From Swiss Epic to Iceland: How Gulo Wheels Carried Me Through a Wild Season
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
Every race season tells a story — of places ridden, challenges met, and equipment trusted when it matters most. My 2024–2025 racing years took me from the high Alps of Switzerland to the rugged volcanic landscapes of Iceland, to the hot, punchy climbs of Australia, and across countless miles of my local Pisgah trails. Through it all, one constant carried me: my Gulo Wheels, built right here in Brevard, North Carolina.
“Ditch outdated steel spokes. Our braided carbon-spoked wheels crush vibrations, weigh 50% less, and handle more punishment with less maintenance—so you ride farther, faster, and with more control.”
That’s not marketing fluff—after two full seasons of racing across multiple continents, I can say it’s exactly what these wheels deliver.
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
Swiss Epic — A True Test
My journey with Gulo began at Swiss Epic in August 2024, where my teammate Jennifer and I both rode Gulo GMX 30 wheels in the Master Women category, finishing 2nd overall. Over five grueling days, we climbed nearly 40,000 vertical feet and covered rugged, ever-changing terrain: steep grassy descents, rocky alpine passes, technical singletrack, and smooth flow trails.
Our Gulo wheels delivered flawlessly through every brutal climb and wild descent. While other wheels might have needed re-truing or lost tension over such terrain, ours stayed perfectly dialed from start to finish.
Swiss Epic Race Stats
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Stage 1: 46.19 mi | 7,159 ft | 4:56:05
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Stage 2: 46.24 mi | 8,045 ft | 5:54:09
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Stage 3: 39.02 mi | 6,293 ft | 4:29:46
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Stage 4: 39.37 mi | 8,301 ft | 5:36:33
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Stage 5: 37.68 mi | 7,972 ft | 5:06:08
Nationals & Worlds — Speed Meets Precision
This season, I raced both Marathon and Cross Country (XCO) Nationals in Roanoke, Virginia.
The Marathon course came first: rocky and rooty, with loose descents and miles of flowy, root-ridden singletrack. Riding my GMX 30 wheels, I felt confident, light, and smooth, and I was thrilled to finish 1st, bringing my total to five national titles.
A few days later came the XCO Nationals, a narrow, smooth, and very off-camber course where traction was absolutely key. Once again, my GMX 30 wheels delivered incredible grip in corners and on the climbs, and I finished 2nd in XCO Nationals.
Nationals Race Stats
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Marathon: 43.39 mi | 4,528 ft | 4:23:07
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XCO: 11.81 mi | 1,181 ft | 1:08:26
A few weeks earlier, I had raced at the XCO Masters World Championships in Cairns, Australia, placing 4th on one of the most demanding courses I’ve ever ridden. It was hot, steep, and technical, with rocky climbs and fast, jump-filled descents — a true test of both rider and gear.
Cairns XCO Race Stats
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Distance: 12.15 mi | Climbing: 1,483 ft | Time: 1:10:51
Rift MTB Iceland — A Wild Ride
One of the season highlights was the Rift MTB 5-day stage race in Iceland, where Ryan and I raced in the Elite Mixed Team category, finishing 2nd overall. Over five days, we covered 200 miles and 22,000 feet of climbing, riding through everything from proper technical trails to totally unridden mountain passes, endless stretches of loose rock, boggy wet sections, soft volcanic ash, volcanic boulders, and even snow.
Despite this relentless terrain, my GMX 30 wheels stayed perfectly true. No broken spokes. No loss of tension. Just smooth, controlled riding in some of the most extreme conditions imaginable.
Rift MTB Race Stats
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Stage 1: 25.39 mi | 3,540 ft | 2:30:54
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Stage 2: 27.09 mi | 4,163 ft | 2:51:57
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Stage 3: 39.09 mi | 6,243 ft | 4:23:03
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Stage 4: 50.33 mi | 2,438 ft | 3:42:37
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Stage 5: 40.93 mi | 4,898 ft | 3:53:35
Built in Brevard — Innovation with Deep Roots
Gulo isn’t just another wheel brand—it’s the product of over 40 years of advanced composite manufacturing experience. Gulo is part of Keir Manufacturing, a company based right here in Brevard, North Carolina, with decades of expertise in high-performance composites.
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
Stronger Than Steel — And Built to Last
Gulo’s triaxially braided carbon spokes represent the future of wheel technology:
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Half the weight of steel
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~20% higher tensile strength (around 1,000 lbs per spoke)
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Minimal stretch under load — holding tension consistently
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Returns to original length when flexed (unlike steel)
Thanks to these properties, Gulo wheels don’t need constant truing. Even after two full seasons of racing across the toughest courses in the world, my wheels stayed true and reliable. The only issue I ever encountered was a single rare spoke defect, which Gulo’s local team identified and replaced immediately — and the wheel was perfect ever since.
Vibration Damping
Gulo’s composite spokes also absorb trail chatter, reducing vibration by 8% compared to metal spokes. Over long races, this smoother ride translates to less fatigue, more control, and the ability to push harder when it counts.
Impact Strength
Through their custom Gulo Impact Tower Test, each spoke is tested to survive 4–12 joule direct impacts at varying tensions. G-Spokes consistently outperform steel spokes — staying intact without losing tension or deforming.
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
Riding Local. Racing Global.
One of my favorite parts of riding Gulo is that their factory is right here in Brevard, just a few miles from the trails I train on. I can stop in, chat with the crew, and see the wheels being made. It’s rare to find this level of local craftsmanship combined with world-class innovation.
Over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, I’ve raced two sets of GMX 30 wheels in every event — Swiss Epic, Rift MTB Iceland, Nationals, Worlds, and Pisgah. They’ve been light, strong, smooth, and completely reliable, giving me confidence on climbs, corners, and wild descents.
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| Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites |
I’m also incredibly excited to upgrade to GMX SL wheels next season, which promise to be even lighter, faster, and smoother, and I can’t wait to see how they elevate my riding to the next level.
Wheelsets I Use
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GMX 30 — Trail | Everyday | Stage Races (2024–2025 seasons, Swiss Epic, Rift MTB, Nationals, Worlds, Pisgah)
GMX SL — Coming next season (super light, cross-country focus)
Photo credit: Danny Carp, Gulo Composites
From Brevard to the Alps and beyond — Gulo Wheels have been a game-changer. Light, strong, smooth, and local, they’ve carried me safely and confidently through every mile of two unforgettable seasons.
Ride stronger. Ride smoother. Experience the future of cycling wheels — Gulo.
👉 gulocomposites.com
