Review: We Are One Convert

When it comes to carbon fibre mountain bike wheels, there are more options than ever. But few are made in North America and only one brand is actually making carbon fibre rims in Canada. That is Kamloops, B.C.’s We Are One.

We Are One makes a full line of rims, from carbon layup all the way to lacing wheels. It also makes rims for different brands, including a slightly different design for Industry Nine.

We tested the Convert wheel, the widest rim We Are One offers. It’s designed for wider tires, from 2.5″ to 3.0″. That makes it a great option for larger enduro tires, eMTB use and even narrower fat bike tires (or for one wheelset to do all three). The rim has an 35-mm internal width, designed to give a proper tread profile for meatier tires. A good tread profile means better traction, as the tire knobs and side lugs contact the ground as they were designed to.

While the Converts are wide, they are not uncomfortably stiff. We Are One tunes the ride feel, making the Convert more compliant by using a 21-mm depth. This adds some vertical compliance and vibration damping while still being strong enough to feel solid under the added weight of an eMTB or the aggressive use of enduro racing.

On the trail review: We Are One Convert holds the line

We rode the Converts for several months, throughout B.C. They saw use on a range of bikes, from mid-travel trail bikes to eMTBs. Over that time they proved to be tough, taking on numerous square-edge hits from poor line choices over Okanagan rocks without complaint. There are some of the expected slight dings in the finish, but nothing that woudl impact the strength or performance of the rim.

The Converts manage a good balance of stiffness without being overly harsh, offering just enough compliance to take the edge off of rough trails and reduce hand fatigue. Switching them out for the Bontrager Line Pro 30s on one test bike had a significant impact on how the whole bike felt, balancing out a stiff frame for a more balanced feel.

These test rims were laced to Industry Nine Hydra hubs, which gave the rear wheel near-instant 0.52-degree engagement. You can rail corners and be back on the power the moment you think about pushing the pedals. Those Hydras come with a high-pitched whine that, depending on your perspective, either sounds like quality or sounds like a distraction from the calm of riding in the woods.

We Are One’s visible carbon weave looks incredible in the light. It also shows confidence in the…