ENVE Composites XC, AM, and DH Carbon Rims

CONCLUSIONS:

The empirical data for the argument on speed and pedaling efficiency on the 29 XC is there, and is supported in all iterations. The overall ability to track, hold a line, and “add fun” is totally there in technical terrain with the 26 AM, and the raw stiffness and power of the rim layup is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt with the 26 DH.

Marshal Olson, ENVE Tk rim, Blister Gear Review

Now, the hard part. ENVE rims are very expensive, and the inevitable question is, Is it worth it?

Well, I can’t offer some algorithm that after X number of years the wheels will pay for themselves. Maybe they will, but it’s mountain biking, and stuff gets destroyed; it’s part of the sport, and rims are certainly no exception.

However, to compare the ENVE wheels to other top-end wheels on the market, they are not that much more expensive. Sure, the rim itself is about 10 times the cost of an aluminum rim, but I think it’s also relevant to compare the wheelset cost as well.

Pre-built, top-end wheelsets are typically $750–1,250 (Mavic Deemax and Crossmax, American Classic, DT Swiss TRICON, Easton Haven, Industry Nine). The ENVE prebuilt wheels are $2,400–2,800 with the nicest hubs (DT 240 or Chris King) and the nicest spokes (Sapim X-Ray) on the market. So in general terms, the wheels are about two to three times the cost of their aluminum counterparts.

I felt that the ENVE products out-perform their competition, and I don’t know anyone who has ridden them who would disagree. ENVEs are also built in the U.S. by skilled craftsman, and that’s something I respect. Simply put, ENVE rims did increase the performance and durability over and against the nicest aluminum rims in each class. I felt that each class of ENVE rim offers tangible performance gain, is suited for its stated use, and manifests the performance gain in each segment’s unique conditions.

The question is whether the performance gain, as I have described it, is worth it to you?

The single biggest upgrade one can make to affect how a bike rides is to upgrade its wheels; they are one of the most important pieces of a complicated machine. (Frame geometry, overall bicycle fit, and suspension setup being the others.) Simply put, ENVE wheels are the nicest wheels I have ever ridden.

Since I have to operate on a budget (thanks to a one-year-old baby, etc.), I would much rather save money here and there on the cranks, seat post, shifters, etc. to save up enough money to buy super high-end wheels than blow my entire budget on saving 40g on brakes and 20g on derailleurs. The performance gain is there, above and beyond the gains that small incremental weight savings provide.

That’s my call. Make yours.

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