I rode it hard for three weeks and now I know! The true capabilities of INDUSTRYNINE x GROWTAC gravel wheels

February 2, 2025

I've been riding my custom gravel wheels, built with INDUSTRYNINE SOLIX hubs and GROWTAC carbon rims, for three weeks now, so I'm here to share my impressions.

Wheel Specifications

The components of these wheels are as follows:

Hubs: INDUSTRYNINE SOLIX
Rims: GROWTAC EQUAL Carbon Rims
Spokes: pillar wing20
Spoke Count: 24H
Weight: 1249g (front and rear set)

For more detailed information on these wheels, please see this article:

👉 [Grumpy Select] Gravel Wheel Set "Growtac x Industry Nine"

The tires used were as follows, run tubeless:

Front: MAXXIS RAMBLER 700x45c
Rear: MAXXIS REAVER 700x45c

Tire pressure:

Mixed on/off-road: around 2 bar
On-road only: around 3 bar

My Impressions After Riding

These wheels are incredibly enjoyable to pedal!

The combination of the INDUSTRYNINE SOLIX hub's ultra-high engagement for seamless torque transfer and the ultralight carbon rims is simply superb. From starting off to climbing and cruising, these wheels consistently make you feel "good."

I used them in these scenarios:

Weekly Saturday morning training (45km, 700m elevation gain route)
Hill climbs
Long rides of about 100km
Gravel (trail) rides

First Impression: Incredibly light!

Compared to my previous wheels, these are about 500g lighter. You can feel the difference the moment you pick them up, and once you start riding, you'll be amazed by their nimbleness.

Changes in Ride Feel:

Very light starting acceleration, smooth starts from traffic lights and similar stops.
Climbing is easier!
- On my monthly measurement of the Gokurakuji hill climb, I was about 2 minutes faster than last time.
- Thanks to their lightness, I can push harder even when tired on long rides.
Cruising is surprisingly easy.
- While lightweight rims can sometimes make it harder to maintain speed, I didn't feel that much with these.

The 605 points of engagement are incredibly satisfying.

Thanks to the 605-point ultra-high engagement hub, torque is applied the instant you press the pedal.
You can accelerate from any pedal position, making it easy to get into a rhythm.
No jerky feeling when dancing on the pedals.
Great for trails too!
- Even if you stop pedaling for a moment to avoid an obstacle on dirt, re-acceleration is smooth.
- It's harder to lose balance on steep climbs, making the ride more enjoyable as your ride rate increases!

Future Plans

Going forward, I plan to adjust the spoke tension higher and ride them again. I'm curious to see if the feel changes further and how it impacts the ride.

Attractive Price Point Too

The price for this configuration is 228,000 yen (including tax).

It's not uncommon for the latest spec gravel wheels to cost around 400,000 yen, so it's astonishing that wheels with equivalent or better specs can be built at this price. Considering the performance and cost-effectiveness, I think these wheels offer very high satisfaction.
They're lightweight, make climbing easier, offer stress-free cruising, and are versatile enough for gravel rides.
You can test ride them in-store. If you're interested, please give them a try!

We're also looking forward to discussing your order!
Grumpy Loan is also available.