We Are One

Faction 1/1 29in Boost Wheelset

Rookies tend to be given quite a hard time in the bike industry, and while some of that may be warranted, when it comes to the technology side of things we think that having fresh ideas can propel us quite a bit further. Take We Are One Composites, for example, who's engineers decided to take a stab at wheel building, designing a new layup that they believe to be more resilient than the others, and bringing some manufacturing back across the ocean to us. It all started with We Are One's The Movement line, which brought carbon fiber manufacturing to North America, promising that not all carbon hoops are manufactured the same way, and boasting a molding process that improves layup precision and accuracy for reliable wheels that can handle hard charging and enduro racing. So far their wheels have received universal praise for their strength and positive ride quality, but also for being offered at an approachable price point—at least for Canadian-made wheels that are built from US-sourced carbon fiber and backed by a lifetime warranty.

We Are One crafts the Faction rims from its Revolution molding process, which boasts even more precise carbon layup than previous designs. It features an all-new rim shape that allows a reduction in radial stiffness, and use a bit less fiber over all, all the while boosting impact resistance for a rim that doesn't falter after a big hit. The shape pairs nicely with its unique layup to build a system that plays well together, providing more support to each component of the rim for a resilient wheel that's ready for it all.

The Faction 101's are designed for your trail machine, targeted towards bikes that run with around 140-millimeters of playful travel, and require a thoughtful wheel that finds the balance between internal width, and overall stiffness. The Faction rim is lighter than We Are One's enduro rims, yet still rolls with dynamic strength that holds up to you flicking off of rollers, and charging into rock gardens. The wheels are built on I9's new 101 hub, which takes some queues from the Torch and Hydra, but goes in a more economical direction that sheds teeth, and offers 4-degrees of engagement. The 101 hub offers a more economical approach to Industry Nine, pairing six dual-phased pawls with a 45-tooth drive ring for quick engagement. While it isn't quite as snappy as the Torch, or the telepathically-quick Hydra, it still performs with 4-degree engagement that blows most of the competition out of the water. The six pawls connect with 90-points of engagement, with two pawls engaging at any given moment for reliable power.