Our 26in ENVE AM rims were built on to DT Swiss 350 hubs with 32 J-bend bladed spokes per wheel, which gave an all-in weight of just 1,590g.
As soon as you hit the trails on these deep-section carbon hoops, their stiffness becomes apparent. Our initial impression – with a 20mm axle, 36mm stanchion fork – was that there was a lot of feedback through the bar, but a switch to a 15mm axle, 35mm stanchion fork helped us to find the sweet spot.
Where the Twenty6 AMs really shine is carving turns and screaming across off-camber sections at speed, where they help you to hold your line with ease. The feel and feedback, once you're accustomed to it, is really pretty special.
The low weight, stiffness and instant engagement from DT's Ratchet System driver combine to create a rapid pick-up as soon as you begin to apply power, while the 24mm internal rim width creates a great tyre profile.
After six months of clattering through some of the ugliest rock gardens around, the ENVEs remain straight, true and dependable ride after ride, with just a few superficial marks. Although they're super expensive, the stiff, precise handling on offer is really impressive – even more so in the 650b and 29in sizes.
