We Are One Union Carbon Wheelset - Long Term Review

We Are One released their newest generation of Union carbon fiber rims a couple years back, with options that span from gravel and dirt jump bikes through to enduro and downhill. As with the rest of the Revolution range, the We Are One Union rims are made by hand in Kamloops, BC, with their unique layup process that ensures precise fiber alignment which should produce the strongest rim possible. The process is controlled in a way that means the rims need no post treatment once removed from the mold, which is a mark of how well We Are One Composites have their process nailed down. We were stoked to put a We Are One Revolution wheelset to the test on our high-pivot Norco Range C1 and We Are One Arrival test bikes for some extended mileage.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Before we get further into this review, we must admit a bit of a screw up on our end…We recently published a carbon wheel video and mentioned that we were not pleased with how stiff the Revolution wheels were on our Norco Range. Shortly after publishing that video, we were trying to diagnose the reason we were not loving our Range test bike and discovered that there was a defective bearing in the shock extension link, resulting in a less-than-desirable feel out of the bike and wheels. Simply put, the bike had a defective part that negatively impacted our impression of the wheels, and now that we have another set on a different bike and have also received a new shock and shock extension link for the Norco Range, our impressions have changed greatly.

THE DIRT
For our test period we rode two sets of wheels, both the Onyx Vesper hub build, and an Industry 9 hydra set. As we mentioned above, our initial impressions aboard the Norco Range with its compromised suspension left us searching for ways to improve the bike, and since we hadn’t ridden, We Are One wheels before, we assumed this harshness came from the wheels. After getting another bike and finding a very different experience we re-examined the Range as so many others were loving that bike. We found the issue and worked with Norco to fix the bike and have since been very pleased.

We had some issues with ghost-shifting on the Onyx Vesper-equipped wheelset. Under heavy load, and especially when pedaling through compressions, the chain would skip intermittently. After a discussion with Onyx, we learned that this was an issue that they were aware of with the first batch of Vesper hubs and have updated the driver to rectify it. This should ensure anyone with a “problem” hub can get it fixed without too much stress. Aside from the skipping issues, the eerie silence of the sprag clutch freehub and the limited drag made the Onyx hubs a pleasant ride. The Industry 9 built wheelset had zero issues, shifting perfectly throughout our rough test sessions and producing insanely quick and reliable pickup with their signature buzz.

When it comes time to evaluate the ride quality and experience of the wheels, we’ve got nothing but good things to say. I’m a big fan of compliance as I seek out loose, chunky, and rocky terrain that often doesn’t have tons of traction. Finding a wheel that can blend traction, comfort, and compliance with the desired stiffness for hard corners and compressions is a difficult search. It seems We Are One Composites has achieved that mixture with their handmade layup process and we can see why they have such a dedicated fan base.

To complete the test process, I traveled to Los Angeles to ride some of my hometown trails which I’m intimately familiar with, as well as a trip to Sedona Mountain Bike Festival. Both locations gave me the opportunity to beat on these wheels in very challenging terrain where both sharp rock edges and big compression landings on hard, off-camber rock slabs are readily available. I found the wheels were comfortable and not overly stiff when bashing into square-edged hits yet held their shape and composure when landing drops onto slabs. Also noted was the little bit of flex, or compliance as the wheels deflected on angled, or off-camber rock slabs, which certainly helped avoid some flat tires and likely some serious wheel-damage when blind hucks went wrong.

Price: $1,850
Weight: 1,798g (as tested)
Website: https://www.weareonecomposites.com/
Review: https://theloamwolf.com/2022/04/28/review-we-are-one-revolution-wheelset/

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