GORILLA SPUN Build Wheel [VELOCITY Aero 650b x SHIMANO Cues]

[MECHANIC'S COMMENT]

The VELOCITY AERO is a well-balanced model featuring an aluminum rim that combines light weight with moderate stiffness, making it suitable for high-speed gravel riding.Despite its classic appearance, its streamlined cross-sectional design efficiently converts pedaling power into forward momentum, delivering solid cruising performance and responsive acceleration on paved roads.

The relatively slim rim profile pairs well with tires ranging from 28c to 35c, making it ideal for setups prioritizing low rolling resistance.It’s well-suited for speed-oriented gravel riding, delivering stable straight-line tracking and responsive handling during high-speed cruising on paved roads or compacted dirt trails. Since it isn’t excessively heavy, it’s easy to handle even on climbs or in situations involving frequent acceleration and deceleration.

When paired with race-oriented gravel bikes, fast touring bikes, or road-oriented all-road bikes, its lightness and direct feel really stand out. For riders seeking speed and simplicity, this rim is a classic and practical choice.

The long-awaited silver color is now available for SHIMANO CUES hubs, which cover the entire range of conventional 11-speed and lower gear systems.Since the majority of the market has adopted through-axle standards, the selection of quick-release hubs has become very limited. Furthermore, when it comes to silver models, the options narrow significantly, and there are also price barriers to consider.
The HB/FH-QC400 Silver reliably fills this gap, making it a dependable companion for many cyclists.

We recommend pairing it with the SURLY Preamble to create a bike that ranges from casual city riding to a speed-oriented all-road setup.

[SPEC]

Wheel Size: 650b (ETRTO 584)
Tire Type: Clincher, Tubeless-Ready
Brake Type: Disc Brakes
Axle Type: Front 100mm QR, Rear 135mm QR
Number of Spokes: 32H
Compatible Cassettes: SHIMANO HG 8/9/10-speed, MTB 11-speed

[PARTS]

What exactly are bicycle wheels? They are essential components that allow a bicycle to move forward, and as the saying goes, “Style starts from the feet,” so they also have a significant impact on the bike’s appearance. These “wheels” are truly, truly important components. This time, rather than discussing performance, we’ll talk about how they’re built.

In the world of bicycle wheel building, there are two types: “pre-built” and “hand-built.”

“Factory-built” wheels are those shipped by the wheel manufacturer in a finished state, and shop mechanics like us generally don’t need to make any major adjustments to them.(Minor adjustments are necessary, and there are some that, well, simply can’t be used without a bit of work.) Due to this production method, some wheels are tuned for a general audience or for professionals and pro-level riders, and they aren’t built with each individual customer in mind.

That’s where “hand-built” wheels—Circles’ specialty—come in.
The advantage of “hand-built” wheels is exactly as the name implies: by carefully selecting each component one by one and assembling it ourselves, we can create a wheel that’s a perfect fit for the user.