BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Last month’s Taipei Cycle Show saw three product debuts from WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes).
The Vigilante Enduro Tyre (pictured below right) features large, square-edged knobs, 2.3-inch width and availability in 26-inch, 650B and 29-inch sizes. Designed for gruelling conditions, the Vigilante sports thicker casings, lower durometer tactile rubber compounds and tuned rebound characteristics. According to WTB, the open tread pattern copes well with rocks, roots and mud, while heavily reinforced side knobs eliminate flex when the tyre is pushed to extreme angles while cornering. Lightweight TCS versions will be available too.
The new Beeline 2.2 650B tyre is a lightweight, high volume offering with a rounded profile, 54mm casing featuring evenly placed low, square-edged blocks with slight ramping on the centre knobs. Also available in July, the Beeline is WTB’s third tread pattern in the 650B size.
At Taipei, WTB also released a new rim family – KOM. KOM rims feature a 23 inner-rim width and 28mm outer, WTB’s proprietary WT69 Aluminium Alloy, 4D-angled drilling and "carbon weights at an aluminium budget". Like the Vigilante, KOM rims have been developed with Team WTB riders. Tackling enduro needs, the rims profess to save riders’ legs uphill but with a wide enough profile for aggressive, all-out descending. Using WT69 Alloy, the weights are comparable to carbon rims of the same width, says WTB.
