【ASTRAL CYCLING】 The highly durable Stealth Grey series, featuring a ceramic coating.

A limited-edition Stealth Grey series has arrived for ASTRAL CYCLING rims.

ASTRAL CYCLING: A proven rim manufacturer creating exceptional products

While "Stealth Grey" is the name of this new colorway, the real highlight is the Ceramic Coating applied to the surface. If that sounds familiar, you're right—Cerakote was previously featured on the SimWorks Bubbly Pedal. While that pedal was Olive Green, this Stealth Grey offers a beautiful, elegant matte finish.

The American-made Cerakote ceramic coating used on both is a mil-spec technology. It provides superior wear and corrosion resistance with a high-performance coating that is hard, crack-resistant, and durable against scratches and abrasion. By using rims wrapped in such a high-spec coating, you can build a wheelset that will withstand long-term use.

This is the same technology used on the Vigor Alpha Stealth series from ROLF PRIMA, ASTRAL CYCLING's sister brand, which was equipped on a BREADWINNER CYCLES Lolo we previously built up at Circles. (The wheels were transferred from the customer's previous bike.)

The Outback Polished Silver released last year was originally a model exclusive to original wheelsets made in collaboration with WHITE INDUSTRIES. While ASTRAL CYCLING may feel relatively young given their history dates back to 2017, they are a brand that branched off from ROLF PRIMA. Furthermore, since they joined the parent company of WHITE INDUSTRIES—who had been handling hub manufacturing for ROLF PRIMA—two years ago, the strengthened cooperation is clearly evident in their products.

ASTRAL CYCLING products are currently distributed to authorized dealers nationwide through our wholesale division, CWD (Circles World Distribution).

Outback disc brake models and Solstice rim brake models have arrived

This production run includes two models: the Outback and the Solstice. As mentioned, the Outback was available in a polished silver finish last year and is a hot rim right now due to its versatile tire clearance, so it was expected that it would get a limited color. However, it’s a brilliant move to also include the rim-brake compatible Solstice.

While the shift to disc brakes due to changes in frame and parts standards feels prevalent, rim brakes remain simple and easy to maintain. They are still widely used on the track bikes and road bikes I personally ride, and they certainly aren't going anywhere. Assuming that’s the same logic they followed in their lineup, we had to respond to their vision, so we immediately built a set.

It was as if my RITCHEY Road Logic rim brake bike—which I use for day rides and light overnight bike packing—was waiting for these. The brake tracks on my old rims were wearing thin, and I had been thinking, "It's about time I swap these out."

With the internal width being about 5mm wider than the rims I was using before, the tire contact patch has increased, making the road feedback feel more refined. Thanks to the rims being lighter and more rigid, the wheel's outer mass is reduced, giving me a sense of quick, snappy acceleration when I push the pedals.

Since I moved the exact same tires over, I could clearly feel the performance difference the new rims made—the wheels have gone from feeling "crisply stiff" to "solidly stiff."

Also, all ASTRAL rim models are tubeless-compatible. They feature a "Drop Channel" that makes tire installation easier, and the "Tubeless Easy" system makes seating the bead possible with a standard floor pump. I’m looking forward to trying tubeless-ready tires next.

We shouldn't forget the other model, the Outback, which was used by many custom bike builders at last year's MADE show. With the new ceramic coating, it now has the toughness to withstand harsher conditions like rugged off-road terrain, making it truly ready for the "vast, unexplored Outback" that its name suggests.

ASTRAL CYCLING Outback Rim – Stealth Grey

Material : Aluminum
Color : Stealth Grey
Coating : Ballistic Armor Coating
Size : 650b (584), 700c (622)
Hole : 28H, 32H
Height : 23.0mm
Width : Inner 25.0mm, Outer 28.0mm
Brake Type : Disc Brake Only
Nipple Type : External
Optimal Tire Width : 35mm – 67mm / 1.35″ – 2.6″
Tire Interface : Clincher / Tubeless Ready

Price : 31,900 yen (incl. tax)

View in Web Shop

Believing that some of you are ready to head out on an adventure immediately, we asked our custom wheel-building department, Gorilla Spun, to build a set right away.

GORILLA SPUN Build Wheel
ASTRAL Outback Stealth Grey x WHITE INDUSTRIES CLD

Rim : ASTRAL CYCLING Outback Stealth Grey / 700c
Hub : WHITE INDUSTRIES CLD / Black – 32H
Front / 100x12mm ThruAxle, Rear / 142x12mm ThruAxle
Spokes : SIMWORKS Condor Straight #14
Nipples : SIMWORKS Brass Nipple / Black #14

Price : 175,560 yen (incl. tax)

View in Web Shop

This wheelset balances lightness and stiffness, pairing WHITE INDUSTRIES CLD hubs—known for their strength and precise engagement suitable for trail riding—with SimWorks Condor spokes and brass nipples. The rim size is a perfect match for tires around 2.2 inches, like the Super Yummy, making this a great wheelset for builds like the Wilde Bicycle Rambler SL or the SKLAR Super Something.

The recommendation for custom-built wheels

Wheels, including the rims, are components that significantly influence your bike's handling and pedaling response. Much like your choice of handlebars or saddle, choosing wheels that match how you ride and use your bike will vastly expand your horizons once you’re in the saddle.

Whether you’re saying, "I want to charge through gravel," "I want to go on long bike-packing tours," or "I want to load up heavy with a CRUST cargo fork," bring your ideas for your current bike or dream bike to Gorilla Spun. Our knowledgeable, skilled mechanics will have their eyes light up while proposing the perfect wheels just for you.

At Circles, we carry wheel components from many brands, and ASTRAL CYCLING is steadily making its mark among the options. If you haven't heard of them yet, we hope this Stealth Grey series will be your chance to try them out. Combining superior performance with a beautiful design, this model is sure to bring you a fresh riding experience.

Bonus

Looking back at last summer, here is the interview we conducted at MADE Bike Show 2024. This time, we interviewed Loren from ASTRAL CYCLING.

In this interview, we asked in-depth questions about ASTRAL’s commitment to craftsmanship, what they prioritize in terms of materials and manufacturing methods, and their position in the market, so please be sure to watch it.