Stan’s NoTubes has reworked their three iconic alloy mountain bike rims to be wider, lighter and stiffer, putting them back on the mountain as trends move toward bigger tires across the board.
While wide is the trend, getting the rim width right for the discipline-appropriate tire was key to optimized performance, safety and durability. They call it Wide Right, which means a properly sized rim for the tire being used, and vice versa, so that the casing’s shape stays nice and round.
Here’s how their new rim lineup accomplished that…
Original rim profiles on the left, new ones on the right – L to R: Flow, Arch and CrestThe new Crest MK3 is 23mm (up from 21) and gets a stronger 6069 alloy that let them use thinner wall extrusions to shed about 25g from a 29er rim, coming in at 365g (29er).
Going wider made it about 16% stiffer laterally, but it maintained its vertical compliance. It’s optimized for a 2.0 to 2.25 tire.
The old Arch was simply a Crest with an extra brace inside. The new Arch MK3 loses the brace and gets a whole lot wider. It measures 26mm internal, and weight stays the same as before, coming in at 470g for a 27.5″ rim.
It used to be billed as a “big guy XC rim” and now it’s more of a trail or Enduro race rim. It’s a half millimeter wider than the old Flow EX, optimized for a 2.25 to 2.4 tire.
The Flow EX also loses its internal brace and grows from 25.5 to 29mm internal. For a 27,5″ rim, weight dropped about 25g to 535g. It’s optimized for a 2.35 to 2.8 tire.
All of the rims use a new flat/rounded shape that’s shallow, letting it flex a bit over the terrain without being weak laterally. It’s a good looking shape, and they’ve updated their logo and graphics to enhance the overall look and freshen it up after 15 years in business.
Pricing and availability, along with full specs are on their website now. All will be available as rim only (~ $100) and as complete wheels with Boost, standard, Lefty and RS-1 hubs, Center Lock or 6-bolt.
