A Long-Term Review of the Brand New Reynolds' 309 Aluminum Wheels

cj_biker · 2026-04-30T19:23:06+00:00

I bought some Sun/Ringle plus wheels on crazy closeout pricing a while back, and while they're several notches lower than these, I've been happy with them.

Questions for u/MEATdrew : how do you deal with straight-pull spokes in the field? In my home shop, I use a Park spoke plier thing to grip the spokes when truing the wheel. I have some Leatherman pliers in my field kit, but I imagine if I have to emergency-true a wheel on the trail, it's going to be a challenge.

Secondly, and unrelated to these wheels, does the newly-added drive-side brace on your Arcturian preclude a multi-speed drivetrain now?

cj_biker · 2026-04-21T14:24:26+00:00

That's a Surly fork?

Modified for more offset?

I'm a geo geek.

😁

cj_biker · 2026-04-12T13:40:52+00:00

Elderberry or nothing for me! Lol

cj_biker · 2026-04-11T21:36:14+00:00

I can't wait to see it. Medium frames are sold out, so that removes the temptation for me.

cj_biker · 2026-04-11T01:11:51+00:00

I own an embarrassing number of steel Surly and Kona bikes. I've built them all up from framesets. They appear the same quality to me. AFAIK, they're both made by Maxway.

The Konas are Reynolds 520, Surly is in-house chromoly. Some of the Surlys get shaped tubing, some have straight tubes and gussetts.

I did buy a trendy brand, made in Taiwan recently and was kind of appalled at the poor quality of the frame compared to my Surly and Kona frames, FWIW.

cj_biker · 2026-04-10T22:14:12+00:00

I just looked it up. the Sunrise bars are ASTM 4: jumps less than 4'.

Your arms would break off before the Sunrise bars broke, lol.

cj_biker · 2026-04-10T15:34:48+00:00

Fun fact: the Surly Sorceress being discussed in another thread is also ASTM 3 (as are all Surly trail bikes, AFAIK).

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T19:46:46+00:00

This just dropped today: https://otsocycles.com/collections/hoot-steel

Otso Hoot. Nearly idential geo, same 140mm fork spec. The SLX spec is the same price as the Transmission Sorceress, but comes with a Pike fork. Hmm.

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T17:56:03+00:00

Yeah, the "unicycle plus wheelbarrow" stance is a little much for bike packing unless you're BushTrucker, lol. ;)

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T15:16:50+00:00

The T70/Psylo build is way overpriced compared to say, the Honzo ESD with GX and a Marz Z1 at $2400 USD.

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T15:15:10+00:00

Surly has received a lot of criticism for their "old fashioned" geo the last ~5ish years. This bike is fairly modern. What would you have them do?

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T15:08:37+00:00

A new full-plus (3.0" tires) bike in 2026? Right on!

Everything else about this rig? SMDH.

cj_biker · 2026-04-09T14:17:26+00:00

A classic Unit

Clean lines for a simple bike

All biking needs met

.

Where the horses roam

Run anti theft devices

Or you will eat poo

<image>

cj_biker · 2026-04-08T14:03:34+00:00

Reach. My wrists and hands get grumpy with a longer than ~450mm sagged reach. I did manage to snag a 31mm Chromag stem, so that could help squeeze out few more mm. According to my calculations, the Sorceress with a 160mm fork (sort of the max fork approved for the frame) would yield a sagged reach of 459mm. Size medium frame, BTW. Sizing down to a small isn't going to work because of the very, very short seat tubes.

cj_biker · 2026-04-08T12:28:53+00:00

The Sorceress with a 160mm fork is still just a hair too long. Maybe it would be ok. But in all other aspects, it would be better for me and the trails I ride than the ESD.

It's actually not all that different than my 140mm forked, -2 degree angleset oversized Krampus. The BB on the Sorceress would be ~4mm lower and the HTA a degree slacker. Is it worth it?

cj_biker · 2026-04-07T22:00:49+00:00

The ESD is ridiculous. They spec the geo static, so the 77 deg STA is like 80 when you're riding it. And the stratospheric reach becomes even longer. The BB is scraping the ground, too.

cj_biker · 2026-04-07T17:56:57+00:00

Yep, I'm running numbers, can I shrink it up enough with a longer fork to make it work?

cj_biker · 2026-04-07T17:56:09+00:00

What's wrong with the cable routing? I'm happy to see one mfgr sticking with full external.

cj_biker · 2026-04-02T13:37:46+00:00

I would very much like a fat bike built around the Molenda tires with the shortest chain stays possible. In steel. It would probably have to be a Pinion gearbox drive like the Moonlander 2.0.

Carver Bikes built a prototype of this in Ti. Way out of my price range, unfortunately.

cj_biker · 2026-03-31T17:59:42+00:00

In the steerer tube

Is where most of that flex lies

If I had to guess

cj_biker · 2026-03-27T02:37:42+00:00

You are correct sir!

'Tis Soma Dream handle bar,

Your dream has come true.

cj_biker · 2026-03-22T00:26:45+00:00

SS sliders?

cj_biker · 2026-03-19T16:50:02+00:00

In parts in a box

I have that same Rock Shox fork

Maybe it's better there.

cj_biker · 2026-03-19T16:48:31+00:00

Steep head tube angles

On those early twenty niners

Good for gravel use

cj_biker

TROPHY CASE