Why I Ride Wingman Origin Rims

As mountain bikers, we spend a lot of time talking about suspension.

Tyres.

Brakes.

Drivetrains.

But one of the most overlooked components on any mountain bike is the wheelset.

And that's interesting because every input we make as riders eventually finds its way through the wheels.

Cornering.

Braking.

Jumping.

Landing.

Smashing through rock gardens.

Everything.

The more time I spend riding and coaching, the more I realise that confidence on the trail often starts with trust in your equipment.

That's exactly why I ride Wingman Origin rims.

From Railed to Wingman

My connection with Wingman actually started years ago.

Long before the brand became what it is today.

I first met Eugene when he was running Railed Wheels out of Macquarie Park. At the time, I purchased a set of Magura brakes from him and we got chatting.

Since then, I've watched his journey evolve from Railed into what is now Wingman.

Like many riders in the Sydney mountain bike scene, I'd heard nothing but good things about the products.

We stayed in touch over the years and occasionally discussed the possibility of working together.

This year, the timing felt right for both of us.

We struck a deal.

I was offered a set of Wingman Origin rims laced to E13 Sidekick hubs, and in return I help spread the word through MTB23, content creation, rider feedback and community engagement.

It's a partnership I'm genuinely proud of because it aligns with something I value deeply:

Helping riders make informed decisions based on real-world experience.

Built for Sydney Conditions

If you've ridden Sydney trails, you'll understand Sydney sandstone is brutal.

Sharp edges, rock gardens, square hits, loose chunk, off-camber.

The sort of terrain that exposes weaknesses in equipment very quickly.

The thing I love most about the Wingman story is that these rims weren't designed in a boardroom somewhere overseas.

They were developed to solve the challenges faced by riders right here in Sydney.

Wingman looked at the common failures riders were experiencing.

The dents.

The cracks.

The weaknesses.

Then they set out to fix them.

The result is the Origin rim.

A wheel built specifically for the kind of punishment Australian mountain bikers dish out every weekend.

My Current Setup

Bike:
Polygon Collosus T9

Wheelset:
Wingman Origin Rims

Hubs:
E13 Sidekick Hubs

Wheel Size:
29-inch front and rear

Terrain:
OMV, H2O, Bare Creek, Ourimbah, Mt Narra, Bare Creek, Thredbo and pretty much everywhere in between.

I've now been riding this setup since March and have accumulated well over 100 hours and more than 1,500 kilometres of riding and coaching.

The wheels have seen everything from Sydney sandstone chunk to Thredbo bike park laps and they haven't missed a beat.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed wasn't strength, the Origin rims manage to achieve something that many wheelsets struggle with, they're stiff, yet compliant.

That balance is difficult to achieve as some wheels feel vague and disconnected, others feel harsh and unforgiving.

The Origins somehow deliver direct feedback from the trail while still maintaining comfort and control.

I could immediately feel what the tyres were doing underneath me, I could feel available grip, I could feel traction and this fills me with confidence, as a rider, that's incredibly valuable.

Because when you can feel what the bike is doing, you can make better decisions.

Cornering Confidence

Cornering is where I noticed the biggest difference.

The increased stiffness translates into incredibly precise handling.

The bike tracks exactly where you point it.

There's no vague feeling.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

Just predictable handling and heaps of grip.

When you're pushing hard into turns, especially on loose Sydney trails, that level of confidence matters.

Confidence creates commitment.

Commitment creates speed.

Rock Gardens, Jank and Hard Hits

Let's be honest.

Every wheelset looks good when conditions are easy.

The real test begins when things get rough.

Square-edge impacts.

Rock gardens.

Heavy landings.

Unexpected mistakes.

I've clipped rocks.

I've hit square edges harder than I'd like to admit.

I've ridden some genuinely rough terrain.

Yet somehow these wheels continue to come back asking for more.

No dents.

No broken spokes.

No truing required.

Still straight.

Still strong.

Still performing exactly as they should.

In fact, every other rim I've owned has eventually shown signs of surrender to my riding style.

The Origins haven't.

That alone says a lot.

The Sidekick Hub Surprise

While this article is about the rims, I'd be doing the setup a disservice if I didn't mention the E13 Sidekick hubs.

They've genuinely surprised me.

Like many riders, I grew up in BMX.

Loud hubs were cool.

The louder the better.

That mentality followed me into mountain biking.

Then I rode the Sidekicks.

The reduced pedal kickback and calmer ride characteristics create a smoother, more composed bike, especially through rough terrain.

The Sidekick rear hubs has been a welcomed surprise, with the reduced pedal kick back that dual suspension bikes suffer, my right is very grateful for this!

Combined with the Origins, the entire package feels incredibly refined.

It's honestly one of the best wheel setups I've ever ridden.

The Coaching Perspective

One thing I often see riders overlook is the importance of wheels.

People focus on flashy upgrades.

Carbon everything.

The latest gadgets.

The newest drivetrain.

Yet the wheelset is one of the most influential components on the entire bike.

A good wheelset should:

• Inspire confidence

• Track accurately

• Survive abuse

• Provide trail feedback

• Stay true

• Deliver long-term reliability

Most importantly, it should disappear beneath you.

You shouldn't be thinking about your wheels while you're riding.

You should simply trust them.

The Origins do exactly that.

Why Supporting Australian Brands Matters

As someone who has spent more than 20 years running an Australian business, supporting local industry means a lot to me.

I understand the challenges, the sacrifices and I understand what it takes to build something meaningful.

Wingman represents everything I love about the Sydney mountain bike community.

Passionate riders solving real-world problems for other riders.

Local supporting local.

Industry supporting industry.

Community supporting community.

That matters.

Final Thoughts

The thing I trust most about the Origin rims is the confidence they give me.

Confidence to push harder.

Confidence to ride rougher trails.

Confidence to attack lines without worrying about what's happening underneath me.

After thousands of trail kilometres, I've learned that wheelsets are one of the most important upgrades you can make to your bike.

The good news?

You no longer need to spend carbon wheel money to achieve exceptional performance.

What impressed me most about Wingman was the attention to detail.

The quality of the finished product.

The pride behind the brand.

And the confidence they have in what they've built.

Because at the end of the day, the best products are usually created by people who genuinely ride.

People who understand the problems, who care enough to solve them and that's exactly what Wingman has done.

And that's why they're on my bike.

Dan Smith

MTB23 Mountain Bike Coaching & Rider Development

Reference MTB23 when purchasing your Wingman wheelset to receive a 10% discount and support both Wingman and MTB23.