GORILLA SPUN Build Wheel [ASTRAL Solstice 16" Matte Silver x VELOCITY Race Hub]

[MECHANIC'S COMMENT]

The ASTRAL Solstice is an aluminum rim designed for hill climbs. It achieves a lightweight profile that rivals many carbon rims without sacrificing durability. The 16-inch size is perfect for road-type minivelos or urban commuters like the BIKE FRIDAY Pakit.

The hubs used are VELOCITY Race Hubs, which offer a great balance of being lightweight and sturdy. Known for their rotational performance, ease of maintenance, and affordable pricing, Velocity hubs are truly in a league of their own. Featuring sealed bearings throughout, their simple internal shell construction makes maintenance exceptionally easy.

The spokes are SIMWORKS Condros by Hoshi Industries, the only NJS-certified spoke manufacturer in Japan. By using SimWorks-original specifications for the spoke neck, where stress is concentrated, we have significantly improved the wheel's "stiffness" and "responsiveness" while maintaining the "supple and resilient" characteristics for which Hoshi Industries spokes are known.

[SPEC]

Rim Size: 16 inch (ETRTO 349)
Tires: Tubeless Compatible
Brake Type: Rim Brake
Axle Type: Front 100x9mm QR, Rear 135mm QR
Spoke Count: 28H
Cassette Compatibility: SHIMANO HG 8/9/10/11

[PARTS]

What exactly is a bicycle wheel? It is a crucial component for moving the bike forward, and as the saying goes, "style starts from the feet up," it also has a significant impact on the bike's appearance. Wheels are incredibly important parts. This time, I’m not talking about performance, but rather how they are built.

In the world of bicycle wheels, there are two main types: "factory-built" and "hand-built."

"Factory-built" refers to wheels that manufacturers ship as finished products. As shop mechanics, we generally don't need to perform major adjustments on them (though minor adjustments are often necessary, and some inevitably require our intervention). Because of their nature, they are often adjusted for a wide range of users or for professional-level performance, rather than being tailored to each individual customer.

That is where "hand-built" wheels, a specialty of Circles, come in.

The advantage of hand-built wheels is exactly as the name suggests: we select each individual component and assemble them ourselves, allowing us to build a wheel that is the perfect fit for the rider.