Praxis Works is a component company founded in 2007 by industry veteran David Earle who was previously with Bontrager, Specialized and Santa Cruz. Praxis started out by focusing on drivetrain components and their forged chainrings became go-to aftermarket parts for many riders looking for improved shifting performance. We reviewed the rings in a print issue of Cyclocross Magazine and found them to be a smart investment for those seeking shifting gains. Since then the company has expanded their drivetrain component offerings to include cranks, bottom brackets, reviewed in Cyclocross Magazine issue 29, and cassettes.
Now they're entering the wheel game with new tubeless offerings in both alloy and carbon.
To start with there's their new A24 alloy wheelset. Not to be confused with Velocity’s A23 rim, the Praxis A24 is made for all-mountain and trail use, but the 24mm internal width has us interested in it for gravel with bigger tires. It's tubeless and built on DT Swiss 370 hubs, so you can convert to quick release or different thru axles with available DT Swiss options. The A24 is 32 hole front and rear and weighs in at a claimed 1,798 grams with rim tape and the freehub body installed. The wheelset is also value priced at $699 USD.
The RC21, along with the A24, marks Praxis' entry into the wheel market. 2016 Sea Otter Classic. © Andrew Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
There's also the new RC21 carbon tubeless cyclocross/gravel/road tubeless wheelset. The company says this rim is ideal for 40c gravel tires, and showed off the RC21 with a WTB 40c Nano gravel tire, which was a 2015 Editors' Award winner, mounted. The rim features a pronounced bead lock to reduce the chance of burps and with its 21mm internal width is, according to representatives, ideally suited for 28mm to 2.2 inch tires. Regardless of the tire width you choose for the RC21, the maximum pressure you can run is 120 psi according to the company.
The RC21 features a 12mm front thru axle standard as part of Praxis' own hubset. The Praxis Works hubs are built with DT Swiss 350 hub internals, including the star ratchet system and conversion options to different axle configurations, and there is an XD driver option. The disc hubs spin on Enduro bearings and use 6 bolt rotor mounting.
The RC21 wheeleset weights a claimed 1,570 grams with tape and freehub installed, and comes with valves as well. The RC21 wheelset is not quite yet available everywhere, but will be in a month or two and will retail for $1799 USD.
Praxis Works showed off this 11-40 cassette that does not require an XD driver, a good candidate for those looking to go lower on their 'cross bikes for gravel riding. 2016 Sea Otter Classic. © Andrew Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Not a new wheel, but we also spotted Praxis Works' 11-40 cassette. It makes for a good option for gravel riders looking for wide-range gearing for existing wheels and does not require an XD driver.
More Info: praxiscycles.com
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The 21mm internal width RC21 carbon rim from Praxis Works. © Andrew Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
