At the Sea Otter Classic Festival in California, Reynolds presented the new edition of the 329 and 327 trail wheels in the Blacklabel and TR versions. At the Eurobike 2022 in Frankfurt, the new wheels were now presented to the European public. Unlike many other manufacturers, Reynolds is not designing the 329 and 327 for mixed enduro and trail use, but is building the wheels specifically for Trail bikes.
New material, new mould, lifetime guarantee
The model designation results from the inner width of the rim (32 millimetres) and the wheel diameter (29 or 27.5 inches). The models with the highest quality carbon layup bear the addition "Blacklabel" in their name, as is usual for Reynolds. However, the more affordable "Trail Rated" (TR) wheels also come with carbon rims.
The carbon layup of the Blacklabel TrailImpellers is the same that Reynolds has been using in its downhill wheelsets for some time. World Cup downhiller Bernard Kerr from the Pivot Factory Racing Team has already shown how durable the extra-stable carbon is. The Brit spent the whole of last season on a Blacklabel wheelset and had no defects. Reynolds themselves seem to be convinced by this, and the Americans give a lifetime guarantee on all their 329 and 327 trail wheels.
The new carbon layup also allowed Reynolds to reduce the rim height without compromising the stability of the wheels. The rims, which are now only 19 millimetres high, are nice and light and a little more compliant when the going gets tough over roots and rocks. The Blacklabel 329 and 327 trail wheels should therefore offer a certain amount of suspension and take the strain off the rider.
Six models with carbon rims
Reynolds uses Hydra hubs from Industry Nine for the "Pro" models in the Blacklabel series, while the "Expert" version is centred around Sun Ringlé Super Bubba X hubs. All versions come with 28 spokes and are prepared for use with tubeless tyres. Measured against the wide rims, the weights of the wheelsets remain pleasingly low:
- - Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Pro: 1574 grams
- - Reynolds Blacklabel 329 Trail Expert: 1605 grams
- - Reynolds Blacklabel 327 Trail Pro: 1504 grams
- - Reynolds Blacklabel 327 Trail Expert: 1535 grams
- - Reynolds TR 329 Trail: 1776 grams
- - Reynolds TR 327 Trail: 1718 grams
The Pro version of the Blacklabel wheels will cost 2,299.99 US dollars, while the Expert version will cost 1,899.99 US dollars. For the TR wheels, Reynolds is calling for 1,449.99 US dollars. The corresponding euro prices have not yet been finalised.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
