Skip to main content

CrankBrothers Iodine 2 wheels


CrankBros’ distinctive-looking Iodines are a stiff and strong – if laggy – mid-width option for high-torque riders. By shifting spoke attachment from the rim bed to barrels that slot into fins on the underside of the deep triangular rim, they’ve ensured there are no worries about easy sealing. It took us several months of battering at home and in the Alps to finally dent them, and even then they stayed sealed and straight. The unique centre-threaded spokes have shrugged off sticks without damage too. At 27mm, the rims are wide enough to handle low-pressure 2.4in tyres, and the wheels accelerate better than their overall weight would suggest. The steel freehub removes any spline damage worries for powerful pedallers, although pick-up can be slow and clunky.

Weight 840g+1,030g= 1,870g
Width 27mm/32mm
Freehub lag 17°
Sizes 650b, 29in

Price $750
Labels

Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

READ MORE >>