Many of the rims sold by Surly are absolutely riddled with holes.
For example, it looks something like this. The photo shows a model called the Rabbit Hole Rim.
There are 30 large holes in the center of the rim (all the way around).
Above and below that, there are smaller holes—32 on top and 32 on the bottom, for a total of 64.
That's 96 holes in total.
Their purpose is as shown in the photos below.
The holes for weight reduction are straightforward.
Fat and semi-fat bike rims tend to be heavy, and such large holes are incredibly effective at keeping the weight down.
However, the nipple holes remain a mystery.
Why are there 64 of them?
While hubs come in various hole counts, the one compatible with this rim is a 32H hub.
Since that means 32 spokes, 32 holes should be enough, so why 64?
It is in this mystery that Surly’s "good sense of balance" becomes apparent.
The answer can be found in the photos below:
① Front Wheel
② Rear Wheel
Can you see the difference, everyone?
On the front wheel, the holes are used in an alternating pattern, while on the rear wheel, a single row on one side is used.
The front wheel uses alternating holes to space out the spokes, creating a solid, stable wheel.
The rear wheel uses the offset spoke holes to allow the rim to be shifted, helping to balance out the spoke tension of an asymmetrical hub as much as possible.
That is the intent behind it.
Offset rims are nothing particularly rare; they are sold by various manufacturers like DT and Velocity.
So, why are Surly’s rims so interesting?
Because they incorporate both types of functionality into a single rim design.
This way, you only need one type of machinery and one type of raw material for the rim.
The result is increased production efficiency, lower prices, and a big win for the user!!
This is a theme that runs through all of Surly's bikes—being as user-friendly as possible is the very essence of Surly.
We are always ready to take on your wheel-building requests.
