The new NoTubes Alpha 340 Disc.
NoTubes revealed new cyclocross disc brake wheelsets and updates to pre-existing wheelsets today at PressCamp, and the wheels themselves will be available by mid-August. Disc brakes and tubeless tires may offend the traditionalists, but on most rides, the Cyclocross Magazine team is enjoying the benefits of both technologies. If you were considering converting to tubeless and disc brakes for the upcoming cyclocross season, the company that brought tubeless to the masses may have an option for you.
Iron Cross Expands to Pro, Team and Comp Tubeless Models
Reviewed in Issue 20 of Cyclocross Magazine, NoTubes’ Iron Cross wheelset, thanks to its tubeless conversion-friendly rim, shared our Editor’s Award with the Easton EA90 XD wheelset for the best disc brake wheels.
The Iron Cross for received a few upgrades for this season. Just one year after first rolling into the cyclocross arena, the Iron Cross builds upon its explosive overnight success. As the industry’s only cyclocross-specific tubeless wheelset, the Iron Cross carried Stan’s NoTubes Elite Riders to a Canadian National Cyclocross championship, a Single Speed World Championship, an American National Masters’ championship, and second place at the Elite Masters’ World Championships. The Iron Cross then claimed the 2013 Editors’ Awards from Cyclocross Magazine for its unprecedented lightness, strength and tubeless versatility. The Iron Cross is compatible with any cyclocross tire.
This summer, the original Iron Cross evolves into three separate versions fully prepared to assist a greater range of riders. The Iron Cross Pro front wheel features the same legendary 3.30Ti hub as the 29er Race Gold Wheelset and the lightweight 3.30RDTi in the rear with a reduced spoke count of 24 and 28. This Iron Cross will give racers a strong and lightweight wheel that delivers the most advanced level of tubeless performance in existence. The Pro also features red alloy valves and comes with a double padded Stan’s NoTubes wheel bag.
The award-winning NoTubes Iron Cross got some updates for this year.
The Iron Cross Team improves upon the Cyclocross Magazine’s Editors’ award-winning iteration by adding stainless steel bearings to the 3.30 hubs and a 24 and 28 spoke count.
The Iron Cross Comp wheel aims to offers durability and resiliency to handle the wattage and torque of the most powerful riders. The Comp features the standard 3.30 hubs and 32 spoke configuration front and rear. This summer, all Iron Cross wheelsets will feature 11-speed Shimano/SRAM hub compatibility and can be adapted to Campagnolo by changing the freehub.
Used with Stan’s NoTubes Sealant, NoTubes claims the Iron Cross allows any cyclocross tire to be run without a tube. In our testing, we certainly believe that there definitely are some tires that work a lot better than others, if you’re looking for low-pressure reliability. See our Going Tubeless in Cyclocross Part II for some guidance on tire selection, and recent tubeless-ready tires including the Specialized Captain 2Bliss and Vittoria XG TNT have been air-tight.
Stay tuned as we review the new wheels in the coming months.
NoTubes Iron Cross Pro, Team and Comp Tubeless Cyclocross Wheelset Specs:
- MSRP: $595–875
- Use: Disc brake cyclocross riding and racing
- Tubeless Tape: 21mm installed
- Rim Color: Black Anodized
- Spokes: DT Swiss
- Nipples: DT Swiss Alloy
- Front Axle Options: Quick Release or 15mm
- Rear Axle Options: Quick Release
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Cassette Options: 8, 9, 10, 11 Speed
Alpha 340 Disc Road/Cyclocross Wheelset
As NoTubes explains, they don’t sponsor many riders. Instead, “We compete with our ingenuity. We compete
with our desire to provide continued support to those who have chosen the competitive advantage we offer. Example: the Alpha 340 Disc provides all the benefit of road tubeless: better traction, smoother ride, flat protection.”
Cyclocross Magazine has long been a proponent of tubeless. We haven’t had the same success with the Alpha 340 rims as we have with the discontinued ZTR 355 rims, as well as the Iron Cross rim. But if you’re looking for one wheel to ride on road and in cyclocross, with Road Tubeless tires and cyclocross tires, the Alpha 340 may be a good choice.
NoTubes offers Alpha 340 owners a cyclocross-specific rim strip for cyclocross use for better low-pressure reliability. So when the fall arrives, when conditions call for a cyclocross tread, use your tire of choice. How? Add an Alpha rim strip, add Stan’s NoTubes Sealant, and go tubeless. Many mountain bikers know the advantage of tubeless and will never go back to tubes, and in cyclocross, the benefits are the same, even if the narrower volume and rims make a reliable tubeless system more challenging. NoTubes has been working hard to make it simpler.
This summer, Stan’s NoTubes 3.30 disc hub is updated to a 3.30RD road- and cyclocross- specific 11-speed compatible hub. Older 9–10 speed cassettes will work with the addition of spacers (provided).
Alpha 340 Disc Road/Cyclocross Wheelset Specs:
- MSRP: $695
- Use: Road riding and racing, cyclocross
- Tubeless Tape: 21mm installed
- Rim Color: Black Anodized
- Spokes: DT Swiss
- Nipples: DT Swiss Alloy
- Front Axle Options: Quick Release or 15mm
- Rear Axle Options: Quick Release
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Cassette Options: 9, 10, 11 Speed
A closer look at the Alpha 340, disc-brake and tubeless ready.
Alpha 400 Disc Road/Cyclocross Wheelset
Affectionately known as Clydesdales — men who put out extraordinary power numbers and wheel breaking torque. They may line up behind the skinny racers because of the first hill but they will catch and pass you on the descent of that first hill. The Alpha 400 Disc wheelset was originally designed by Stan for a big crit rider on the Stan’s NoTubes Road Team, Clayton Barrows. The Alpha 400 Disc shares the same dimensions and Bead Socket Technology as the 340 Disc but adds the triple channel and internal arch design of the Arch EX and Flow EX rims. The 400 offers a 33% thicker spoke bed for maximum durability.
This summer, the hubs are updated to the Stan’s NoTubes 3.30RD which accepts 11-speed cassettes and 9–10 speed cassettes with the provided spacers.
Alpha 400 Disc Road/Cyclocross Wheelset Specs:
- MSRP: $645
- Use: Road riding and racing, cyclocross
- Tubeless Tape: 21mm installed
- Rim Color: Black Anodized
- Spokes: DT Swiss
- Nipples: DT Swiss Alloy
- Front Axle Options: Quick Release or 15mm
- Rear Axle Options: Quick Release
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Cassette Options: 9, 10, 11 Speed
