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A Mountain Biker's Life for Me
RIDER PROFILE
Name : Ray
Origin : Toronto, Canada
Information :
Height 174cm
Weight 71kg
5000km per year
Clubs: MGCC (HP)
Road, Gravel
Mostly XC and Trail, I’ve also ridden DH in Maribor, SLO and it’s a blast!
If I could only have one bike, it would be my mountain bike.
SPECIFICATIONS
Bike
Frame : 2016 Norco Optic C9.2
Groupset : Shimano Deore XT
Dropper Post : RockShox Reverb
Fork : Fox 34 Float 120mm
Rear shock : Fox Float DPS EVOL
Crank : Race Face turbine 30T
WHEELS
Rims : Recon Pro AM930
Hubs : DT Swiss 350 boost
Spokes : Sapim D-light
Nipples : Sapim Brass Polyax
Tires : Schwalbe Rocket Rons 2.25
It was recommended to me to get carbon wheels for the bike I’ll ride the most.
Yet I ended up ignoring that and getting it for all the three bikes I ride regularly. I got a Light Bicycle WR35 wheelset for my gravel bike because I wanted to reduce its overall weight, and it was the only bike other than my mountain bike with disc brakes. Then I ended up getting a rim brake Light Bicycle R35 wheelset for my road bike because it just deserved it. I have ridden on Light Bicycle wheels now on two of my bikes and am amazed at how they have changed and improved the riding characteristics of those bikes. But how could I leave out the one bike that would just kick ass with a set of carbon hoops? And if I had only one bike to keep, it would be my mountain bike, a Norco Optic C9.2.
Anyone can hop on a bike and ride on a perfectly smooth tarmac to get to a coffee and pastry shop pitstop. Gravel trails aren’t that much more challenging, but it’s nice to have the option to go off-road and be away from any cars. But if you want to really learn to handle a bike and feel the adrenaline of getting airborne and the trees and terrain rushing by on twisty single-track, then you should really try mountain biking. It’s a blast.
I really enjoy hitting the trails whether it’s in the heart of the city or just outside or up north. Riding up many switchbacks to get to the top of the hill only to set up for a gap jump and hit a winding trail that heads back down over roots, rocks, berms, and bridges, without eating any dirt. It’s such a rush - cutting through the trees, rolling through rock gardens only to do it all over again and again finding the ideal line on corners and drops. I feel like I'm always trying to learn and improve and it never seems to get boring.
Based on my info, they recommended the AM930 rims and I chose to go with the DT Swiss 350 hubs.
The great folks at Light Bicycle gave me great help based on my weight, what I enjoyed riding, and my style of riding - a mix of cross country, trail, and technical descents. I’ll do the odd gap jump, but the really big air? I leave that to the younger generation. Based on my info, they recommended the AM930 rims and I chose to go with the DT Swiss 350 hubs, as I wanted a bomb-proof build. These are the Recon-Pro series and they have an amazingly clean and understated stealthy look. The finish has this beautiful dark shimmer to it - it looks like it will repel dirt and dust.
I put a set of 2.25 Rocket Rons, my tires of choice due to the grip and lightness, and they set up tubeless easily. These AM930’s are 30mm internal width (5mm wider than my previous wheelset), so the tire profile ends up more square in the shoulders. I may go up to a 2.35 tire on the front to get a more rounded tire profile and more traction when the tires need replacing.
After years of riding alloy rims, I can say that the differences are noticeable.
My initial thought after I got the wheels set up and installed was how quick it was to accelerate. I was stoked to get to a trail to try them out and see how they were for climbing, especially interested to see how they handled on technical descents, serpentines, and single-track trails. But I’d have to wait for a good dry and not too cold day to hit trails that hopefully weren’t full of ice and snow.
I noticed that less than a third of the stories are from mountain bike riders. I’m not sure why that is. But it could be because the sport itself inflicts a lot of abuse on the bike, especially the wheels!
I'm not a novice rider, and actually, I fall in the intermediate-advanced rider type. I don’t normally do races, but when I do it’s usually off-road or on my mountain bike. I do enjoy single-track trails with lots of technical bits like rock gardens and descents sprinkled with the odd jump. I have only had a few opportunities to get out and ride on trails with my new wheels, as the season is still early. But after years of riding alloy rims, I can say that the differences are noticeable.
Jumps were fun and landings were sure-footed.
I did get a chance to weigh my new wheels and compared them to the Eastons I had been riding. They are about 220gm (0.5lb) lighter, but weight is just one factor: it’s how the weight is redistributed, which affects the riding characteristics of the wheels. The Light Bicycle AM930s with DT350 hubs are lighter, stiffer, stronger, and roll more smoothly. The wheels are easier to get up to speed and feel more responsive on the trails.
I noticed immediately a quieter and smoother feeling ride. Acceleration on the uphills seemed easier, especially when it got a bit gnarly. On the downhill switchbacks, I felt like I was able to maneuver tight turns better. Jumps were fun and landings were sure-footed. I was never expecting night and day differences. I simply did what I would normally do when I ride, but my bike seemed to respond, handle and perform that little bit better. One thing they did do was put a bigger smile on my face. These wheels met all my expectations and then went on to exceed them.
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June 9th, 2021 | Light Bicycle
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