Nox Composites has revamped their rim lineup, changing to hookless beads across the entire line and introducing two new models. They’re also expanding their hub and spoke build options, helping anyone find the right wheels for their budget or desires.
Cofounder Brad Stinson told us the hookless design came about because they wanted to reduce weak spots while still being able to build the rims as light as possible. Their design’s IP revolves around the seam placement, namely the seams between mold plates that press the carbon into shape. Because of the way the molds often go together, a lot of rims have a seam right at the top of the bead, which is a prime spot for delamination to occur. Others start out with a thicker “hookless’ bead then machine out the hook. With ours, we’re able to put the seam from the molds far away from the top of the rim wall, like under where the rim tape goes so it’s protected from rock strikes or other things hitting or rubbing on it. They’re calling it Rockguard HL, named because they surmise that most rim failures occur because of rocks striking a rim’s seam and starting the destructive delamination process.
That, plus new layup mix of materials and weaves, allowed them to develop a 345g Xc rim called Skyline with no compromises…
The Skyline will be available in 27.5″ and 29er sizes, with rim weights of just 335g (27.5″) and 345g (29er). That’s about 3040g lighter than the original XCR29 rims it replaces. Inside width is 23mm.
The Teocali is also brand new and sits between the Skyline and AM series, to be considered a “trail” rim. Measurements are in the middle, too, with weights of 350g (27.5″) and 380g (29er) and an interior width of 26mm.
For more aggressive riders, the Farlow replaces the AM series. The rims are using the same shape, it it takes advantage of the new layups. All three wheels also now use angled spoke drillings to help reduce unwanted stresses on the spokes. All rim weights are +/-10g.
Across the range, there are two new hubs available: DT Swiss 240’s and Project 321. Project 321 is the brand behind those purple anodized Thomson stems and Cannondale cranks, but they also make their own hubs. The internals share the Industy Nine Torch freehub system, but with different bearings. Full details on the hubs (and some of their colored parts) are here.
For those looking to save a bit of coin while still getting a great carbon rim, they’ll now build your wheels with Sapim Race spokes on Hope hubs to get a wheelset down to $1,428. It’s a bit heavier, with the Race spokes adding about 50g per wheel.
