2.8 at the back.

Just double checking. Yep, 2.8 x 26″

Available in 2.8 or 3.0 with a very XC-looking tread pattern, for now the Ranger 26+ seems like more of a toe in the water. Or perhaps a toe in the loam.

It’s hard to show just how wide WTB’s Scraper rims are, so I included this USB key for scale. They come in 40 and 45mm internal widths, and if you look at their website, the reviews are full of people imploring them to release 26+ after market option.

Loads of clearance.

It’s an Open One+. While most sizes take 27.5+ tyres, the small frame is designed around 26+

A trusty Boost SiD

No bling spared. As well as SRAM Eagle, it has White Industries hubs too.

Of course, the Ranger is also available in 27.5″+.

As well as the Ranger, they were once again showing the burlier Trailblazer, Bridger and Trail Boss plus tyres.

The Trailblazer 2.8 is aimed at loose dirt and sand. It’s also lighter than WTB’s other plus offerings, at 895g.

Getting slightly more aggressive and with dual compound (“Duel DNA”, in WTB’s parlance), the Bridger 3.0 is an all round trail and enduro tyre.

As is the Trail Boss 3.0, with an extra helping of all mountain. It’s good to see more aggressive tread patterns making their way onto plus tyres, as California/Utah specific tyres tend to be a bit optimistic in UK conditions.

The new, wider Ci31 Carbon rims weigh just 490g each, and come in 29″ or 27.5″

They have a very nice finish indeed.

Internal width is 31mm. That hand holding the rim is not a small one, it’s far away.

We’ve included this just because of the marvellous name: Thickslick! It’s from a different realm of cycling (don’t worry about it, it’s called “road cycling” and it probably won’t catch on).

Another interesting thing we spotted on the WTB stand was this Deva Pro saddle.

You see those dimensions? 142x250mm? That’s wide, short, and many bike companies would market it as “female specific”, but WTB don’t seem to be doing that.

It has very gender-neutral decor too. Perhaps WTB are realising that while there may be gendered averages, bodies of all genders come in many different shapes.

Padloc grips were in evidence again. Last year they had prototypes to show, but this time all are in full production.

They even have tiny gripshift compatible ones, preferred by Jerome Clementz.

That’s almost writing a doctor would be proud of.

Unfortunately, this gorgeous old engineering vice (modelling a Park SG-7.2 saw guide) isn’t for sale. To find a similar one, you’ll probably have to go to an auction house or market.

David Hayward

David started mountain biking in the 90’s, by which he means “Ineptly jumping a Saracen Kili Racer off anything available in a nearby industrial estate”. After growing up and living in some extremely flat places, David moved to Yorkshire specifically for the mountain biking. This felt like a horrible mistake at first, because the hills are so steep, but you get used to them pretty quickly. Previously, David trifled with road and BMX, but mountain bikes always won. He’s most at peace battering down a rough trail, quietly fixing everything that does to a bike, or trying to figure out if that one click of compression damping has made things marginally better or worse. The inept jumping continues to this day.

Eurobike 2016: WTB 26+ Tyres, Carbon Rims

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Eurobike 2016: WTB 26+ Tyres, Carbon Rims

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