The Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro is an ultralight, beautiful gravel wheelset. Pitted against the best gravel wheelsets it stands tall, with fantastic components and build to match. They hit the mark and, if you’re looking for a capable, race-ready option, the Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro should be added to your gravel wheel wishlist.
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Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro wheelset – Technical details
The Blacklabel name is reserved for just a handful of wheelsets in Reynolds’ road, mountain bike and gravel lineup, with the G700 Pro aimed at riders looking for the lightest set available. The wheelset features an asymmetric 26mm-deep carbon rim with a tubeless straight side (TSS) profile and a 25mm internal width. The wheel build uses Industry Nine Torch hubs, the same used in the recently tested Parlee Sky Ridge Carbon with rapid six-degree engagement, smooth bearings and a subtle freehub buzz that sounds great.
The wheels are built using Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes and EXT (external) alloy spoke nipples. It features a pretty low spoke count for a wheelset aimed at off-road riding with 20 front and 24 rear in a two-cross configuration. Despite the low weight and low spoke count, Reynolds doesn’t state a recommended maximum weight limit and provides a lifetime warranty.
The wheelset can be purchased with either Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehub, although Industry Nine does provide the option of Campagnolo N3W for anyone with an Ekar groupset. The wheels come in Centrelock rotor configuration only.
The low weight is the first thing you will notice when unpacking the wheels. The wheels weighed in at 1,340g, (595g front and 745g rear), making them lighter than claimed weight figure of 1,357g.
Within the best gravel wheelsets category, the internal rim width varies massively between manufacturers but there’s a growing philosophy that wider is better – something we’ve seen on the Zipp 101 XPLR (27mm) and ENVE’s G23 wheelset (23mm). A wider internal rim width should theoretically give the tyre a better profile, more support when cornering and greater speed. The ID for the G700 is 25mm and, while this might not be revolutionary, it is comparable to most others and is a little wider than most lightweight options.
Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro wheelset – Performance
The wheels arrived with pre-tape with tubeless valves provided. To test the wheels I used a pair of Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres which seated and inflated fairly easily.
While the wheels are noticeably light, perhaps less expected is how much stiffness the wheels maintain despite such a low spoke count. On more technical downhills, the wheels hold a straight line with no detectable lateral flex that can be felt with some other lightweight wheels. While they have remained true throughout testing, should you ever need to adjust the spoke tension, the external spoke nipples should make things relatively simple to adjust compared to wheelsets with internal spoke nipples.
The Industry Nine hubs are fantastic, with smooth bearings and a quality finish that is hard to beat. The brand is known for its range of bright colour options but in this instance, the hubs are matte black. I love the sound of the freehub which is distinctive without being overly loud or aggressive. It helps give an indication of how quickly the hubs engage.
The rear hub freehub has a six-degree engagement angle and, despite only utilising a three-pawl arrangement, they feel solid and dependable and should suit anyone who is looking for a lightweight set-up.
Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro wheelset – Verdict
At £2,200, the Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro wheelset is not cheap and will be a step too far for many. The recently tested £2,500 Parlee Sky Ridge wheelset and the £3,100 ENVE G2 are close competitors in terms of pricing.
There are many cheaper and equally dependable options for less, with the Scribe Carbon Wide++ being one at just £800, offering a similar lightweight spec and feature list.
The Reynolds Blacklabel G700 Pro wheels are most definitely a wishlist item and impressed with their performance but choosing them represents more a case of lust than necessity.
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Wheel purpose:
The Blacklabel G700 Pro wheels give you every advantage when you hit the dirt and the big climbs. Our newly designed light and wide hookless tubeless rim channel is perfectly matched to wider gravel tires and lower tire pressure for traction and control on even the most treacherous surfaces.
KEY FEATURES
•Designed specifically for off-pavement performance the new BL G series gravel wheels are wide, light, and durable.
•New low profile wide TSS channel rim for more stability, direct power transfer and improved compliance
•Features Reynolds IDM (Impact Dispersing Matrix) for industry-leading impact resistance and durability
•Reynolds/I9 proprietary Blacklabel Torch road hubs, fully CNC machine with 6° engagement for crisp power delivery
Build extra:
USAGE: Gravel
•RIM TECHNOLOGY: MR5 IDM TSS
•RIM DEPTH: 26mm
•RIM WIDTH: 25mm
•HUBS: Reynolds/I9 Torch Road DB, 100% CNC machined, 6° engagement, 3 pawl
•BRAKE INTERFACE: CL
•FRONT AXLE: 12 x 100 TA (15 x 100 TA available)
•REAR AXLE: 12 x 142 TA
•FH BODY: Shimano HGR 11/12 speed compatible, Campy N3W, and •SRAM XDR
•SPOKES: Sapim CX-Ray
•NIPPLES: EXT Alloy
•HOLE COUNT: 20/24
•SIZE: 622
•WEIGHT: 1357g (set)
Wheel construction
Wheel performance
Wheel durability
Wheel weight
Wheel value
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