We sincerely apologize for the confusion caused by our recent announcement regarding the discontinuation of Cielo frame production by Chris King. As so many of your responses have shown, we have once again realized that the daily operations of Circles, SimWorks, and Chris King are built upon a foundation of tremendous support—that is, your support. Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for everyone's support.
While the discontinuation is unfortunate news, the Chris King Wheel Dept., which is their most specialized division already active in the United States, has now begun its operations in Japan.
It has been four years since they launched this department, bringing in one of Japan's most renowned top-tier wheel builders, Greg Hudson, to work alongside their world-class hubs—which feature the proprietary "RingDrive" clutch mechanism—and hand-selected rims and spokes from the US and around the world. Finally, we are now able to provide Japanese customers with Chris King hand-built wheels, assembled using the highest quality materials, equipment, and craftsmanship available.
This is Greg. Before joining Chris King, he was the lead wheel builder at the Portland-based wheel company CORSA CONCEPT, and he is also the person who developed the CX TAPE alongside Molly Cameron. Drawing from his own experience in CX and road racing, he founded the CORSA brand after realizing (looking at the market about 10 years ago) that there were no wheels on the market that were durable enough for racing while still being unique. He is currently bringing that same expertise to Chris King.
In May of this year, Greg traveled to France, not only to support the Tour de France but also to undergo training at MAVIC, which had acquired ENVE. An important part of his mission there was to teach the team mechanics of Team Dimension Data—the only team supported by Chris King—how to maintain the R45 hubs.
As it turned out once he arrived, the team mechanics weren't the ones building the wheels; they were using wheels built by ENVE. In addition to checking and adjusting all of them, he offered to build several sets for Cavendish on the spot, an act of heroism where he put them together in a rush right there in France.
The Chris King Wheel Dept. is not a typical bike shop. To ensure that every wheel sent out is as perfect as possible so that it never needs to be returned, they use custom-made machines to apply lateral pressure to the wheels and perform daily checks on their tension meters to maintain accuracy. In a workplace that prioritizes the correct use of tools and refuses to compromise on anything—selecting or even building their own tools when specialized equipment is required for the wheel-building process—every single wheel is meticulously assembled.
While you can order through the Chris King Wheel Dept., Circles also has stock wheels available.
When you speak of ENVE, you're talking about a carbon component manufacturer that commands respect everywhere. The world of carbon technology is perhaps similar to the IT industry; as human ingenuity advances, the capabilities of manufacturers shift.
Light weight is obviously better when moving objects, but combining it with durability is a contradiction—reconciling those two things is what we call wisdom and science. Carbon exists today because of this. A constant commitment to pushing the limits is directly linked to staying at the cutting edge. Here are road racer wheels using those cutting-edge ENVE rims.
・Hub Color: Matte Emerald
・R45 20-hole front hub / 24-hole rear hub (Shimano)
・Sapim CX-RAY spokes + genuine ENVE brass nipples
・Includes ENVE valve extenders, brake pads, and rim strips
・5-year Chris King hub warranty
・2-year crash replacement policy supported by Chris King
・5-year ENVE rim warranty
Price: ¥358,000 (excl. tax)
I was curious, so I looked up the retail price of ENVE in Japan, and honestly, we are offering these at such a good price that it almost makes me worried. For our shop, which previously couldn't make great offers because we didn't have a direct relationship with the domestic distributor, this is a very welcome addition to our options.
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Of course, carbon rims aren't the only ones we have in stock.
Are you familiar with the HED BELGIUM rim? Truth be told, I own three sets of wheels built with these rims, and it's my rim of choice, primarily for cyclocross racing. With a slightly wider 25mm profile, they are well-suited for high-volume tires, and the welding precision at the seam is high. Even without eyelets, they feel very solid, allowing you to build a wheel that is well-balanced in both weight and stiffness. Furthermore, the updated BELGIUM+ rim is tubeless-ready.
・Hub Color: Matte Jet
・R45 28-hole front hub / 28-hole rear hub (Shimano)
・Sapim CX-RACE spokes + aluminum nipples
・Includes tubeless rim tape and Kool-Stop brake pads
・5-year Chris King hub warranty
・2-year crash replacement policy supported by Chris King
・1-year HED rim warranty
Price: ¥135,000 (excl. tax)
・Hub Color: Matte Emerald
・R45 28-hole front hub (QR) / 28-hole rear hub (135mm QR, Shimano)
・Center lock disc
・Sapim CX-RACE spokes + aluminum nipples
・Includes tubeless rim tape and Kool-Stop brake pads
・5-year Chris King hub warranty
・2-year crash replacement policy supported by Chris King
・1-year HED rim warranty
Price: ¥155,000 (excl. tax)
・Hub Color: Matte Slate
・R45 28-hole front hub (12mm thru) / 28-hole rear hub (12x142mm thru, Shimano)
・6-bolt disc
・Sapim CX-RACE spokes + aluminum nipples
・Includes tubeless rim tape and Kool-Stop brake pads
・5-year Chris King hub warranty
・2-year crash replacement policy supported by Chris King
・1-year HED rim warranty
Price: ¥150,000 (excl. tax) SOLD OUT
We have a lineup of rim-brake models using the R45 and disc-brake models using the R45 DISC. While it depends on what you prioritize, these are exceptionally high-quality rims among the many aluminum options available. They have many users globally, but they haven't been sufficiently developed in the Japanese market, so this is good news. For our current stock wheels, we have prepared them in the new matte colors and the limited Matte Emerald color.
Of course, in addition to stock wheels, you can also choose from a variety of options based on your intended use. In addition to options like quick-release or thru-axles, you can also order them in your preferred hub color. If Chris King has them in stock, we can have them ready in as little as two weeks, so please feel free to consult with us if you were thinking about them for the upcoming cross season!