Praxis' New Carbon and Aluminum Wheels - Sea Otter 2016

Apr 16, 2016
by Mike Levy  
Sea Otter 2016


Sea Otter 2016


C32 Carbon Wheels

Better known for their bottom bracket solutions and aluminum (and now carbon) cranks, Praxis is entering the wheel world with both carbon and aluminum models. The former is their $1,799 USD C32 wheelset that's been in the works for a few years now, and one that Praxis has put together with maintenance and ease of use in mind. That means that it's assembled with standard J-bend spokes (four extra included), external nipples, comes pre-taped and is built with a set of Praxis' own hubs that employ DT Swiss' internals for simple maintenance and compatibility with all axles and drivers.

C32 Details:

• Intended use: trail / all-mountain
• Carbon fiber rim
• Internal rim width: 32mm
• 3mm offset assymetrical rim
• Hookless bead w/ bead lock shape
• J-bend spokes, external nipples
• Weight: 27.5'' - 1,628g, 29'' - 1,726g
• Availability: late June
• MSRP: $1,799 USD

Praxis is using their own rim carbon design that you won't find in anyone else's catalog, and unlike some companies who name their wheels after the rim's external width, the C32 takes their name from their internal width. This matters because it's a rim's internal width that plays a big role in determining a tire's shape, and Praxis' Adam Haverstock says that 32mm is ideal for the 2.35'' to 2.5'' wide rubber that's so common these days. The rim's subdued appearance hides some neat features, including 3mm of built-in offset and a flat section of carbon around the valve hole that, according to Haverstock, helps to keep the valve at a 90-degree angle relative to the rim.
Sea Otter 2016

The rim bed requires a wrap of tubeless tape to seal because the nipple holes are drilled right through, but this means that it should be easy to swap out a damaged nipple when required. And just like most carbon rims out there, the C32 has a hookless bead design, as well as a bead lock shape to the bed and sidewall that should help to increase strength and make it quick to seal up tires.

Praxis won't sell bare C32 rims - they want to own the build process themselves - but they do plan on offering a no questions asked, $300 USD crash replacement for non-warranty issues.


Sea Otter 2016
Sea Otter 2016


Praxis wanted a set of reliable and ultra-compatible hubs at the center of their C32 wheelset, but they also were looking for something different than just an off the shelf hubset. That lead them to design their own hub shells but drop in internals from DT Swiss. They went with the company's 36-tooth Star Ratchet system rather than the higher tooth option because it's proven to be more reliable, although riders can install their own 54-tooth Star Ratchet kit if they want quicker engagement. There are both Shimano and SRAM compatible driver options, of course.

Praxis has done something unusual up front: radial lacing on the non-disc side. Haverstock says that testing revealed that the radial lacing on one side resulted in a more torsionally rigid package, but that hub manufacturers generally don't want to go down this road due to the extra stress it puts on the hub flange. Good thing Praxis has their own hub shells - the flange that sees the outboard, radial lacing is thicker and stronger than you'd see on a standard hub.


Sea Otter 2016


AL24 Aluminum Wheels

Want to spend less on a set of wheels and looking for something a bit better suited to cross-country rubber? The $699 USD AL24 wheelset probably makes more sense than its pricier, non-metallic bother shown above. As their name and price probably already had you assuming, the AL24 wheelset features an aluminum rim with a 24mm internal width that's best suited for more traditional, cross-country and trail tires. The rim itself is asymmetrical, just like the C32 rim, and is assembled with thirty-two J-bend spokes and a set of DT Swiss 370 hubs. The driver employs three pawls rather than DT Swiss' famous Star Ratchet system, but customers can actually upgrade to the latter by purchasing a new drive-ring and Star Ratchet kit.

AL24 Details:

• Intended use: cross-country / trail
• Aluminum rim
• Internal rim width: 24mm
• Assymetrical rim offset
• DT Swiss hubs 370 hubs
• Weight: 29'' - 1,798g
• MSRP: $699 USD


Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

69 Comments
  • 42 3
 Will it be available in 17x130?
  • 14 3
 0.669 to 5.118 imperial only.soz.
  • 12 1
 Lets Hope it will!
  • 1 4
 Does anyone make wide (wider than 25mm) aluminum wheels?
  • 3 0
 @SlinkySammy: I just saw Stan's introduced the Flow Mk3 rim available in all 3 diameters.
www.notubes.com/ZTR-Flow-MK3-26-Rim-32-hole-Black-P2079.aspx
29mm internal width.
  • 1 0
 Halo have recently brought out some very wide, reasonably light aluminium rims.
  • 1 0
 @SlinkySammy: the WTB ASYM rims
  • 3 1
 Sunn Ringle Double Wide rims. Only come in 24" and 26" because people who ride 27.5" are not hardcore enough to be allowed to own one.
  • 3 0
 @SlinkySammy: Check out the Easton Heist 30, or the ARC 30 rim available separately. Love my Heists.
  • 1 0
 @SlinkySammy: Velocity rims has a blunt 35 which has a 35mm outside width.
  • 1 0
 @SlinkySammy: Easton ARC in 27mm, 30mm, 35mm internal, or if you want plus 40mm & 45mm internal.
  • 23 2
 Eh, I'll take $1800 over a $3000 bontrager wheelset. Still would rather spend $1,000 on a chinese set with i9 hubs, though.
  • 11 0
 I'll tale light bicycle for 800 Burt
  • 13 0
 A head to head test between carbon and aluminum wheels testing for the following would be great.
1] Timed run down a trail
2] Acceleration
3] Body fatigue on long DH runs
4] Jumping Stability
5] Long term durability
  • 11 0
 It is 2016 and carbon wheels are now as heavy as aluminium wheels. Just about $1000 more.
  • 15 0
 @Vanguard: because they have to be. The only way to make carbon withstand impacts without delaminating or even shattering is giving it enugh thickness. So once you make rim side wall thick enough to withstand DH and Enduro duties, it weighs at least 450g. Side effect of that is too much stiffness.

Once you pay 1000$ for a wheelset it is also hard not to like it regardless of it's properties.
  • 2 1
 @abzillah:http://www.light-bicycle.com
  • 2 0
 @Vanguard: $1100 more for -72g...
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: The SJ evo expert I bought used came with a set of sram rise 60 carbon 29 wheel set on it. Very light xc wheel under 1600g with xx1. Only 21mm internal width and not very easy to run tubeless, otherwise great feel, nice and stiff. Most people make comment on me jumping with these. They seem to be holding up just fine. Have you seen failures on these? I plan on running them till failure, but do like the new rim bed designs for tubless better than these.
  • 1 0
 @sjdeweese: @WAKIdesigns My 2 fav 26" hoops are SX and the inner is only 23 I think and they feel big with no issues mounting a 2.35 Magic Mary or Racing Ralph/Rock Razor rear tubeless. Only 10 pumps on a floor pump and they and still ride nice, even the oldest set ay 8 years. The Light-Bicycle endure style tubeless with 31.6" inner carbon is off the hook.
  • 1 0
 @madmon: I checked out that link, didn't see any kind of head to head testing, only saw carbon rims for sale for cheap. The price of the rims don't matter to me, cheap or expensive. I want to know if it's better than aluminum rims. Once it has been established that it's better, then we can talk about price.
  • 11 4
 Every time I see a carbon wheelset article, I cross my fingers and hope that someone finally came up with an affordable set. Nope. I always wonder who is buying all these new carbon wheels coming out.
  • 29 6
 Dentists
  • 7 11
flag Skewt (Apr 16, 2016 at 17:24) (Below Threshold)
 XC riders...
  • 25 0
 I demoed a pair of enve rims at sea otter today so technically I had carbon rims for two hours.
  • 7 3
 Built my own with DT 350s for less than a grand.
  • 5 1
 My Capra came with DT Swiss XMC1200's, I now understand the whole stiffness thing... is it noticeable? Oh yes sir.
  • 5 1
 @NickB01: I have no doubt that you can feel the difference, that's why I keep hoping for a set that I can justifiably afford.
  • 2 0
 @dropoffsticks: - so what did you think???? Blown away, or not so much?
  • 1 0
 @NickB01: DT XMC1200 are on a whole another thing than the praxis or bontragers (or ENVE's..) though.
First its DT240s straight pull then it 1440gr 24mm inner (vs 32mm carbon above and 24mm alu)

That being said i believe the XMC1200 are probably the best wheels money can get right now if you're ok with 24-26mm inner (which in fact, most people are, its nice for 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 tires)
  • 7 1
 I had Light Bicycle carbon rims, rode carbon Rovals then something something on 29" XC bike. I will never recommend any carbon rim to anyone else but XC racer looking for 300g-ish rim. For trail Too stiff and too expensive for not being much nore durable than alu, while alu rims got so much better lately.
  • 2 1
 @WAKIdesigns: I have been on a Loaded w/DT 240s set for 2.5 yrs now on my Pivot Mach6. I weigh about 190lbs. Bike has been all over the place including park. (Whistler, Winter Park, Keystone, & Highland) Including 2 seasons of enduro racing. In my real world experience these wheels have lasted a lot longer than any aluminum set would have lasted. Even when friends have cracked ENVEs mine just keep going along. If you are really pinning the turns (where wheel flex is noticed the most) the stiffness is a welcome addition over aluminum.

Started out on Light Bicycle rims and it is through my experience that those are great starter rims, but once you step up to something like Loaded, Atomik, or Nox Composites that is where you really notice the difference, even between Light Bicycle and the manufactures I just listed.

But this is all my opinion of course through my experiences
  • 4 1
 @road-n-dirt: weighing 180lbs and being a wanker, I am not loading wheels in berms enough to tell the difference between EX471 and a carbon rim. I am riding very slowly and very cautiously on my local trails and I found them way too stiff when riding slowly over roots or rocks. Sounds they make and how rough the ride feels is unacceptable for me. I know 5 people who bought those rims and each one of them broke theirs. 3 of those guys used to spend whole season on alu rims, including DH racing and Trans Provance. Rovals felt too stiff as well. But I am a looser.
  • 3 0
 @trillot: they were stiff. I was expecting some sort of magical enlightening experience but they just felt kind of harsh. Ploughing through the chunky bits in the DH course was really the only place I could tell a difference between the two. So on the whole I'd rather just ride alu rims
  • 3 0
 @road-n-dirt: Too much stiffness can equal not enough grip. A bit of "give" stops your wheel getting pinged off line so easily.
  • 8 0
 I was stoked until I saw weight. Roval fattie SLs have these beat
  • 2 0
 With less expensive crash replacement.
  • 1 0
 They also use a radial lacing pattern and 2x on the front wheel. These are super similar to my rovals. These just use j-bend spokes and the rovals use straight pulls.

Hate to be the "this looks like a _______" guy, but seriously
  • 1 0
 seriously, i haven't seen a wheel anywhere that gives the bang for the buck of the specialized aluminum fatties in their price range or the carbons in their price range.
  • 10 2
 I need a 26" option
  • 9 0
 Stan's has some nice 26" carbon (and aluminum) options
  • 5 27
flag paulclarke (Apr 16, 2016 at 18:52) (Below Threshold)
 No you don't.
  • 14 2
 @paulclarke: maybe he does. All you know is you don't. Don't be a douche.
  • 2 25
flag paulclarke (Apr 16, 2016 at 23:30) (Below Threshold)
 @VwHarman: its not called being a douche. Its called bigger is faster. Dont be a pile of shit.
  • 5 0
 @paulclarke: ok. I would suggest both your comments actually qualify as douchey, but I digress. I'll be sure to seek out your clearly all-knowing opinion the next time I need a new part. You know what I need best!
  • 1 0
 @VwHarman: i just hate how the opinions on these comments are uninformed and people believe all the crap. The industry is going to 27.5 and 29 cause it makes sense.
  • 2 0
 Calling all dentists. Speaking as a Brit running the standard yellow teeth, please start buying alloy rims and I'll buy your carbon cast offs in a couple years. Oops no that won't work I'm still on 26". Oh well 26 and yellow teeth for life yo
  • 3 0
 I'll invest the money saved by buying a good alu wheelset instead of carbon into a nice sleeping van to be able to ride more in nice trailparks and the Alps instead.
  • 1 1
 Cycling done right! Beer
  • 3 0
 What's with all the unknown brands coming out with new wheels at or around ENVE prices without ENVE's warranty or proven history?
  • 5 1
 Just get I9s and call it done
  • 4 0
 IBIS 741s are $999 now...
  • 2 0
 I'll stick with www.light-bicycle.com rims.
  • 2 1
 $1900, for chinese made carbon rims that are the same you'd find on a $800 wheelset.
  • 2 1
 You forgot to calculate your dentist costs for when your shitty Chinese carbon crap fails.

Don't go down that route, it's not worth the risk. Either buy reliable alu stuff for the same price, or save up some extra money for real quality carbon. You'd be stupid to risk your health / f up your face permanently to save 100g over a reliable alu option for the same price.
  • 1 0
 @Mattin: Yeah....except they're basically the same. Paying more doesn't mean the quality is necessarily better. From the limited data set I've seen, the "premium" carbon rim are not appreciably better than the cheaper ones, just 15x the price.
  • 4 3
 Why would you do this over a $900 custom build from light-bicycle?
  • 2 1
 The price is competitive.
Better than those $2,500 Bontrager's
  • 1 0
 So for 900$ you can save about 70 grams with carbon fiber.
  • 1 0
 Today you learn that carbon benefits don't end at weight savings.
  • 1 1
 @Alias530: they are stiffer indeed. Which is why so many people choose to ride alu rims instead. It's stiffer, but that's not necessarily a benefit on mountainbikes.

Carbon rims make more sense on road bikes, mainly because of the aero shape. Make the same shape with alu rims and you'd have 900g road bike rims.
  • 1 0
 @Mattin: stainless steel spokes stretch snd compress with every revolution.
Wheels are dynamic by desighn.
An overly stiff wheel on a mountain bike is not an improvement.
Time will tell which last longer.
i wonder what all my flat spots would be on a carbon rim?
Cracks instead of crushed metal perhaps?
  • 1 0
 @Sshredder: which is what I said too Wink
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