TR 249 Boost Wheelset – 29in

Hot laps and XC race day is your thing, and you’re not one to let heavy hoops keep you from spinning at top speeds — but that doesn’t mean you’ll blow your whole budget in just one place. Fortunately the design team and Reynolds understand where you’re coming from, and have crafted up the TR 249 Boost 29-inch wheelset for just that. These speedy wheels are built to conquer miles of cross-country singletrack, packing in all of the technology you expect from Reynolds, like Blacklabel level carbon fiber layups, and snappy house-machined hubs to propel you to the podium, and all without decimating your summer season’s upgrade budget.

Like the Blacklabel series, the TR 249 uses Reynolds’ Mountain Rim 5 (MR5) carbon fiber layup. This layup involves five different carbon matrices applied to five different areas of the wheel. A decidedly serious carbon layup — this construction process is more complicated than many frames, placing specific matrices to maximize strength. And though we don’t often dwell on the possibility of equipment failure while blasting berms and charging into lines that are a bit too rowdy, the fact that Reynolds puts so much engineering into the rims helps ensure that we won’t have to dwell on equipment failure. For months. While wearing a cast and saving up for a new wheelset and/or bike.

Focusing on a friendlier price point than the deluxe Blacklabel line, the designers are Reynolds put focus into creating their own hub for the TR 249, capable of exceptional performance without the painful price tag that comes along with some other hubs. Using CNC machining, they created the Reynolds TR3 hub, cut from aluminum in one piece to ensure strength, and features three phased pawls propel you forward, with just 10-degrees of engagement, so you’re the wheels carry on a responsive and light-on-the-feet feel you want for quick power bursts up punchy climbs, or chomping at the bit right out of the gate on race day.

Again keeping in line with the Blacklabel series, the TR 249 wheels are built with asymmetrical rims, which enables a stronger wheel through more even spoke tension. This translates to a ride that powers through the rocks without deflecting when you pick the wrong line and would otherwise get bucked around. When combined with the wide, Boost spacing, the wheels strength truly shines through with a completely evenly tensioned wide angle to keep you locked into your line no matter what. While Boost may not be news to quite a lot of us, it’s worth reiterating how it works: by setting the flanges wider, Reynolds is able to improve the spoke bracing angle, which stiffens the wheels laterally and torsionally (translating braking and pedal input from the hub to rim to trail) without stiffening them radially (so the wheels don’t translate every bump and root straight up the seatpost). While bumps and trail chatter are less of an issue with such a wide rim, we’re generally under the assumption that less of a bad thing is a good thing. Adding 28 straight-pull spokes to the mix, you’ll find lasting durability, and just the right amount of flex, so your wheels don’t feel harsh through wily rock gardens.

Details

• Race-ready hoops for XC domination
• Reynolds MR5 carbon is ultra-precise and stiff
• Asymmetric rim increases strength and stiffness
• CNC machined TR3 hub has 10-degree engagement
• 3 phased pawls propel you forward with speed
• Moderate 24mm wide internals are perfect for XT tires
• Boost spacing helps increase lateral and torsional stiffness
• Item #REY003R