Editors Note: Yeah, yeah…..another year end review! Tis the season! So, here are my favorite things that have passed through the Twenty Nine Inches review process during the past year. I want to point out a few parameters that I used for what I chose here.

That said, let’s get on with this……

Number Eight: Edge Composites Carbon Fiber XC Rims: Edge Composites wowed the crowd at Sea Otter in April of ‘08 with its introduction of two models of 29″er rims in carbon fiber. We got our grubby mits on a pair of XC model rims, built up an insanely light set of wheels with American Classic hubs and DT Swiss spokes, and started to thrash them for a few months before sending them on to California for further torture testing.

Why They Made The List: The Edge Composites XC rims are obviously light, but the company men at Edge claim its the ride and the strength of the rims that make them so awesome. I know that they have a point, but dang! These rims are light! That and they are carbon fiber, which means that they should be pretty strong to boot. It is a combination that has eluded aluminum rim manufacturers. Light and strong…….and stiff! The Edge Rims have that all down pat. Racers that want to try a 29″er have one less excuse now.

My Two Cents: The Edge Rims are strong, stiff, and light. They spin up effortlessly, or seem to. The ride quality is fine, but honestly, they feel like a great stiff wheel and nothing more. Whatever vibration damping carbon fiber can offer is masked by the voluminous 29″er tires I shod these rims with. That said, they are addictive and I found myself having a hard time holding the hidden nipple design against them when I was climbing up a steep. I felt the stiffness laterally and almost forgot that these would be greater still if you could run them tubeless. I would heft that complete front wheel and be reminded why they cost so much money. Did I mention these wheels were light? So, not all is perfect with the Edge Rims, but they are high performance done really well where it counts. (Stay tuned for more from Grannygear on these in the future.)

Next stop, Number Seven! Who will it be…………