As a longtime innovator of tubeless technology and lightweight alloy wheels, Stans NoTubes wasn’t particularly quick to jump on the carbon fibre rim bandwagon. Instead, Stans took plenty of time to develop and test its first carbon fibre wheels, debuting the original Valor wheelset in 2013, and then a beefier and wider version in 2015 called the Bravo. Since the release of those wheels, we’ve tested and reviewed both the Valor and Bravo carbon wheelsets (you can read those reviews here), and have been very impressed with both the durability and ride quality of each.
Launching at Eurobike is Stans latest carbon fibre wheelset called the Podium SRD, which essentially replaces the Valor wheelset as Stans flagship XC race hoop. And boy are they light…
Standing for ‘Stans Racing Development’, the SRD tag is a new line of high performance products from Stans, and the Podium SRD is the first wheel to be titled as such. Superseding the Valor wheelset, the Podium SRD is a hyperlight 29in XC race wheelset that’s claimed to weigh only 1287 grams, making this the lightest wheelset that Stans has ever produced.
Despite the low weight, the Podium SRD is actually wider than the current Valor rim, featuring a 23mm internal rim width that’ll take tyres up to 2.25in wide. It’s also shallower too, and a revised rim profile along with a thinner carbon layup (3-ply instead of 4-ply), means it offers more vertical deflection. Compared to the Valor’s 7mm of vertical deflection under impact, the Podium SRD will deflect 10mm, resulting in a smoother and more comfortable ride quality, while also reducing the chance of pinch flatting.
Also new at Eurobike was the introduction of three new MK3 wheels to join the Crest, Arch and Flow wheels. Offering wider rim profiles to suit tyres up to 3.5in wide, the new Sentry (32mm internal), Baron (35mm internal) and Major (38mm internal) MK3 wheels are based on the cheaper S1 versions that were launched at last year’s Eurobike show, but are upgraded with a lighter 6069 alloy construction along with shallower profiles that help to lower weight.
All the MK3 wheels are available in 26in, 27.5in and 29in diameters, and come built onto Stans own Neo hubs with 32 stainless steel Sapim J-bend spokes per wheel, and a 6-pawl mechanism for quick pickup. Freehubs can be had in Shimano or SRAM XD variants, and there’s a variety of different axle types available to fit nearly anything (except Super Boost Plus…)
