Road wheels for mountain bikers? Is that too much of a stretch?
I’m going to roll with it anyway (‘scuse the pun). Road wheels? Too delicate. Too irrelevantly aero optimised. Too likely to explode the first time you hit a pothole.
If you’re a mountain biker who does more than a few big-mile days, or you just want a fast bike that doesn’t handle like a wet noodle, a wheelset like the FSA NS SCi30 can make a lot of sense. Not because it’s light. Because it’s a system upgrade: tyre support, tracking, acceleration, comfort, puncture resistance. All the same stuff you bothered about when cycling off-road.
This is the full nerdy run-through of the features and the potential real-world benefits of the FSA NS SCi30 wheels.
What the NS SCi30 is, in plain non-nerd English
The NS SCi30 is a 30mm internal width carbon wheelset designed for modern tyre sizes and modern riding. 2.4in tyres, lower pressures, tubeless, and the kind of mixed-surface reality most of us actually ride in the UK.
Think of it as the wheel equivalent of a good trail bike setup; not the lightest possible, but balanced, fast, stable, and hard to upset. The rim holds the tyre shape under load, so the tyre doesn’t fold and smear when you push it.
A wheelset isn’t just a hoop; it’s a tyre-shaping device. Get the rim profile right and everything improves: grip, comfort, puncture resistance, and steering accuracy.
Modern rim profile designed to support contemporary tyre widths (2.4in or so). More stable tyre sidewalls at lower pressures (less squirm in corners). More consistent contact patch when you lean the bike – confidence goes up, surprises go down. More comfort without losing speed. Lower pressure = less buzz and better traction on broken surfaces.
Most of you reading this will already understand this from the previous jump from old narrow rims to modern internal widths. Same story, different tyre.
The 30mm rim width is pretty common these days but the 22mm depth is something not seen on many carbon rims.. It’s like going from a flexy OEM wheel to a properly built enduro wheel. Everything just feels more accurate. The relatively modest rim depth you get speed that doesn’t feel sketchy or unforgiving.
The slightly longer, bladed, straight pull spokes (28 per wheel) are designed to be efficient in propulsion but with an eye on comfort and traction grabbing compliance. Sure, the bladed spokes also have a theoretical aerodynamic edge compared to traditional spokes but it’s arguably not hugely relevant for off-road miles. Having said that, being aero doesn’t do any harm, so hey.
Carbon’s advantage isn’t really any magic weight savings; it’s control over stiffness. A good carbon rim can track well without being harsh into your hands and feet. If you’re used to MTB wheels where stiffness is a handling feature, this will feel familiar but in a good way.
Durability vs serviceability
A wheelset can be fast and still be a pain if it needs constant truing. For riders who actually use their kit, long-term stability matters.
A good build with sensible tension is a ‘fit and forget’ upgrade. The wheel stays true longer. Better impact resilience for real-world riding. If you’ve ever had a superlight wheel go out of true from basically looking at it, you’ll appreciate this.
Hubs: the stuff that makes or breaks a wheelset
MTB riders can be hub snobs for good reason. Engagement, sealing, bearing life – this is where wheels either become a long-term favourite or a long-term PITA.
These wheel suse the FSA X-300 hub platform with cartridge bearings, excellent weather sealing, a 4-pawl system and all the regular modern standards (Boost and 6-bolt rotor mount etc).
Rotational weight: why it matters
Even if total bike weight isn’t your obsession (we concur), rotational mass changes the feel of the bike more than most upgrades. Lighter wheels offer numerous real benefits: quicker acceleration out of corners, less fatigue on rolling routes with constant speed changes, more responsive handling (the bike changes pace and direction with less effort)
Conclusion
Who these wheels make sense for? Mountain bikers doing serious miles who want comfort and puncture resistance without a dead-feeling wheel. Or indeed anyone who wants a wheelset that feels fast – but not fragile – and stable on rough surfaces
If you want a wheelset that makes a fast bike feel more than just a roadie science project and more like a well-sorted mountain bike – stable, supportive, confident at sensible pressures – the NS SCi30 format is a strong shout. It’s the ‘do-it-all’ depth, modern tyre-friendly, and tubeless-ready, which is basically the holy trinity for riding offroad quickly without drama.
One more thing (okay, two)
The wheelset only weighs 1,495g. And it retails at £998.00. Both of those are seriously impressive numbers for a wheelset of this strength (ASTM Category 4 rated with a system weight limit of 150 kg).
Spec table
| Spec | FSA NS SCi30 |
| Wheel size | 29in |
| Intended use | All Mountain / Enduro / E-MTB |
| Rim material | Carbon |
| Rim depth | 22mm |
| Rim internal width | 30mm |
| Rim external width | 36mm |
| Rotor mount | 6-bolt |
| Freehub | Shimano Micro Spline / SRAM XDR |
| Engagement | 4 pawl |
| Spoke count | Front: 28 / Rear: 28 |
| Spoke type | Aero spoke, direct-pull |
| Claimed weight | 1495g |
| Weight limit (system) | 150kg |
| Price (RRP) | £998.00 |