Just got this from one of favorite European sources: The Merida Multivan mountain bike team’s testing prototype Fulcrum carbon fiber 29er wheels.
Word is they weigh in at just 1100 grams with a full carbon rim. They’re part of the Fulcrum Lab for pro teams only, but if they prove successful they might just end up in the standard range. Those are all the details we have for now, but at that weight we’d have to guess they’re tubulars, except:
The unmarked tires look an awful lot like Maxxis Aspen (front) and the new Beaver (rear) tread patterns, and Maxxis is a team sponsor. However, Maxxis’ marketing man Aaron Chamberlain said they’re not currently testing any tubular mountain bike tires. Nor do they have their new tubeless casings worked up for testing on the Aspen yet, either. But, he did say that some teams have taken their treads and glued them to tubular casings in the past. Hmmm. More as we get it.
