Gulo GME 30 Enduro Wheelset Review - What do Carbon Spokes Feel Like?

Gulo Composite GME 30 is a 24h wheelset with carbon fiber spokes, and they're light. Insanely light. Today I put them through their paces and share what they feel like. What does a $2400 wheelset feel like? They feel like this...
Do you need help choosing your next bike? Become a supporter today for one-on-one bike consultation: patreon.com/hardtailparty
Learn more about these wheels here: bit.ly/3yKebl0
Gear I use and love:
20% off all Club Ride Apparel using code "hardtailparty20" - bit.ly/3kGjnx8
5% off 5DEV cranks - Use coupon code "hardtailparty" here: bit.ly/3c5Ha6b
Hardtail Party Shirts, hats, and SWAG - shop.spreadshirt.com/hardtailparty
Lab Austere hip pack: bit.ly/3p37K58 - code "Hardtail.Party" 25% off
Handup Gloves: bit.ly/3dhUe8z - use discount code "HARDTAILPARTY"
My shop tools: www.amazon.com/shop/hardtailp...
My glasses (use code "hardtail10"): bit.ly/3aXBeKp
My tire sealant: bit.ly/2ULJirZ
My favorite grips: bit.ly/3mYRL8Z
Hardtail Party collection by pedal industries - code "HARDTAILPARTY": bit.ly/3ilNdqH
What's in my water bottles (Tailwind): bit.ly/2Xbxy3q
My hooded sun shirt: bit.ly/38NdU1x
Milwaukee Inflator. I love this thing! amzn.to/38Vdqrj
Presta adapter: amzn.to/3cMADx1
5% off all RSD bikes using code "party" - bit.ly/3dj2nZP -
Ryan Leech Connection: $19 off - coupon code "hardtailparty"​ - bit.ly/2UwrmQq
amazon.com/shop/hardtailparty any time you shop on amazon using this link, it helps me.
Note: some of my links are affiliate links. That means I get a small commission on purchases made using these links. You don't pay anything extra, but it helps support the channel. If you've learned something from my videos, consider using the affiliate links above.

[@tobytee7883]

I bought the Nukeproof Horizon V2 wheelset for my Sherpa after watching your reviews. I really like them and they ride just how you described them. Thanks for your channel and it’s great content.

[@isaacbrooks5999]

Wheel reviews! Can't wait to see the others. I don't have the means to go try all of these cool components out, so I live vicariously through you🤣

[@ctsingletrack]

Perfect timing for some wheel reviews. I've been really thrashing the the heck out of the Stans Crest I 25 wheels that come on that Rocker 29'er. We've got some chunky terrain here in Connecticut, and you can only add so much pressure before ride feel just becomes bouncy and harsh. I'm going to have to do something different. Possibly an I 30 wheel set for a little more volume. Or maybe even go to a 27.5 plus setup.

[@miata.austin]

Super cool rig. Dreams!

[@rufuswainwright8171]

Another great review Steve. Couldn’t agree with you more about the Light Bicycle wheels. I got the AM930 rims last year, they were very stiff, probably too stiff long term. Now laced with Berd spokes, the difference is night and day, compliant and poppy. 1420g (DT Swiss 240’s) So many amazing wheels out there. Thanks for adding another to the list 👍🏻👍🏻

[@hardtailparty]

Did you keep spoke tension the same between the two?

[@rufuswainwright8171]

@@hardtailparty the LB’s were as arrived from their factory, straight and true, but harsh and stiff. They were re-spoked with the Berds in the UK. The spoke tension is a lot lower on the Berds, and did require a re-tension. I only got the Berd Spokes after your review 🙈🙈

[@hardtailparty]

I wonder if the final spoke tension was noticeably lower on the berds afterwards. That would definitely contribute to a softer ride.

[@rufuswainwright8171]

@@hardtailparty Steve, original Light Bicycle Wheelset had Sapin spokes. The Berd spokes have transformed the wheels into an amazing wheelset. I think the own brand Berd wheelsets are using unbranded LB rims.

[@adstarr1]

Not a comment about this video, but about the valuable information your channel provides... I recently purchased a XC bike (not gonna name the brand) after many happy years of riding and loving my old school Cannondale Trail 4... I hadn't realized how much had changed over the years... I had to school myself on what a 1x system was.... Felt like a complete newby even though I had been riding for 20 years... Anyways, I figured for $1,300, you had to be buying some level of quality.... Well... I was introduced the hard way to Boost 121; that entry level SRAM SX had 2 versions: the dub system and a dirty, basic bottom bracket model (where the crank can loosen and even fall off - which is apparently what I got); that a rear QR is a cheap, unecessary way for a manufacturer to save money; the front hub loosening up in a matter of rides.... I could go on with my disappointment... Look, I know that mountain biking is an expensive sport and I would have taken a bit more time to save my money had I known... I only wish I had started watching your channel before wasting $1300... Great channel! Great info! Next purchase, I'm doing it right!

[@scottmcpeek4132]

Steve, quite selfishly I'm going to say that this review was excellent timing: I'm trying to come to a conclusion on a wheelset for an upcoming build and Gulo is now in the top tier with a couple other candidates. We're certainly not hurting for high-quality choices these days, are we?

[@hardtailparty]

It's a great time to be a mountain biker.

[@andrew9579]

Great stuff. What tires were you running on this wheel set?

[@musicjnky1982]

Had to go with I9 Enduro 305 V3 Hydra Wheelset. Only because the other wheels I wanted were and still out of stock.

[@johnnydoe66]

Like yourself, I prefer natural terrain vs. machine built trails because that's part of the appeal of mtn biking.....Getting Out. One day I hope to build up up a titanium plus hardtail from the frame up, but until I get my kids through college, it's on the bottom of my list. I myself have zero issue with cost of components, at least to within what you can afford. Back in the early 90's I built a GT RTS Team Frame up and it totalled out to almost $4k, which was alot for back then, but I rode the crap out of it. Friends were shocked at how much I spent, but all it took to shut them up was, "How much did you spend on your golf clubs/membership or all those fishing poles/bass boat?" All hobbies can get pricey, but if you love it and it keeps your sanity, then by all means enjoy it to the fullest.

[@johnnydoe66]

@John Pruett True, but I priced out a build once at just under $7k for a Ti hardtail. Granted, that is pretty pricey for no rear suspension.....but I can at least dream

[@hardmtnbiker]

🙌🏼 🌳 🌄 🦎 🐇 🌵 🌅 outdoors on a hardtail under biked and cleaning a technical trail 😎

[@kuma_score7536]

the way I see it, high end wheels are a must not just for feel but also for durability and in some cases lifetime warranty, I used to have cheap crappy no name wheels and I would need to replace them every few months so I stepped it up to some nicer wheels and now I need to replace my wheels every few years but if I rode any harder, rode worse trails or was any heavier then a set of carbon rims with lifetime warranty would be cheaper in the long run.

[@maffin2917]

In Germany there are Rope-Spokes from Pi rope. Havent ridden them but ppl that did claim that they have better compliance than anything else. Maybe its something you are interested in checking out sometime.

[@hardtailparty]

I've ridden and reviewed some wheels with Berd spokes. I'm not sure what Pi is, but those berd spokes are very unique.

[@jurisx85]

Nature is a huge part of Mtb. When I’m out there in the middle of the forest I feel sorry for people doing sports away from nature. Then I remember how much cheaper they have it, and I get over it.

[@hardtailparty]

It seems like most other sports are pretty spendy too these days. Sadly, almost everything is crazy expensive now.

[@everettyee2049]

Steve, Do super light wheels pickup all the small bumps like the super light bike you reviewed a couple weeks ago?

[@hardtailparty]

Stiff wheels do, but compliant wheels don't

[@troysykes]

Very interested. I was sold on the Zipps but I have choices. Looking for a do it all wheel for a SoCal/AZ hardtail and bikepacking.

[@hardtailparty]

That's exactly the kind of thing i help with over on Patreon. Patreon.com/hardtailparty

[@JoshTaylor]

How are these against the Specialized Roval Control Carbon at 1450g with DT 350 hubs at under $1500? I have no other carbon wheels to compare against.

[@hardtailparty]

that's the type of thing i cover in my patreon service

[@AdrenalineIsLife]

I'd be curious to see how well these hold up long term being 24 spoke 29ers. They look to be a fairly traditional wheel design but at 1400 grams they must feel quick as hell.

[@hardtailparty]

I have over 1000 miles on these with zero issues apart from the one bearing failing, which is a fluke

[@eb1888.]

Their details say 54pts/6.66° engagement. Should feel the same as DT.

[@hardtailparty]

For some reason a 54t dt feels like noticably quicker engagement.

[@AZRob.]

Wow, I'm interested... Is there any way to put Onyx hubs with them?

[@hardtailparty]

No, onyx doesn't make a 24h straight pull hub

[@William.N]

Regarding the wheels you got in, do they range in price or are they more high end?

[@tomhawk733]

He's reviewed affordable wheelsets in the past: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6iuoHqOr6mZhck

[@hardtailparty]

I've got one affordable wheelset and 3 high end ones. And I have some wheel experiments coming.

[@johndavis3938]

Have you ever ridden Bontrager Line Pro 30 wheels? I work at a shop that sells Trek so I get a great deal on them but I don' know how they stack up to other brands.

[@hardtailparty]

Yes, see my 2022 Roscoe 9 review. (EDIT: I'm a dufus and missed the "pro" part)

[@johndavis3938]

@@hardtailparty It looks like that bike has the Line Comp 30.

[@hardtailparty]

Oh my bad, I apologize. I haven't ridden the pros yet.

[@raymondepstein6174]

How are you liking the Lazer over your much loved Ambush?

[@hardtailparty]

The ambush fits my head better and the ambush has a wider visor, which I love. Laser makes a great helmet, it just sits on top of my head more than the ambush. Part of that is the mips, part is the design. The laser is very adjustable, but the ambush didn't need to be adjustable since it fit me like a glove right out of the box

[@raymondepstein6174]

@@hardtailparty Not down with the new Ambush? I actually like the more basic Tactic. It's dumb simple, fits well (maybe slightly big), the eyeglass storage is nice and it's a deal.

[@MikeesTexas]

Im a fan of the ambush as well

[@findtherightbeat]

Are you on a Rhythm 34 during the test? Thanks!

[@hardtailparty]

Step cast 34

[@findtherightbeat]

@@hardtailparty Thanks!

[@danielcox9783]

I worry carbon spokes surviving loose rocks getting kicked up into the wheel. I know you ride trails down the hill from you, but Hawes and National don’t have a lot of loose palm-sized chunk like T100/Dreamy Draw does. I’ve had to replace several spokes on my I9 Enduro wheels due to this.

[@hardtailparty]

These wheels come with spare replacement spokes.

[@hardtailparty]

Which wheels do you want to see reviewed next? Want to pick my brain on how different wheels I've ridden compare? Become a patron today. Patreon.com/hardtailparty

[@hansti77]

Hunt Trailwide V2

[@hardtailparty]

@@hansti77 funny you should mention those... I just got a set in for review.

[@hansti77]

@@hardtailparty I got a set a few months ago to use on the Sherpa I consulted with you about, but haven’t gotten to use them yet. But it looks like I may get the frame in a month or so. I’m very eager to finally put together the build we worked out back in January.

[@MikeOnaBike]

Still waiting to see those berd spokes in action.

[@hardtailparty]

@@MikeOnaBike I've featured them on a few bikes and done a review. But I also have more berd content coming.