Velocity is making their rims in the USA and building their wheels in the USA. That’s huge, in my opinion and it’s been a great year for them in terms of growth. I wonder if that’s a coincidence. Anyway, enjoy this short video from their team in Florida!
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Radar
Ride in Peace: Steve Hed of HED Wheels
This morning, a true innovator in wheel technology, Steve Hed passed away. May you ride in peace, brother!
Reportage
Long Term Review: SRAM Roam 60 29r Wheels
I’m pretty adamant in believing that out of any bike you own, your MTB deserves carbon wheels more than the rest. Now, my point that I’m trying to make – without getting too far off-topic – is out of all your bikes, your MTB gets abused the most and is required to do the most. With road and even cross wheels, you’re rarely taking big hits off-axis and you’re certainly not charging rock gardens. Regardless of tire size, a MTB benefits from a carbon wheel, both in durability and performance. Just ride a set and you’ll see what I mean.
That said, I’ve never been convinced that a set of proprietary wheels is a worth while investment, when compared to a set of hand laced wheels. The problem is, those hand-built wheels get expensive when you’re talking carbon fiber rims, laced to a DT, King, White Industries or the like hubset.
If you do decide to pull the trigger on a set of carbon hoops, there are so many options out there. Do you want XC race-light or “trail” wheels? Well, SRAM made it easy with the Roam 60. They’re nearing the weight of an XC wheelset (1650 grams for a 29r) with the durability of a legit trail wheel. I tend to over compensate my inability to connect what I see myself doing in my head, to what actually happens on the bike, with products that are engineered for even gnarlier undertakings. In short: I like riding beefy products on my XC rig, because it’s not just a XC rig.
Radar
Mister Ghibli
Ever wonder how those Campagnolo Ghibli wheels are made?
Radar
Hermes Sport Wheels in Aluminum and Carbon
Made in the USA wheels are one of the most requested products I get emailed about. Now with Velocity making rims in the US, it’s easier to piece together your own wheels or look into options like Hermes Sport’s offerings.
Granted, their freehubs are made in Europe and the carbon rims are made overseas, but the alloy clinchers are made in the USA.
For $1995, you can ride the Hermes Sport carbon wheels and $995, the aluminum clinchers. Both are tubeless ready and built by hand, you guessed it, in the USA.
See more at Hermes Sport.
Radar
SRAM Rise 60 Wheels
SRAM continues to develop and refine their MTB wheel line with the Rise 60 wheels.
Check out the full specs at SRAM!
Radar
Blue Lug Builds Wheels
Here’s a little behind the scenes video from one of my favorite bike shops: Blue Lug in Japan!
Radar
Thank You Mavic!
Man, I know I get to shoot some pretty balleur rides, but I had a blast documenting the Mavic 125ans bikes… And it brought me back to my favorite city in the world for riding bikes: Los Angeles.
I’ll be reviewing a set of these Ksyrium 125 wheels, for those who have been emailing me, asking what I thought of them.
For now, thanks to Chad and Zach for bringing me to my favorite city, to ride and photograph bikes.
Reportage
The Mavic 125ans Project Bikes from Argonaut, Lynskey, Mosaic, Ritte and Seven
The Mavic 125ans Project came about to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the company. After the release of the Ksyrium 125 wheel in France earlier this spring, Chad Moore of Mavic USA reached out to a select group of frame builders who they felt were standouts in the industry.
Argonaut Cycles – working with designer Garrett Chow, Lynskey Performance, Mosaic Cycles – working with designer Zach Lee on their paint design, Ritte Cycles and Seven Cycles were contacted directly by Mavic.
Each builder was given a timeline and other than that, full artistic reign over their project bike. Looking to the Ksyrium 125 wheel for inspiration, each builder approached this unique collaboration in a way that represented what Mavic means to them and their brands.
These bikes will be released at Mavic’s brand communications center and Service Course in Los Angeles on 10 July, but I got a special sneak peek at the bikes yesterday, as I shot each in detail within the Mavic mechanics area. Both the Ritte and the Seven 125ans bikes will be auctioned off at the Pros Closet later this fall.
See this project in its entirety in the Gallery and there will be more to come, including interviews from some of the builders and an extensive look at Garrett Chow’s inspiration for the Argonaut Cycles road.
Radar
Andy Waterman Interviews Harry Rowland on Wheel Building
Tracko turned me onto this interview with Harry Rowland the other day and since then, I’ve read it a few times. It’s a great read, accompanied with a couple of photos and a handful of exceptional quotes:
“A lot of my customers, they just want to ride a bike and enjoy it. One of the problems with these factory wheels is they’re such low spoke count that if a spoke goes out on the club run, you’re not going anywhere. You need to call someone and get a lift home. You’ve got to be realistic, save your high end wheels for best. There’s a place for them, but even professionals will train on 32 spoke wheels. When the photographers come along they’ll be on the best gear, but when they’re out on their own without a team car, they’re riding normal wheels.”
Read the full interview at Andy Waterman’s site!
Radar
Chris King: Now Shipping Wheelsets
Chris King’s in-house wheelsets have begun rolling out the doors of their Portland facilities just in time for the holidays. This year, if you buy a cyclist anything, buy them some King! Check out the full offerings at Chris King. I have the R45 / Hed Belgium wheels on two of my bikes and I swear by them!
Reportage
Review: Easton’s EA90 SL Tubeless Race Wheels on My Geekhouse Cross
For me, nothing beats a 32h 3x wheelset for my cross bike but after talking with the guys at Easton about their new EA90 SLX tubeless race wheels, I was willing to try a set out.
While these can be used for road or cross, I have no desire to run them as road wheels. Tubeless rules for off-road riding, especially if you live in an area with a lot of rocks, roots and thorns. Why? There’s no pinch-flatting. The latex sealant also keeps trail debris from flatting your tires. Around this time of year in Austin, the thorns get blown and washed onto the trails, leaving you with at least one flat per ride if you’re not careful.
I don’t have this issue on my 29’r but my cross bike…
Check out more of my Initial Reaction to Easton’s EA90 SL tubeless race wheels below and more photos in the Gallery of my dialed-in Geekhouse Mudville, race-ready (for all who have asked).
Reportage
Mad Fiber’s High Tech Wheels are Made in the USA
A wise man once said “Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades” and those words still hold true today but for those who are looking for cutting edge wheel technology to aid in their performance, the name Mad Fiber might come to mind. Now, I am the last person on the face of the Earth that wants or needs carbon wheels like this but they’re not even mine. So technically, “Don’t buy upgrades, borrow them from the rep” fits here.
Check out more below.
Radar
Lightweight Wheels: Token
Tracko posted this up today and I highly recommend the watch and more importantly, listen.
Radar
Shifter Bikes: Love and Tough Love
Dan from Shifter Bikes is the premiere wheel smith in Australia. His builds come in at the PRO level. His methods are a mix of calculated, loving care and a bit of tough love. I miss these guys already.