When Inoled introduced their LED lights in 2006 dynamo headlights took a leap forward. The LED lights were more durable than halogen, and they quickly became brighter than the very best halogen dynamo headlight (the Schmidt E6). To top it off, LED’s didn’t have bulbs that needed to be changed. Since 2006 LED headlights have improved, but the improvement has been incremental. The IQ2 optics* of Busch & Muller’s Luxos headlights are a significant improvement over existing LED dynamo headlights. The beam is brighter, muuuuch wider, and the light is more evenly distributed throughout the beam. Read more on the Luxos page here.
*What’s different about IQ2 vs. IQ? I looked at a webpage on the subject, but it was in German. From the diagrams it looks like the reflectors have been designed to make better use of the available LED output.
The 650B A23′s have sold well, and I’m almost out of 32h and 36h rims. This was the first time I’d had a batch of rims made to order, and I overestimated demand for 28h rims. I need to get these things on the road and out of my shop.
So until they are gone, the 28h rims are $45 each. That goes for loose rims as well as wheelbuilds, I’m also discounting my wheelbuild rate for new wheels built with these rim. In all you can save $80 off a new wheelset.
I know 650B riders tend to be conservative with spoke count, but 28 spokes in the 650B diameter with >32mm tires is plenty strong for most uses. If you’re under 200lbs I’ll happily guarantee any 650B A23 28 spoke wheel I build.
I also know that there has been frequent pining for a 650B 130mm budget wheelset. With the A23′s on sale road 650B wheelsets start at $265.80.
I’ve listed some complete wheels below. Unfortunately, Shimano has stopped making most of the aftermarket road hubs in 28h, so custom wheelbuilders (and riders) have fewer choices. But as usual, if you’d like wheels built with any other hubs (including your own) just contact me.
Velocity A23 650B 28H $75
Note that the A23′s have a shallow rim well, and thick cloth tape will make tires nearly impossible to mount (I’ve done it to test and I can’t recommend repeating the feat.) So do yourself a favor and use Stan’s 21mm yellow tape, or Velocity Veloplugs
Stan’s 21mm yellow tape
Velocity Veloplugs
Complete Wheels
The selection of 28h road hubs has narrowed considerably in the last two years. There aren’t many less-than-$400 a hubset options out there for custom wheelbuilders (and riders). It took some hunting to find, but Origin8 makes a nice shiny silver set with sealed bearings. They look to me like rebadged Formulas. The front hub is 100g and the rear 382g, rear hub has a Shimano/SRAM cassette body. Quick release skewers are included with the Origin8 hubs. These hubs are pictured at the bottom of the page.
All wheels below are all silver, 28 spokes, with A23 rims. Spokes are silver with silver brass nipples. If you’d like alloy nipples just add them to your order.
Substitute Alloy Nipples for Brass
Origin8 (RB91 front and RB32S rear)
SONdelux Dynamo Front Wheel
White Industries T11 and MI5 Wheels
White Industries redesigned their H3 hub to get ready for Shimano 11 speed cassettes. The T11 engraving differs from the old H3′s. Some like, some don’t. Don’t worry, if you want the “old” logos in a 130mm hub the MI5 Racer hub from White Industries comes in a 130mm configuration.
I’ve added some new 650B rims and tires from Kirk Pacenti. Both are well-suited for brevets or any other pacey riding. The PL23 rim, like the Velocity A23, is 23mm wide, but the PL23 is slightly lighter (about an ounce), box section rather than v-section, and has a polished finish rather than the anodized silver of the A23. Those who prefer a more traditional looking rim will appreciate the PL23.
The Pari-Moto tire is a 650B iteration of a classic road racing tire with a file tread pattern and a very supple casing.
The A23 road rim Velocity started making in 2010 is slightly wider than normal road rims. For the “road” market the 23mm width of the A23 has purported benefits when used with narrow tires. When I started using the 700C A23 for wheelbuilds I was impressed with the strength to weight ratio of the rim, the uniformity of the rim joint, and thought it would make a great 650B rim. 650B riders need wider rims for the 38mm+ tires typically used on 650B bikes.
I expect a shipment of 650B A23′s from Velocity by the end of the month. The rims, like all Velocity rims made since January, are manufactured in Florida.
The 650B A23 rims will will come in silver only. Drillings on the first batch are 28,32,and 36H. The sidewalls will be non-machined, just like the 650B Synergy rims.* Available a la carte and for wheelbuilds.
Rims will be $75. If you pre-order 650B A23′s you’ll get 10% off your rims. To get the A23′s rolled into 650B I had to order a substantially larger number of rims than my usual rim order, so pre-orders will help me and I hope the discount helps you.
If you are having your wheels built at a local shop they can order the rims from us. Local bike shops and framebuilders can email the shop for dealer pricing.
*Why non-machined sidewalls? Mostly because machined sidewalls on anodized rims aren’t necessary, remove a little sidewall material and potentially decrease the lifespan of a rim. A well-built wheel’s weakest link (in normal usage) is the thickness of the rim sidewall. In normal usage the wheel will last until the sidewall has been worn too thin by the brake pads.
Machining rim sidewalls became “standard” in the industry in the last couple of decades, but their main benefit for manufacturers was to make rims feel better on bicycle test rides by masking rim joint irregularities, not improve braking performance. The inevitable dirt on brake pads and brake usage will “machine” the sidewall of bicycle rims in use. Powdercoated rims need machined sidewalls to be used with rim brakes. Non-machined powdercoated rims will often squeal loudly and always brake poorly when used with rim brakes until the brake pads wear through the powdercoat. I do not know if the ubiquity of machined sidewall rims or the recent popularity of powdercoated rims has fostered the misunderstanding that all rims must be machined to work with rim brakes, but that misunderstanding is out there. Most of my customers know better, but I get the question from time to time with other rims.
Schmidt has redesigned the SON28 to take advantage of the lighter hubshell and efficiency of the SONdelux hubs. The estimated drag reduction versus the SON28 Classic hub is 15%, and the weight is reduced by 140g. Unlike the SONdelux hub, the new SON28 hub is suitable for use with “ride and charge” devices used to charge batteries, cell phones, GPS’s, etc. while riding.
I still have 32H and 36H black SON28 classic hubs, so I’m only stocking silver 32 and 36H 2012 SON28 hubs for now. As stock of the other hubs runs out the hubs will be replaced with the 2012 SON28. Prices are the same as SONdelux hubs–$285 silver and $301 black. Disc hubs cost a little more.
Schmidt has designed the SON 28 hub to take advantage of the lower drag and lighter weight design of the SONdelux. The new SON 28, however, will work better than the SONdelux when used with “ride and charge” devices for charging batteries and electronic gizmos while riding. No pictures of the new hub yet. Prices will be slightly higher than the current SON 28, which is now known as the SON 28 Classic. The new SON 28 will be shaped much like the SONdelux but have wider flange spacing. Since the hub flanges will be relatively small, the new SON 28 will not come in 40 and 48 hole drillings (no room for all those holes). The SON 28 Classic will continue to be produced in these drillings. If your bicycle has disc brakes, the new SON 28 will be available in both six bolt and center lock versions.
Current production 32 and 36 hole SON 28′s are being significantly discounted to make room for the new hubs. Prices for hubs below. Go here to purchase hubs or complete wheels. Complete wheel prices have now been update to reflect discounted hub prices.
SON 28 polished silver 32 and 36 hole $200 (24 and 28 hole $225)
SON 28 black 32 and 36 hole $230
SON 28S (six bolt disc) polished silver 32 and 36 hole $260
A few people have been waiting on SONdelux hubs to arrive from Germany. If you have a wheel on backorder with these hubs your wheel will be built soon.
The Moving Truck is Here, Our Schedule for the Next Three Days, and What You Should Know Before Ordering In that Time
The moving truck is here and we will be on the road soon. Here’s the skinny on ordering–all the inventory is boxed so I won’t personally ship anything until at least Friday. However, if you need Velocity rims, dynohub lighting, or spokes I have partners who can ship your order pretty much immediately. If you just-gotta-have one of those things shipped the same day you order, you might want to call ahead or email to be 100% certain it can ship immediately.
On Wednesday night I’ll be unplugging the phone in Wilmington, but during the move and thereafter I can be reached at 603.242.3622.
By Monday everything will be back to normal as far as ordering goes (for you). For us moving chaos will still reign, but everything has been planned so that we will be fulfilling orders normally by then.
We’re excited about the new digs, but moving isn’t fun. The anxiety of moving has been lessened, however, by a good March. We appreciate the patronage and support very, very much.
That’s 603.242.3622. The phone number at the top of this page will work for a little bit but I’ll cut it off very soon. Don’t be afraid to call–it will be a welcome break to the monotony of taping up yet another box.
Yesterday was the cutoff day for ordering wheels that could reasonably be expected to ship before we move on the 31st. For at least the next three weeks wheelbuilding orders will be delayed. Wheelbuilding keeps the lights on around here and I know how hard it is to wait, so I’m offering an incentive to order wheels during our relocation.
If you can stand to wait a little longer (probably about week longer than normal) for you wheels and order between now and April 6th I will waive the labor charge. This offer only applies if you’re buying all your wheel components from us. If you are ordering online you can put your parts in the cart and leave a note in the supplied field at checkout about the wheelbuilding offer. And of course you can always call to order.
Red and White Gran Bois Hetres have been out of stock for a long time. If you’ve been waiting for them, they’re back in stock now, along with the black tires.
When Inoled introduced their LED lights in 2006 dynamo headlights took a leap forward. The LED lights were more durable than halogen, and they quickly became brighter than the very best halogen dynamo headlight (the Schmidt E6). To top it off, LED’s didn’t have bulbs that needed to be changed. Since 2006 LED headlights have improved, but the improvement has been incremental. The IQ2 optics* of Busch & Muller’s Luxos headlights are a significant improvement over existing LED dynamo headlights. The beam is brighter, muuuuch wider, and the light is more evenly distributed throughout the beam. Read more on the Luxos page here.
