Sun RhynoLite XL 26" (559) MTB All-Mountain Rim Review

Sun RhynoLite XL 26" (559) MTB All-Mountain Rim Review

This is a heavey duty rim for either serious abuse, ie on the trail or dirt jump, or if you have a wife and kids, maybe you just want a rim that looks like it will last when you are bringing the groceries home.

The Sun RhynoLite XL is avaible in 36 or 48 hole. A 48 hole rim is a lovely option. But I wanted to match the Sun RhynoLite XL with an existing hub. I did a straight swap for a mavic 221. which was unsucessful on the rear wheel due to spoke lengths, but worked a treat (for some reason) on the front wheel, with about 2 threads showing on each spoke.



The Sun RhynoLite XL is a one of the cheapest heavey duty rims there is, which is why I bought it, I am not a brilliant wheel builder and so I didn't want to splash out on mavic EX271 and see it going to waste.

The rim is very wide, in other reviews I have heard that tires are hard to get on and off. I didn't experince this, although you do have to use a tire lever just to finish off, no big deal. If you had strong hands you may be able to pop them on sans lever.

So for £30 from SJS cycles I have a very strong wheel, which is mostly thanks to this very solid rim. Fingers crossed it will last as long as my Mavic 221s which did me for around 6 years.

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Shimano Acrea V Brake Review

Shimano Acrea V Brake - Overview

If you need a brake that stops your bike when you want it to, and doesn't cost £3000 then this might be the one for you, I was running some old LX brakes that wouldn't fit on my new wide rims, and so I was forced in changing them. The shimano acera brakes don't feel like a down grade, they are very well made, and feel very rigid under braking, as good in fact as my old LX gear.



Shimano Acrea V Brake - Stopping Power
No numbers here, but they are good as you will ever need, garenteed to lock up front wheel or put you over handle bars if apllied full force, even with crappy brake pads.

Shimano Acrea V Brake - Price
I purchased these from ebay from "wooly hat shop" you I have used before and will gain, quick delevery and the cost £8.50 with postage. Very cheap.

Shimano Acrea V Brake - Quality
As with most from shimano, it is well made. Compared to by budget v brake on the back from tektro, it feel very good, but that might be due to cabeliing issues I may have with my rear brake.

Shimano Acrea V Brake - Conclusion
An XTR, XT, SLX, LX v brake setup may stop you 0.5% quicker, or be 0.5% lighter. But they are 500% more expensive, don't get sucked in this is all you need.

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