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Review: the Santa Cruz Reserve 30 27.5” Carbon Wheelset
Carbon wheels used to scare me, but after riding the Reserves, I am now a convert.
Carbon wheels can be polarising. In the MTB world, they create a split among riders who believe in carbon and others who are hardcore aluminium fans. When I think of buying a carbon wheelset, my first thought is, why should I spend the same amount as a used car to get my hands on composite hoops? I get this question from many of our customers as well and to finally be able to give a good answer, I decided to test the new Reserve wheels from Santa Cruz.
| Rims: | |
| Dimensions | 30-584 |
| Inner Width | 30 mm |
| Outer Width | 36.4 mm |
| Material | Carbon |
| Hubs: | |
| Type | IndustryNine Torch |
| Over Locknut Dimension | Boost |
| Material | aluminium |
A stiff and reilable set of hoops.
They accelerate quickly and can handle rough condtions well.
They also make it easy to shred.
First impressions
I tested the 30 Reserves in combination with the Continental Baron 2.6 Enduro tyres in a variety of wet and muddy conditions. Up until now, I was always a fan of aluminium wheels, so when I first looked at the Santa Cruz carbon set, I was sceptical. I immediately noticed the strange shape of the rim, which is raised at every nipple hole. According to Santa Cruz, they started fresh when designing the Reserve wheels, with the intention of addressing carbon rim specific problems.
Check out the beauty.
The biggest issues with carbon wheels are spokes ripping out of the rims and flanges cracking. To solve this, Santa Cruz reinforced exactly these areas. However, even the best wheels are going to break when you hit a rock garden too hard, and this is why Santa Cruz offers a lifelong guarantee. For those who might still be doubting carbon, this guarantee should make you think again.
Santa Cruz offers a lifelong guarantee.
You read that right, Santa Cruz offers the first buyer a lifetime guarantee on the Reserve rims. Of course, the wheelset needs to be registered, just like most any other product with a guarantee.
Here, you can see the reinforced nipple holes.
On the trail
With the guarantee in mind, I installed the Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheelset into my bike. At first, I wondered if the carbon rims would meet my expectations, or if I would break them. In the end I had nothing to worry about.
I rode them the last few weeks over various trails and in varying conditions. This included dirt, roots, rocks, gravel and a little bit of asphalt. The first thing I noticed was the loud Industry Nine freehub that buzzes like a hoard of angry hornets. The rims themselves were stiff and this is the biggest difference to riding aluminium. This was especially noticeable when cornering. The wheelset weighs 1730 g, which doesn’t make them the lightest on the market, but Santa Cruz was more concerned about making the most capable wheelset.
I love riding these wheels and would recommend them to everyone!
Even with their weight, they accelerate quickly. Considering that it is an Enduro wheelset, they really are fast. The 30 mm inner width works great with wider tyres, and the bead keeps them in tight even when riding lower pressures. They work great for a small plus tyre like the Continental Der Baron Projekt 2.6 or a narrower Enduro tyre.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| lifetime guarantee | not much lighter than a comparable aluminium wheelset |
| high-quality hubs | |
| high-quality reinforced carbon rim | |
| available in various rim widths |
Summary
Santa Cruz has changed my mind about carbon wheels. The lifetime guarantee and the trail rides this past weeks have convinced me of their durability. Now, if a customer asks me if carbon wheels are worth it, I will always say yes and point them to the Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheelset.
