Giant P-XCR Composite 29er 0 Wheel Review

Credit where credit is due: These rule.

I've never been much of a guy to worry about wheels.  Lightweight and the ability to spin have been my perennial features of performance indication.  But then I started blowing wheels up... like pretty often for a guy who weighs 130lbs.

Giant asked if we could try their new wheels for the season.  Made by Dt Swiss and up to Giant's standards, I couldn't say no.  And actually, I was stoked!  Given I would be racing Enduro almost exclusively for 2013, I was worried and those around me were worried for me.  It was worth a shot?

The first thing I noticed was how stiff they were! Man, steering precision like no other.  It was an immediate realization of what an elite level wheel felt like.  The spoke tension is super high and the carbon rims are clearly helping that.  Super lightweight and nice and snappy, even for a 29er with fat tyres.  Plus, the bearings are really really good.  I switched it to an xD driver in the rear for the XX1 cassette.  It was so easy a baby could do it.  And 1430grams??  Really?  YES.  Super light and super strong.

How strong?  Try road gaps, creek jumps, 3 straight days of lift-accessed bike park downhilling, black diamond dh trails and some dummy who biffs every jump hitting big table tops.  They've raced enduro, super d, and XC and have already netted the team almost a dozen wins already!

The inner diameter is pretty narrow, especially given my tire of choice is the Schwalbe Hans Dampf 29x2.35.  However, the provided rim strip is really nice and makes a good seal; I've only burped once and it was off of an awkward off-camber shoulder-height step-down.  A truing wrench has yet to hit the wheels after three months and the bearings don't show any signs of slowing down.  No cracks, do dents, no fuss; I am in love.

They have continued to feel solid, ride fast and take a beating. 
Isn't that what everyone wants?

Matt