Scope Cycling rolled onto our radar on the road just about a year ago with their reasonably priced, aero tubeless carbon clinchers for disc brake road bikes. We have a set of their mid-depth R4d wheels in for a long term test now, and have been very pleased with them even getting them dirty on some cross riding.
But now Scope have gotten serious about off-road racing with the new O2 mountain wheelset. In fact with a 25mm internal width & hookless bead, they call it an unparalleled wheel option for both gravel bike and cross-country mountain bike racing.
O2 off-road carbon tubeless race wheels
Another year and a half in development after their last disc brake road wheels, the new O2 wheelset required a different way of looking at wheel design. Scope wanted to develop a proper race wheelset that would offer a better balance of weight, lateral stiffness, comfort & durability than what they saw on the market for premium gravel or mountain racing.
Tech Details
To hit that balanced all-around race goal, Scope worked closely with Schwalbe to develop their new 31mm external, 25mm internal rim profile with a hookless tubeless bead and a 3mm lacing offset. At just 23mm deep, the new rim claims improved compliance (hence more comfort) than commonly deeper sections, while also working towards a pretty impressive 1380g total wheelset weight that can stand up to proper XC & even XCM racing. In a first of what we expect to see more of, the rims tease a AAA certification from Schwalbe, rating them as the best sealing interface between rim & tubeless tire.
Part of the lightweight durability also comes from a new nipple reinforcement they developed for this wheel. Dubbed Local Reinforcement Technology (LRT), the spoke bed remain really thin, with just additional material around the molded in spoke holes to resist spoke tension. Scope says the move let them trim 10% off the rim weight while maintaining strength & durability.
Scope designs their own rims from the ground up like many premium wheel companies, but also develops & produces their centerlock hubs as well.
That lets them design a more efficient whole, with wide hub flanges for spoke bracing angles optimized to their offset rims, well-sealed SKF bearings (or a CeramicSpeed upgrade), and compatibility with modular thru-axle endcaps, Shimano or SRAM XD bodies & Boost or standard non-Boost hubshells available.
The new wheels are slated for Nov/Dec 2017 availability and will retail for the same 1398€ as their road wheels. The O2 wheels can be preordered now direct from Scope and look to be a equally at home on a light gravel racer or a 29er XC bike.
