Update 2: Rims arrived today. I put a Gran Bois Hetre on to check the fit of the tire bead but haven’t built up a wheel with the rims yet. I will put up a more detailed page on the rims when I have a chance to try them out tubeless. I’m encouraged that the bead fit on the Hetre was snug and uniform. I will be sending out pre-orders, building wheels and testing out tubeless setups as soon as I can. I would suggest using Veloplugs or very thin tubeless rim tape when using tubes with these rims. Thick cloth rim tape will make tires difficult to mount.

I’ll post some “one-click” wheelset options in the next few days. In the meantimes you can assemble custom wheels on the website, call, or email your component choices to me. I have 700C A23′s in stock as well. I’m only keeping silver A23′s on the shelf right now, but if you want black 700C for a wheel build I can have them in 2-3 days.

Update 1: I just received a call from the freight company arranging delivery of the 650B A23′s on Wednesday. The deadline for pre-orders will be at the end of the day on Tuesday.

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. While the Synergy is a fine rim, it is overbuilt for many uses and riders. When I brought up the prospect of a 650B A23 to the internet assembly the response what heartening, so I put in an order with Velocity.

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. Velocity A23′s are now also tubeless ready. I will test popular 650B tires without tubes on the A23′s when they arrive.

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.

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
• SON 28S (six bolt disc) black 32 and 36 hole $300

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.

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.

We’ll be moving beginning March 30th and hope to be fully functional by the end of the next week.  On the 30th I’ll start putting the inventory in a moving truck. Fortunately a couple of partners can ship Velocity rims and Busch & Muller lights, so if you order those online during the move they should still ship out the same or the next day depending on what time of the day you order.

Wheelbuilds–the wheelbuilding backlog has been hovering around one and a half to two weeks since the beginning of February. Any wheelbuilds ordered after March 16 may be delayed since they might not ship before the move. When we arrive in Troy resuming wheelbuilding will be first priority so that people with wheels on order won’t have extended delays, but there will be some delays until I get caught up and settle in.

I am having an Everything (That I Don’t Want to Move) Must Go Sale through March. I’ll post items in the near future. If you are local you might stop by to see what odds and ends I need to sale before the move. I promise prices will be very good.

Update: Because of the snowstorm on the East Coast I didn’t make my flight on Monday. The next available flight was on the 30th, so I won’t be back in town until then. Apologies for any inconvenience.