Reserve 30|Frysauce MTB wheelset: Tested
Since Reserve launched its first set of carbon mountain bike wheels back in 2017, the brand has garnered a formidable reputation as a builder of robust wheelsets, with that toughness backed by an impressive lifetime warranty. We’ve previously tested the Reserve 30|SL wheels and came away uber-impressed with their robustness, light weight and high-quality build. It was with this test still fresh in my memory that, when the time came to sort a wheelset for my bike for this year’s BC Bike Race in Canada, that I once again looked at Reserve, although this time, it was the uniquely named Frysauce wheelset that piqued my interest.
So, that moniker? Well, that’s a light-hearted nod to mixing tomato sauce and mayo together to pour over hot chips. In this case, it relates to a mix ’n’ match approach by Reserve to building a wheelset that offers a lighter-weight front wheel (in the form of its renowned 30SL) and a burlier rear wheel (the Reserve 30HD) that is built (and expected) to cop harder hits when mis-timing landings off jumps or drop-offs and other trail challenges. I knew, with the BC Bike Race taking riders up, across and down plenty of rugged, rocky, root-filled terrain (and including plenty of the aforementioned jumps and drop-offs) over seven days, that this mixed-up wheelset may be the answer to what my Rocky Mountain Instinct would roll on.
Design
The Reserve 30|Frysauce wheelset features two wheels of asymmetrical design, with the SL slightly shallower in rim depth (and less beefy construction) compared to the 30HD. This is done to offer a bit more vertical compliance at first impact with trail obstacles which, in turn, should provide more traction as you’re not copping as much ‘bounce-back’ (yeah, that’s this tester’s, er, technical term for vibrations and feedback through the handlebars).
Both wheels feature Reserve’s ubiquitous reinforced (and slightly raised) spoke holes (designed to counter the forces that part of the rim cops when riding), and both wheels run 28 spokes. Add in Reserve’s excellent Fillmore valves and rim tape, and the FrySauce wheelset still only weighs in at 1752g. The FrySauce is only available only with well-proved DTSwiss 350 hubs, with the rear upgraded to the DEG 90T ratchet, offering a relatively quick four degrees of engagement.
In the field with the Reserve 30|Frysauce
Having ridden a bike fitted with Reserve 30|SL trail wheels front and back previously, I had a fair inkling as to how the Frysauce wheelset would perform but was intrigued as to how that burlier HD rim out the back would affect ride quality.
In the two months prior to heading to the BCBR, I spent hours upon hours on local Sydney trails, as well as some long weekends down at Gravity Eden MTB Park. All the trails I rode were a mix of flowy through to relatively rocky and, from the get-go, the Frysauce wheelset performed well, and provided this rider with renewed confidence, while not forgetting that British Columbia’s rooty, rocky, steep terrain would be a bigger challenge.
As it turned out, I had little to worry about in regard to how the Reserve 30|Frysauce wheelset performed at the BCBR. As expected, the terrain we covered over the seven days was notably rougher, and the riding was tougher that what I had experienced during training, but those wheels kept rolling up, down and over the toughest sections, even with this not-real-smooth rider piloting them.
There were a few times the wheelset’s combo of compliance and burliness genuinely saved me, especially towards the back end of each day’s four- to five-hour stage when rider fatigue had set in and the fear of wheel/tyre deflection off obstacles was real.
The best example of this was when negotiating some of the Black-Diamond rated descents, where I was (often) literally just hanging on to the handlebars as me and the bike bounced down root- and rock-laden sections that were heavily eroded.
I also cased the rear end a couple of times by mistiming a few jumps due to fatigue but never copped the expected puncture (nor did I for the entire event), or even a pinging spoke, all of which boosted my confidence.
Since the BCBR, the wheels have been subjected to the endless rock features that are synonymous with the trails found on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. This region is (in)famous for its sandstone and the trails here are littered with rock, with lots of sharp drop-offs from ledges,; a wheel’s ability to absorb that constant impact is essential and the Reserve wheelset has done so with minimal issue.
The final word on the Reserve 30|Frysauce
Whenever anyone asks me what’s the best modification I did to my bike before the BC Bike Race, I always give a double-barrelled answer: getting a custom tune done for my Fox Float X rear shock by the team at Mountain Bike Suspension Centre in Sydney was one (look for a future story on that), while the other was fitting this Reserve 30|Frysauce wheelset.
The Frysauce wheelset is competitively priced, and I would consider that asking price a small one to pay for what you get in return: a set of wheels that are a great option for the majority of riders out there. Unless you’re regularly tackling super-rugged terrain or downhill races (the Reserve 30|HD would be the choice) this combo wheelset is worth checking out.
A wheelset that offers a more compliant front rim and a burlier rear is not unique to Reserve, but when you add in the overall build quality (and attention to detail) of the rims, plus that lifetime warranty, you can see why the brand is so popular for those looking for a no-nonsense, reliable wheelset.
RRP: $2299
See Reserve Wheels for more info on its full model range.
