Industry Nine has long separated their road bike wheel design from their mountain bike wheels. The road side got the sleek Torch hubs with straight pull, bladed steel spokes to make them as aero as possible…especially with their new carbon rims. The mountain bike hubs used their thick signature machined aluminum spokes with the bigger flanges. Now, with the new Torch Road Alloy series, they’re “bridging the gap” to offer extremely lightweight wheels built on the Torch Road hubs, but with their thicker alloy spokes.
The Collection uses their UL240C carbon rims and UL235 alloy rims that started life as ultralight XC mountain bike rims, but adds a new 650B alloy size, and a tougher AR25 for bikepacking. The point was to have the strength and durability of their mountain bike wheels combined with the lightweight and minimalist aesthetic of the road wheels to create the best options for gravel racing and cyclocross.
Across the four-wheelset lineup are shared features like the new Torch Road hubs, a 24-spoke count with 2:1 lacing pattern, and Industry Nine’s 2.9/2.7mm spokes. The new hubs look like the original Torch Road models, but have broader flanges on the drive (rear) or disc brake (front) side to allow their thicker spokes to thread in. Because the spokes thread into the hub, there’s no need for nipples at the rims, which further reduces rotating mass and makes them easy to true. All are Centerlock only, and use the following bearing layout, seals and axle options:
- Front Hub: 2 bearings with external teflon seals. 100mm QR / 9thru / 12mm / 15mm
- Rear Hub: 4 bearings with external Teflon seals and silicone freehub seal. 135mm QR / 10×135 / 12×135 / 12×142
- Driver: Shimano HG / Campagnolo / SRAM XD-R – 60 point, 6 degreeengagement, 3 pawl mechanism
Industry Nine UL240C Torch Road Alloy
At the top of the range is the Ultralight 240C with a 28mm wide (24mm internal) hookless, tubeless-ready carbon rim. Yes, that “Alloy” part of the model name is a little misleading for a carbon fiber rim wheelset, but it refers to the use of their alloy spokes.
The rim is their own design, made by Reynolds specifically for the lacing pattern and spoke angles of these hubs. Claimed rim weight is 355g, complete wheels are 600g F and 725g R (1,325g total). All weights are with 12mm thru axles, XD drivers and bare rims, but the wheels will come with tubeless tape and valve stems installed. MSRP is $2,300 and they have a 240lb (110kg) max rider weight limit. Recommended tire size range is 33-55mm wide.
Industry Nine UL235 Torch Road Alloy
The ULCX235 TRA wheels do get an alloy rim and come in almost as light as the carbon models for about half the price. And you get two options, 700c or 650b. The 700c rim weight is claimed at 380g, complete wheels at 630g F and 765g R (1,395g total).
The 650b wheels have a 355g rim for total weights of 595g F and 725 R (1,320g combined).
Rim width is 23.5mm internal, 27mm external. MSRP is $1,225 and they have a 220lb (100kg) max rider weight limit. Recommended tire size range is 33-55mm wide.
Industry Nine AR25 Torch Road Alloy
If you want something that’s a little more road than ‘cross or gravel, and able to haul more of a load or handle a wider variety of uses, then the AR25 TRA is for you. It gets a narrower 25mm rim (21.5mm internal) designed for 25-50mm tubeless tires.
The rim is also tougher, with thicker sidewalls, coming in at a claimed 455g (700c only). Wheel weights are 685g F and 895g R (1,480g total), but it keeps the lightweight 24 spoke count.
All four come with black hubs and spokes as standard, but you can customize down to the individual spoke color through their AnoLab, choosing from Silver, Blue, Red, Gold, Orange, Pink, Purple, Turquoise, Lime, or Green hubs and spokes. Color changes and Enduro XD-15 ceramic bearings are paid upgrades.
If you’re at Dirty Kanza 200 this weekend, be sure to visit I9 and demo a set, and look for them under Gordon “Quadsworth” Wadsworth and Jay Petervary. Depending on model, they start shipping as early as June 15 through June 30.
Look for our first impressions on the UL235 , actual weights and the full development story (including how they’re able to use so few spokes but keep the wheels strong) coming soon!
