Boyd Wheels Trailblazer Carbon Wheels: Checkpoint

Boyd Wheels Trailblazer Carbon Wheels: Checkpoint – by Grannygear

I am a bit overdue on writing about the Boyd Trailblazer wheels since we debuted them in September. Since then I have been on them full time on the Lynskey gravel bike and only broke away to ride the Ritchey Outback.

How have they been? Impressive!

Basically they have just quietly, and, I will add, rapidly, done the job. One of the first real rides I did on the Trailblazer wheels was a 50 mile mixed surface loop running the Touareg tires. Now I got a bit suckered into this one. You know that friend that says that “it’s a 30 mile ride with a couple of hills” and it never is? Yeah. That friend. I have one of those. We were supposed to be on a friendly ride that would have us back by lunch. If I had known, I would have at least changed tires as we began with a 15 mile mostly uphill climb on a remote paved highway off the Central Coast. Then we plunged down a rough and broken one lane country road to some gravel, but not much gravel, and then miles of road riding. Again. Long day for the shape I am in at the moment.

So while the tires might have been less than optimum for all this tarmac (WTB Byway 34s or even Hutchinson’s Overides would have been rad!), the wheels were just stunning for that day’s efforts as the light weight and quick response played out well on the road sections. These Trailblazer wheels seem to have smooth rolling hubs and they are also very quiet as compared to many others, like DT Swiss, etc. I like them more than noisy hubs, which, I suspect, drag more when coasting. Since then, I have used them on more typical gravel rides. I rode the Trailblazer wheels up into the snow on a random day in the mountains of Big Bear, CA. I have done multiple rides locally, 10 mile dirt road climbs, and more pavement spins to coffee, because why not? So far, nothing has happened to change my thoughts on the Trailblazer wheels. 

“Quick, responsive, smooth, nice riding wheels.”

Of course I have not had to true them as you would expect and really, I am not all that crazy about returning them. Spoiled, I am.

I will be wrapping this up soon as it’s time to get the wheels back to Boyd, but in the next post I will chat about ‘great vs. good’ wheels and even showcase another set of Boyd wheels that have gravel potential and a bit more aero shaping. Till then, not much to add, but that is not a bad thing. Well made products often do the job without fanfare, but even average wheels can do that. The Trailblazer wheels are more than average as we will discuss the next time.

You can learn more about the Boyd trailblazer wheels at their website here: https://boydcycling.com/collections/carbon-gravel/products/trailblazer-29er-front-wheel

Note: Boyd Wheels sent over the Trailblazer Carbon Wheels to Riding Gravel for test and review at no charge. We are not being paid, nor bribed, for this review and we always strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout.