Palindrom MP1 carbon hoops combine huge spoke offset, Italian roots, and modern tech

Written by Greg Kopecky May 09, 2019 11:13 a.m. ET

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Palindrom is a new name in wheels, but their roots go back over 25 years. Started by ex-Campagnolo employee Simone Roncali, the outfit is hoping that their tech-packed Palindrom MP1 will change your expectations for XC mountain bike wheels. With a 32.65mm outer width, huge 6mm spoke offset, wide bead shelf, and many custom options, you can shred it your way.

Palindrom MP1 carbon XC 29″ mountain bike wheels

In a crowded market of wheels, it’s getting tougher and tougher to stand out. Italy-based Palindrom is spearheading their effort with an unusually high 6mm spoke offset, allowing for even or near-even spoke tension on the wheels’ left and right sides.

This big offset is combined with what they’re calling Double Angle Drilling, which aims the spoke holes left and right, rather than radially. The result is a straighter spoke path, reduced stress on the spoke and nipple, and a stronger wheel overall.

The rim is only available in 29-inch diameter, and is intended for XC-style riding. It has a 32.65mm outer width, 27mm internal width, hookless bead shape, and wide 6mm bead shelves – said to minimize or eliminate air burps.

The rim weighs a claimed 350 grams, with an HD laminate option available for rougher use. Builds are available with Carbon-Ti SP IS X-Hubs or DT Swiss 240/350, in 24, 28, or 32 spokes.

All Palindrom MP1 wheels are handbuild in Italy, using Sapim CX-Ray, CX-Sprint or D-Light, with washers available upon request. The base build package comes in at a claimed 1,260 grams, using Carbon-Ti SP hubs and CX-Ray spokes.

MP1 wheels include their own 33mm-wide polyurethane tubeless tape, weighing in at only 28 grams. Tubeless valves are also included.

Pricing of the MP1 can vary quite a bit based on options, with full detail below:

Pair of MP1 rims with standard lamination: 649€, with special lamination: 749€
One MP1 rim with standard lamination: 349€, with special lamination: 399€

Set of MP1 complete wheels with Carbon-Ti X-Hub SP IS6 100/142 and CX-Ray spokes + alu polyax nipples, with tubeless kit (72g): 1260g, 1.299€

Options:

28+28 CX-Sprint spokes +56g: -22€
28+28 D-Light spokes +39g -80€
Boost +8g: +33€
HM washers +9g: +20€
Custom drilling +25€
24+24 spokes: CX-Ray -38g: -20€, CX-Sprint -46g: -15€, D-Light -44g: -8€
32+32 spokes: CX-Ray +38g: +20€, CX-Sprint +46g: +15€, D-Light +44g: +8€
DTSwiss 240 SP hubs (availability TBC): +77g, same price
DTSwiss 350 SP hubs (availability TBC): +117g, -300€
Red anodized light alloy nipples: same weight, same price

56 CX-Ray spokes + 56 Polyax light alloy nipples + wheelbuilding for one wheelset: 200€

With CX-Sprint: 178€
With D-Light: 120€

PalindromWheels.com

Greg Kopecky

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15 Comments

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Klaster_1

4 years ago

That’s actually a very reasonable offer, I’d consider it if I hadn’t owned a lightweight XC wheelset already.

FritzP

4 years ago

Why haven’t offset rims been made with more offset before this? Or have they? Most offset rims i’ve come across lately are offset by 2-3mm.

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to FritzP

As in my response to Greg, when with 3T, I made a 5mm offset rim, and that was almost 4 years ago (3 years ago in the market).
Reasons could be:1) rims used to be narrower and more than 2-3mm was not possible, 2) with a bigger offset wheelbuilding is not as fast and both lacing and truing could be difficult or impossible with machines, 3) the shape of the section and the layup in case of carbon are more critical, 4) because layup is not symmetrical, mistakes could be made during lamination, if the workmanship is not up to par (I’ve heard and personally seen that happening a number of times in the past).

RobertW

4 years ago

Reply to FritzP

Because 1. these wide carbon rims are so laterally stiff that it is less important to increase the stretch of nds spokes and 2. because wheel lateral stiffness isn’t affected by the spoke drilling position. It may be counter-intuitive but check out Matt Ford’s paper.

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to RobertW

The wheel is a complex structure with many variables, but when clamped in a jig that allows to measure deflection at any given side load, lateral stiffness is easily measured, and is mainly a function of rim stiffness and spoke count and section area. This jig clamps the hub and appies the axial forse at any desired point, measuring the movement of the rim usually in four points (where the force is applied and at 90, 180 and 270°).
Everything else being equal, if the drilling plane on the rim is moved towards balancing bracing angles and tensions (in a wheel that has same count and thickness spokes NDS/DS and different bracing angles, like most MTB wheels) the stiffness changes towards being balanced, i.e. becomes more even, regardless of the axial direction of the applied force. This means that the stiffness measured with the force pushing towards the NDS goes up (N/mm) and when the force pushes towards the DS the N/mm goes down and they get closer in value. So the behaviour of the wheel under side load is more symmetrical.
Usually, if the difference in spoke tension NDS/DS is minimal, so is the bench measured lateral stiffness.

godzillafanmonster

4 years ago

Going have reverse dish on some front hubs now.

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to godzillafanmonster

Good point. While most disc brake rear hubs have the flanges in the same position as required by proper disc and sprocket (RD cage) clearance, and that usually requires a rim offset of 7/8mm for perfect symmetry, with front hubs the variation of flange position from brand to brand and from model to model is bigger and indeed changes from hub to hub. With DTSwiss SP a 6mm rim offset offers perfect symmetry, 5mm with CarbonTi SP hub.

joby

4 years ago

I need to know more about that truing stand…

Pete

4 years ago

Reply to joby

Big want.

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to joby

That is the standard truing/destressing stand Pippowheels uses (www.pippowheels.com), I believe it’s been custom made to their design/spec, but you may want to inquire with them.

Greg

4 years ago

Tape is lighter than that strip, by a lot. Like 5g or so per layer. That said, snap in strips are much more user friendly in the case of a broken spoke. Anything with internal nipples should only be offered with snap in rim strips…
I’m pretty sure other people have tried large offsets and found issues with stiffness in cross sectional torsion. That was with aluminum, though. Maybe carbon has stiffness to spare in that direction.

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to Greg

Both good points.
The tape is provided for convenience and can be removed in 2 seconds if not the preferred sealing choice, it’s not the lightest indeed. Leaves no trace of glue of course, can be removed and reapplied to dry out the internal chamber of the rim, and of course for service.
Talking about asymmetry in aluminum rims, the 27.5 gravel plus wheels I made for 3T almost four years ago (and still available) have a 5mm offset on a 500g alu rim which is 30mm wide, not sure if it was an industry first, but certainly pretty unusual at the time.

roadstain

4 years ago

I have ridden only Campagnolo wheels for the better part of a decade and a half (but for Zipp 900 disk/404 race wheels). Not only have they been ahead of the curve for so so long (price be damned)..they have been bomb proof. From over 20 year old Shamal HPW12 to the new Shamal variants….

Now, these wheels – and, who makes them…yes, I am betting I will have a set on my MTN bike soon (it is in for some serious upgrades currently). They have already proven themselves to me (albeit with a different label).

simone roncali

4 years ago

Reply to roadstain

Dear Roadstain, it is important to stress that there is no connection whatsoever between Palindrom and Campagnolo. Two of us at Palindrom are ex-campy but really no connection. Palindrom company and our projects are totally independent, it’s not like Fulcrum and Campy, I don’t want you to think you’re buying a Campy product, because you’re not. Sorry if this is a disappointment.

roadstain

4 years ago

Reply to simone roncali

Simone –

No confusion on my end what so ever. My statement as to ‘who makes them’…Sir, your reputation precedes you. I have a very valid suspicion that you are the mind behind some of my past and current wheelsets (Shamal, Hyperion, Neucleon, Neutron, Proton and more G3 than I can count).

I may be incorrect on the supposition…but, the pedigree is not nothing. Literally got off the phone with the man who is updating my XC MTN bike and your wheels were a main topic.