Astral Cycling is bringing a little throwback shine, or rather, subdued shine, to the trail world with a limited-edition Matte Silver Serpentine wheelset.
The Oregon-based wheel and component maker is offering its best-selling alloy MTB wheelset in a matte silver finish for a short production run. If you’ve been watching the slow resurgence of silver bits on modern builds, this one lands right on trend.
Same Serpentine, New Look
Under the new finish, it’s the same Serpentine riders already know. That means:
- 32mm internal width
- 6069 aluminum construction
- Available in 28h and 32h
- Built as complete wheels or sold as rims
The Serpentine has always been Astral’s all-around alloy trail wheel. It’s wide enough for modern tire profiles, durable enough for aggressive riding, and priced well below boutique carbon territory.
What changes here is the aesthetic.
Why Matte Silver?
First off – it looks cooler than matte carbon, but that’s just my opinion, man. Also, Astral has played with polished silver before, and according to the brand, riders wanted more. But polished aluminum comes with a production bottleneck and, in Oregon’s damp climate, maintenance.
The matte finish sidesteps both issues.
It keeps that neo-retro silver look that’s been popping up on custom builds and hardtails lately, but it’s easier to produce and better suited to real-world riding conditions. In other words, you get the vibe without the constant polishing.
Truly Limited
This isn’t a standing catalog option. Astral built a small batch of complete wheels laced to White Industries CLD hubs with Sapim spokes, and they’re ready to ship now.
Once those are gone, additional rims and wheel builds will be available via pre-order for April delivery — but only in limited quantities. When trail season ramps up, Astral says they’ll shift focus back to regular production.
Translation: if silver is your thing, don’t wait around.
Astral LE Matte Silver Serpentine – Pricing & Availability
- Complete wheelset (White Industries CLD hubs): $1,349
- Rims: $199
