Hunt takes their wheel sustainability one step additional with the launch of absolutely recyclable H_Cyclo carbon wheel tech. The key is a novel resin that may be chemically damaged down and separated from the carbon fibers. Then each the used carbon AND resin could be made again into new merchandise afterward.
And to launch the brand new recyclable carbon, Hunt up to date one in all their hottest gravel wheels – the 40 CGR 40mm deep Carbon Gravel Race – and added an all-new 40 CGR D model that will get a dynamo entrance hub for ultra-distance racing.
Hunt H_Cyclo recyclable carbon fiber tech
Hunt already teased a want to construct extra eco-friendly wheels with their Hunt Maintain wheels this previous spring. There they added 10% recycled content material into carbon rims, 75% recycled content material in alloy rims, and constructed wheels with out dangerous aesthetic-only spoke & nipple coatings.
Now, H_Cyclo carbon takes it a little bit of a step additional.
This new recyclable carbon fiber tech revolves round a brand new thermoset resin developed by Taiwanese composites firm Swancor. They really developed it to make large wind turbine blades extra eco-friendly. And the key comes all the way down to the EzCiclo thermoset epoxy resin that’s chemically damaged down by including the CleaVER resolution with warmth & agitation to separate the carbon and resin. And but, it nonetheless performs identical to a traditional 2-part thermoset epoxy resin, that up-to-now had hardened in a 1-time chemical response that might not be damaged down and used once more.
What’s actually attention-grabbing right here is that each the resin and fibers could be extracted and used once more.
The carbon fibers themselves are reduce shorter – because the rim is reduce into smaller items to place into the CleaVER reactor. In order that they’ll find yourself in different merchandise than Hunt wheels. Suppose: injection-molded carbon-reinforced composites such as you would possibly see in shoe soles, for instance. However the shorter chain oligomer (versus longer-chain polymers) that come out of the resin breakdown course of can go immediately again into the subsequent era of EzCiclo resins that Hunt’s subsequent H_Cyclo wheels will probably be comprised of.
“The implementation of recyclable H_Cyclo resin has no affect on the structural integrity or strength-to-weight attributes of the carbon layup, making the expertise excellent for precision, high-performance rims.”
– Hunt
Finish-of-life recycling & extra recyclable wheels to come back?
For the brand new wheels, Hunt “will provide free recycling assortment service for all H_Cyclo wheels at finish of life, or within the occasion of accident or crash alternative”. And Hunt will give riders a £250 credit score in the direction of a brand new set of wheels after they recycle an previous H_Cyclo wheelset.
These recyclable H_Cyclo carbon will finally get processed in 1 of three recycling amenities inside the subsequent two years – two in Asia, one in Europe. It’s all new tech although, so within the meantime, Hunt will retailer all of the end-of-life carbon till these amenities are up and operating.
Now, Hunt is introducing H_Cyclo tech on simply two gravel wheelsets, each sharing the identical 40mm deep carbon rim. However they are saying this can be a path the model is transferring in. And they’re transferring ahead with plans to implement this distinctive new resin “throughout extra of the carbon vary over time”.
Versatile & mild Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race & Dynamo wheels
The light-weight and standard 40 CGR gravel bike wheelset appeared an ideal match to implement the brand new H_Cyclo expertise. And Hunt noticed it as a great way to begin to scale back the environmental affect or one in all their best-selling wheels. Designed for 29-60mm tires, the 40 CGR is a flexible gravel wheel platform.
This new model is 48g heavier than earlier than (claimed). However that’s not nearly completely different carbon. This new era of CGR now options an up to date hubset with improved sturdiness, too. The brand new wheels get a next-gen Hunt H_Ratchet hub optimized for highway & gravel – with a pair of 40-tooth ratchet rings for fast 9° freehub engagement.
New to the CGR household is a Dynamo hub model, too. Hunt has been one in all few dependable choices for pre-built wheels with dynamo generator entrance hubs for many years – powering & lighting the best way for loads of ultra-distance racers. And in addition for riders like us, we simply love having lights on, powered up as you pedal. Including a recyclable Hunt carbon x SON dynamo possibility simply appeared like a logical match.
The entrance Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo H_Cyclo wheel can even be obtainable individually for riders trying to improve their present setup.
Tech specs
Each Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race H_Cyclo & Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Dynamo H_Cyclo wheels:
- 40mm rim depth x 30mm exterior width
- 25mm inside, hookless tubeless rim
- rear hubs: 40-tooth H_Ratchet for 9° engagement, 12x142mm thru-axle
- bearings: sealed precision cartridge
40 CGR H_Cyclo wheels:
- spokes: 24/24 straight-pull Pillar PSR XTRA 1420 Aero Butted 2.0-2.2/0.95-2.0, with alloy nipples
- hubs: Hunt cast & CNC machined 6066-T6 alloy straight-pull centerlock disc hubs
- entrance hub: outsized bearings for QR, 12mm & 15mm thru-axle compatibility
- weight: 1431g per pair (claimed)
40 CGR D H_Cyclo wheels:
- spokes: 28/28 J-bend Pillar Aero Butted 2.0-2.2/0.95-2.0m, with brass nipples
- hubs: Hunt cast & CNC machined 6066-T6 alloy conventional flange centerlock disc hubs
- entrance hub: SON 28 Dynamo, 6082-T6 aluminum with alloy mud shields, rubber lip seals & stress compensation system; 12x100mm thru-axle solely, consists of SON 2x Spade Connector with warmth shrink cable protectors; 5-year guarantee
- weight: 1834g per pair (claimed)
Hunt H_Cyclo carbon gravel wheels – Pricing, choices & availability
To get the brand new recyclable Hunt H_Cyclo carbon tech, now you can choose from two completely different wheelsets:
The Hunt 40 Carbon Gravel Race H_Cyclo replaces the unique 40 CGR that launched two summers in the past. It updates these wheels with this extra eco-friendly carbon. These new 40 CGR H_Cyclo wheels promote for £1100 / $1400 / 1400€ and weigh a claimed 1431g.
The 40 CGR D H_Cyclo wheels within the new hub generator model with a SON 28 dynamo within the entrance wheel promote for £1490 / $1850 / 1850€.
Each share the identical recyclable carbon rim and 40 POE ratchet rear hub, with Shimano HG, MicroSpline, SRAM XDR & Campagnolo N3W freehubs obtainable. The usual wheels can be found in inventory now in restricted numbers direct from Hunt. The primary new dynamo wheelsets ship out earlier than the top of this month.
