Sun-Ringlé will launch five new wheel models for 2010, all of which are set to land in stores in January.
The cross-country Black Flag and all-mountain Charger platforms will both be available in Pro and Expert level builds, all in 26in and 29in sizes and featuring tubeless ready aluminium rim geometry licensed from Stan's NoTubes for easy conversions.
Just tape up the rims, drop in the valve cores, add sealant and you're ready to go – all of the requisite bits will be included with the wheelsets, too.
Pro-level wheelsets will feature machined cartridge bearing hubs convertible between 9mm quick-release and 15mm and 20mm through-axle standards for do-anything versatility plus straight-pull stainless steel spokes. Expert-level hubs will be offered in specific axle fitments and will use standard J-bend spokes.
Claimed weight for the Black Flag Pro is 1,585g for the pair while the slightly wider-rimmed Charger Pro will creep up a bit to 1,685g a set. Suggested retail price for each is a surprisingly reasonable US$600 (approx £380).
Sun-Ringlé's fifth new wheelset will be far pricier, though, at a whopping $1,750 (approx £1,100) a pair. The new SRD (Sun-Ringlé Racing Development) model will feature Pro-level hubs and carbon rims that drop the weight down to about 1,550g.
That puts the new SRD just slightly lighter than the Black Flag Pro, but according to Sun-Ringlé's Denny Yunk, the company is billing the SRD as more of an ultimate trail bike wheelset as opposed to a pure cross-country racing item.
The carbon rims are supposedly stronger than the aluminium rims on either the Black Flag or Charger. Release date on the SRD is still to be determined, and the SRD rims won't use the NoTubes geometry.