Today I’d like to talk about wheel building.
The photo shows a wheel I built yesterday. By pure coincidence, the customer who ordered it came into the shop right after I finished, so I was able to hand over what might be the "freshest" wheels in Circles history. Please forgive the slightly grainy photo.
The hubs are Chris King R45, and the rims are DT RR440.
Since I was building the set, I naturally used the Asymmetric rim for the rear.
The customer who ordered these, Mr. O, is a rider who quietly knocks out epic solo rides every weekend, covering about 150–200km per day. Epic rides require a certain level of toughness, but weight is also a concern, so we chose 28H drilling. I built them using DT Champion spokes and alloy nipples with a 4-cross lacing pattern.
For those who aren't concerned with weight—such as for touring or commuter bikes—and want a sturdy wheel with high tension, I recommend brass nipples.
It’s tempting to go with silver for both spokes and nipples, but lately, I’ve been into switching it up with silver DT Champion spokes and black nipples to give it that custom-built feel.
The fact that these were so "fresh" doesn't mean much, but wheels can sometimes develop initial true issues as you ride them. Please feel free to bring them in anytime, and I’ll be happy to true them for you. We’re also more than happy to work on wheels that weren't built here.