Bontrager's new Rhythm Elite wheelset includes a new quick-engaging freehub body and a 22mm-wide tubeless rim. Claimed weight is 1,685g per pair for the 26-inch version and 1,815g for the 29ers. Retail price is US$999
Bontrager's new Rhythm Elite wheelset includes a new quick-engaging freehub body and a 22mm-wide tubeless rim. Claimed weight is 1,685g per pair for the 26-inch version and 1,815g for the 29ers. Retail price is US$999 - James Huang/Future Publishing
The new Bontrager Rhythm Elite rim has an internal width of 22mm to better support high-volume tires. Brazed-on reinforcements prevent spoke pull-through while otherwise allowing for a relatively thin extrusion - James Huang/Future Publishing
The aluminum hub shells on the new Bontrager Rhythm Elite wheels are truly massive. End caps are easily swapped to accommodate different axle fitments, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Unlike most rear hubs that use four bearings - two for the axle and two for the freehub body - Bontrager's new Rapid Drive rear hub uses just three - James Huang/Future Publishing
Bontrager will have XD freehub bodies for SRAM XX1 drivetrains ready right when the wheels hit showroom floors in July - James Huang/Future Publishing
Brazed-on reinforcements allow for a thin extrusion but still plenty of strength at the spoke holes. Bontrager's long-running airtight plastic rim strips make for easy tubeless conversions, too, with the added benefit that they protect the aluminum rim from potentially corrosive sealants - James Huang/Future Publishing
The bearings that support the aluminum axle on Bontrager's new Rapid Drive rear hub are situated far out at the ends of the hub. In between is just one enormous cartridge bearing on which the freehub body spins. Interestingly, the middle bearing sits outboard of the driver mechanism, which uses three pawls, each with three teeth - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Bontrager Rapid Drive freehub mechanism features a 54-tooth ratchet ring for a snappy 6.67-degree engagement speed - James Huang/Future Publishing
Unlike most cartridge bearing rear hubs that support the axle on four bearings, the new Bontrager Rapid Drive one uses just two - one at each end - with the third one in the middle supporting just the freehub body - James Huang/Future Publishing
We spotted new Bontrager Rhythm shoes on the feet of Bontrager brand manager Michael Browne. The new shoe sports a reinforced upper and full tread sandwiching a relatively stiff fiber-reinforced nylon midsole - James Huang/Future Publishing
The upcoming Bontrager Rhythm shoes feature a full tread for safer scrambling - James Huang/Future Publishing
Bontrager calls its Rhythm shoe tread compound 'Tackion'. We'll be curious how the relatively soft compound holds up on Colorado rocks - James Huang/Future Publishing
Lower-profile buckles will be featured across the entire Bontrager shoe range - James Huang/Future Publishing
The new Bontrager SE4 Team Issue tire is aimed at the enduro scene with its three-piece polyamide reinforcement layer. One strip sits beneath the crown while the other two protect the sidewalls from cutting. Leaving a gap in between each strip supposedly makes for a suppler ride and better traction due to the increased casing flexibility - James Huang/Future Publishing
Often better known for its cross-country and road equipment, Bontrager today launched several impressive trail and enduro-focused products with the all-new Rhythm Elite trail wheels and specially reinforced tires. Also, we spotted some Rhythm walkable trail shoes that seem equally suitable for pedaling and scrambling.
Meet Rapid Drive
Bontrager has packed some impressive features into the new US$999 Rhythm Elite trail wheels. Highlighting the list is the Rapid Drive rear hub with its speedy 54-tooth ratchet ring and trio of hardened steel pawls, each with three teeth. The resultant 6.67-degree engagement speed is more than twice as quick as DT Swiss's standard star ratchet driver while the multiple interface points should hopefully yield good reliability over time.
The bontrager rapid drive freehub mechanism features a 54-tooth ratchet ring for a snappy 6.67-degree engagement speed: the bontrager rapid drive freehub mechanism features a 54-tooth ratchet ring for a snappy 6.67-degree engagement speed - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapid Drive's 54-tooth ratchet ring boats 6.67-degree engagement
The surrounding hub is novel, too, as it uses just three bearings instead of the usual four. The oversized aluminum axle is supported only at the very ends via one pair of bearings while the third is a massive cartridge connecting the freehub body to the enormous aluminum hub shell – there is no axle contact there.
Bontrager contends that the middle bearing's huge contact area allows the freehub body and hub shell to effectively act as a single unit, thus allowing just the two smaller bearings to support the axle. In addition to saving a little weight, there should theoretically be less drag, too.
Bontrager's new rhythm elite wheelset includes a new quick-engaging freehub body and a 22mm-wide tubeless rim. claimed weight is 1,685g per pair for the 26-inch version and 1,815g for the 29ers. retail price is us$999: bontrager's new rhythm elite wheelset includes a new quick-engaging freehub body and a 22mm-wide tubeless rim. claimed weight is 1,685g per pair for the 26-inch version and 1,815g for the 29ers. retail price is us$999 - James Huang/Future Publishing
The new wheels weigh a claimed 1,685g in 26in and 1,815g in 29in
Bontrager has borrowed some features from its Race X Lite TLR road wheelset for the new rim – namely the brazed-on spoke hole reinforcements that prevent pull-through while still allowing for a thin extrusion to reduce weight plus offset spoke beds for more even tension throughout. The 22mm internal width should provide good casing support for high-volume tires, too, which can be mounted tubeless thanks to Bontrager's long-running airtight molded plastic rim strips.
Joining the two are straight-pull, butted stainless spokes set in 'stacked' flanges that effectively push the them further apart for better bracing angles.
Claimed weight for the 26-inch set is 1,685g while the 29ers will reportedly weigh 1,815g per pair. There is unfortunately no 27.5-inch version set for release just yet but at least the interchangeable hub end caps will easily convert for use with most common axle fitments. SRAM XX1-compatible XD driver bodies will also be available when the wheels arrive in stores beginning in early June.
Bontrager will offer a new Rhythm Comp trail wheelset, too, which offers the same tubeless compatibility, interchangeable hub end caps, and stacked spoke flange configuration but with a more conventional rim and rear hub design. Claimed weights for the 26-inch and 29er versions are 1,855g and 1,935g, respectively, both with an asking price of US$599.
Unlike most rear hubs that use four bearings - two for the axle and two for the freehub body - bontrager's new rapid drive rear hub uses just three: unlike most rear hubs that use four bearings - two for the axle and two for the freehub body - bontrager's new rapid drive rear hub uses just three - James Huang/Future Publishing
The rear hub has three bearings
Reinforced tires for enduro racing
Joining the new wheels is Bontrager's new SE4 Team Edition tire, specially reinforced for the rigors of enduro racing and designed by MTB tire icon Frank Stacy. The so-called 'Core Strength' reinforcement uses three separate strips of polyamide fabric: one underneath the crown and the others providing cut protection to the sidewalls. Space is left in between each strip, which Bontrager says allows for more casing flexibility than running a single reinforcement layer from bead to bead.
Core Strength will be included in a single SE4 Team Edition tire model, which uses an aggressive, full-knob tread for good grip and reasonable rolling edition in a variety of conditions. Bontrager will offer the new tire in 26x2.2-inch (819g, US$65), 26x2.35-inch (941g, US$65), and 29x2.35-inch (1,033g, US$75) sizes.
The new bontrager se4 team issue tire is aimed at the enduro scene with its three-piece polyamide reinforcement layer. one strip sits beneath the crown while the other two protect the sidewalls from cutting. leaving a gap in between each strip supposedly makes for a suppler ride and better traction due to the increased casing flexibility: the new bontrager se4 team issue tire is aimed at the enduro scene with its three-piece polyamide reinforcement layer. one strip sits beneath the crown while the other two protect the sidewalls from cutting. leaving a gap in between each strip supposedly makes for a suppler ride and better traction due to the increased casing flexibility - James Huang/Future Publishing
Polyamide strips provide cut protection under the tread and at the sidewalls
New Rhythm trail shoes
Bontrager didn't formally introduce any footwear here but we spotted brand manager Michael Browne wearing a new pair of Rhythm trail shoes. Built with a lightly armored upper, fiber reinforced nylon midsole, and full-tread outsole, Browne says the new Rhythm shoes will offer efficient pedaling but with excellent grip for safely managing hike-a-bike sections.
Styling leans more towards the traditional racing shoe end of things although with so much rubber on hand, we expect the new Rhythms to pack on a few extra grams as a result. Official weights, prices, and availability have yet to be determined.
We spotted new bontrager rhythm shoes on the feet of bontrager brand manager michael browne. the new shoe sports a reinforced upper and full tread sandwiching a relatively stiff fiber-reinforced nylon midsole: we spotted new bontrager rhythm shoes on the feet of bontrager brand manager michael browne. the new shoe sports a reinforced upper and full tread sandwiching a relatively stiff fiber-reinforced nylon midsole - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Rhythm shoe features a soft tread Bontrager is calling Tackion
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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