Product Launch & REVIEW
OneUp is a small team of mountain bikers based in Squamish, BC.* What started out as three engineers wanting to ride, live and work in Squamish has grown into an innovative mountain biking brand. They manufacture dropper posts, cockpit components, tools, pumps, pedals, chain guides, and, more recently, hubs. Now they’ve taken that a step further and are releasing their first wheelset.
*While OneUp is a small team, they are now owned by Pon, a multi-billion dollar Dutch Conglomerate that also owns Santa Cruz, Cannondale, Focus, Cervélo and Schwinn (to name just a few) along with large holdings in the automotive sector.
The OneUp Aluminium Wheelset.
The new wheelset uses OneUp’s new aluminum rims. A 28-hole, 29″ rim handles the front, while a 32-hole rim in 27.5″ or 29″ is reinforced for dedicated duty on the rear. Both rims have an asymmetric design, 27mm depth, 30mm internal width, angled bead walls, bead retention tracks and 3mm offset spoke holes for more even spoke tension.
Subtle, understated graphics and markings on the OneUp Aluminum Wheelset.
The OneUp aluminum rim is heavily asymmetric.
The deep centre channel makes tire installation easy.
OneUp Aluminum Wheelset Specs
- 29″ or MX Wheels
- Weight: Front 937g, Rear with XDr Driver 1,059g (29″), 1,014g (27.5″)
- OneUp Hubs – 44t ratchet drive, Boost spacing only
- XDr Driver Included (MS and HG Drivers are available for purchase separately)
- Double-butted J-Bend Sapim spokes
- Asymmetric rims, front/rear specific
- You can have any colour you want as long as it’s black
- Price: 799 CAD / 599 USD / £549 / €599
OneUp Wheels use their fully machined 7075 aluminum hubs with a 44T ratchet drive and J-Bend Sapim spokes.
OneUp licensed the Fillmore Valves that come on all their wheelsets from Reserve (also owned by Pon -Ed.) Fillmore valves provide three times the airflow of a Presta valve, which makes tire seating easy while reducing clogging. High-quality 3M tape ensures an airtight seal for quick tire setup and smooth installation.
The OneUp wheelset comes with OneUp’s Fillmore Valves. It’s my first time using these valves and I’m impressed.
Pre-taped with quality 3M tape is intended to make initial tire installation as quick and painless as possible.
Initial Impressions
My initial impressions of the OneUp Aluminum Wheelset are strong. I like the subtle styling / graphical choices OneUp has taken. Installing a pair of used Cast tires on these wheels was easy, inflating with a floor pump on both occasions. I have’t used Fillmore valves before, but love how much air they allow to flow.
Josh Dove styling it out on the OneUp Aluminum wheels.
I’ve been riding these wheels for a few months on my Yeti MTe eMTB. The wheels roll quickly, and I love the noise of the rear hub. Unsurprisingly, they sound similar to a 44-tooth DT Swiss hub, but somehow crisper and snappier. Given the durability and reputation of the star ratchet system, this is likely to be a reliable and low-maintenance hubset. I like how these wheels feel on the trail, striking a nice balance of stiffness from the rear wheel and subtle compliance from the front wheel. The combination feels more precise and more comfortable than the DT Swiss wheels that came on the MTe.
The Yeti MTe has been a bit abusive on wheels. Its geo and suspension quality are always egging me into attempting sections of trail where the 145mm travel becomes insufficient to overcome my lack of talent. So far I’ve been impressed with how little damage the rims have sustained, and even more impressed at how well these wheels have held tension. I don’t think I’ve ever had an aluminum wheelset go this long without a major retension.
If these are holding up under Caleb Holonko, they’re probably sturdy enough for most.
All OneUp Components, including their wheels, are covered by a 2-year warranty. In my experience, OneUp has stood behind their products, trying their best to keep riders out on the trails. OneUp says their 2-year warranty covers:
- Hubs
- Visibly cracked rims
- Damaged spoke holes
- Rims that do not hold air
- Flat spots that make it impossible to tension the wheel appropriately
- In other words, if it’s too messed up to ride with confidence, they’ll replace it
I’m hoping these wheels hold up to my abuse over the coming months.
I think OneUp has nailed it with these wheels. The price is reasonable for what seems to be a low-maintenance, workhorse wheelset. Tires are easy to install, the wheels roll smoothly, I like the ride feel, and they’ve been the lowest-maintenance aluminum wheelset I’ve tested so far. I like the styling, and all for what seems like a very competitive price. I’ll be putting many miles on these over the coming months and will report back later this summer with a long-term review.
Available in 29 and MX configurations in Boost spacing only.
600 USD / 800 CAD / 550 GBP / 600 EUR
Age: 43
Height: 183 cm / 6′
Weight: 80 kg / 176 lbs
Ape Index: 1.055 / +10 cm
Inseam: 81 cm / 32″
Preferred Riding: Gravity Mountain Bike
Bar Width: 800 mm
Preferred Reach: 500 – 520 mm (but this is stack and head angle dependent)