When it comes to carbon wheels, brands like Enve, Zipp and Crank Brothers have been raising the bar in terms of feel, durability and pinch flat protection. But recently, Canadian-based nobl has been bringing a fresh approach to the table. Their new Premium series includes three rims designed for XC/gravel, enduro and plus-sized e-bikes.
The TR33 is nobl’s jack-of-all-trades, featuring an internal width of 27mm and an external that can cater for tyres from 2.2’’-2.6’’. And it’s all done with a super light 1,432g weight that’s feathery for any XC rim.
This is mostly due to NOBL’s Sine Wave design, a shape that swoops the outer bed of the rim down between spokes. It’s claimed to add lateral stiffness and a bit of a more balanced feel to the wheel.
NOBL also uses a no-clearcoat process that eliminates the need for chemicals during post-production and is more environmentally friendly. Their Premium Series rims are also available in a range of vivid anodized colours.
Our test set of TR32s, laced to a pair of Factor hubs and a fresh set of Maxxis Forekaster 2.5 tyres, definitely lived up to their promise of a hassle-free, high performance wheelset. They handled two enduro races, countless laps off Teton Pass and plenty of muddy MTB adventures without any signs of wear or tear.
For the price, these are a very good choice for XC racers and those looking to build a solid trail/enduro/gravel setup. They’re also very easy to mount tubeless and a breeze to inflate, especially when you take advantage of the curved bead that allows for the tires to seat pain-free.
