We've been going on about the concept of wide rims for so long, and today we have the opportunity to present an option that meets all the expected characteristics, at a very low weight and price.
Their key feature is of course their internal width, because it allows optimal tire development, and the reference value, at least in XC, is now 30mm.
Of course, testing a rim in isolation is no easy task, and it was during a custom build on some very nice OneUp Component hubs that this project with the Chinese manufacturer EIE Carbon was launched.
But before talking about custom wheels, let's talk about custom rims, because at EIE Carbon, in addition to a colossal choice, each product is made to order with the possibility of choosing its type of carbon (according to the weight objective and use), the number of spokes, but also the aesthetic parameters, such as the type of fiber (plain or braided) and the finish (matte, satin, glossy).
(Note that EIE also offers complete wheelsets, including DT Swiss hubs, at very attractive prices.)
Often operating in the shadow of the industry, EIE Carbon is one of the Chinese manufacturers that have decided to market the most premium part of their production under their own banner, and directly.
Our A29C30D20SL rim: decoding
While the name may not be poetic, it accurately describes the product: a 29" rim, 30mm internal width, and 20mm depth... in the SL version.
This clarification is essential, because within EIE's extensive product range, there are no fewer than eight 29" rims with internal widths between 29 and 30.5mm. These stand out as the "flattest" with their 20mm profile and, logically, the lightest.
As we mentioned, each model is configurable in 3 carbon versions, and in this case, the 3 options are: Standard at 360g per rim, SL at 305g, and UL at 285g. (They use Toray 700, Toray 700 and 800, and Toray 800 fibers respectively.)
Based on previous experience, we selected the SL version at $220 per unit. A good price-weight compromise, since the standard version is $25 cheaper/55g heavier and the UL version is $25 more expensive but 20g lighter.
EIE recommends the standard construction for All-Mountain, and the other two for XC... it being understood that the style and power of riding are as disparate as the size of the rocks encountered.
Before Assembly
The two SL rims received weighed 312 and 314g, so well within the range of +/-15g of variability announced.
And this is also the moment to note a perfect finish, in UD fiber (without visible braiding), beautifully satiny.
The 3 "Oil Slick" stickers (optional) add a rather successful racing touch, in its own way.
To summarize:
With 3 "Oil Slick" stickers per wheel, and a superb satin finish, the A29C30D20SL wheels do not offer any surprises to our preconceptions.
After assembly
As we have said, we will come back specifically to the hubs, but as for the assembly, we used a classic drilling with 28 spokes, crossed by 3 with flat DT Swiss spokes (Aerolite 2.0x0.90).
And to put things into perspective and make a rational comparison, here we have a pair of wheels weighing 1327g at €980 (including €330 for the spokes and lacing).
As expected, we have no issues to report regarding tire fitting or sealing.
Fitted with 2.4'' XC tires, the actual width reaches 63mm, which is more than expected, and consequently a large air volume.
The rim has a 2mm asymmetry, a classic solution to compensate for the geometry of the hubs (off-center by the cassette at the rear, and by the disc at the front).
On the field
Despite their low weight and air volume, perhaps the most striking characteristic of these rims is their comfort. You can feel a real capacity for absorbing impacts (tested on a hardtail), and a genuine ease on rough terrain.
The weight, or lack thereof, is obviously remarkable, especially when it is not at the expense of width.
We previously tested a similar model (A29C26D18) in Standard construction. Here, the SL version achieves virtually the same weight with a 30mm rim as we did with a 26mm rim on the standard version.
It is true that its 4mm difference seems negligible, but nevertheless, its impact is undoubtedly more noticeable than a gain of 30 or 40g.
While it remains difficult to say whether it is the increased volume, the better geometry of the frame or a bit of both, the benefit is real, and having had both versions, we unhesitatingly prefer the wide version, even if it had a slight weight disadvantage (around 50 grams seems a good figure to stay in the same category of use).
Of course, this is inherent in any review of new equipment; it's difficult to anticipate aging or future problems. However, the attention to detail in the finish of EIE products is simply top-notch, and moreover, given the experience gained from the previous review mentioned, we can confirm having covered nearly 2,000 km with the 26mm model without even needing to tighten a spoke. The risk might be different here: considering the width, there's a temptation to mount a slightly reinforced casing and, little by little, shift from XC to Downcountry, or even outright All-Mountain.
This width is partly what brings to XC what comes from the Gravity categories.
Balance sheet
Once again, EIE rims have lived up to their promises, with regard to the figures announced, the perceived quality, and the performance on the ground.
The EIE offer is certainly even more attractive in complete wheels, but the possibility of buying rims individually is also a huge advantage, to replace or modernize an old pair at a lower cost.
Regarding the 30mm tire, we confirm its value, including for Cross-Country. This makes sense, as there is also less and less difference in tire sizes used in competition. Today, almost all competitors ride between 2.35" and 2.5", regardless of the discipline.
So at that weight and price... it's hard not to consider them for your next pair.
The satin finish provides a distinguished touch that matte has lost over time.
