GORILLA SPUN Build Wheel [VELOCITY Aero 650b x VELOCITY Race Disc Hub]

[MECHANIC'S COMMENT]

VELOCITY / Velocity Aero 650bis a disc-brake-only aluminum rim that supports a wide range of riding, from daily city commuting to gravel touring and loaded bike packing.

Based on the highly regarded Aileron, it features an oval profile designed with aerodynamics and strength in mind, and uses 6069-T6 aluminum alloy that is highly resistant to dents and repeated stress. It balances lightness and durability. The 23mm internal-width rim supports tire widths from 28 to 53mm and is tubeless-compatible. It is a recommended rim for touring and bike packing when you want to smoothly connect paved roads while occasionally taking detours onto dirt roads.

The hubs areVELOCITY / Velocity Race Disc Hubs. Designed with cyclocross use in mind, the sealed cartridge bearings feature double seals for enhanced protection against rain and dust. The rear is paired with a SHIMANO freehub body. From daily rides to bike packing where you encounter changes in weather and road surfaces. These are hubs you can enjoy for a long time with regular maintenance.

Load up your gear and head onto the dirt roads that continue beyond the paved roads. This is a wheelset we want riders who enjoy such touring to use.

For the spokes, we used 14G straight spokes from SW Peregrine, manufactured by Hoshi Kogyo. Made of stainless steel with enhanced fracture strength through special processing, these spokes offer a moderate amount of suppleness, aiming to balance performance and durability. We built this set with the spokes in mind for long rides with loaded gear.

Paired with the WILDE Rambler, SURLY Straggler, or Preamble, pack the necessary gear into your bags for everything from daily rides to weekend bike packing, and enjoy traveling at your own pace, connecting one road to the next.

[SPEC]

Wheel size: 650b (ETRTO 584)
Tire type: Tubed / Tubeless-compatible
Brake type: Disc brake
Axle type: 100x9mm QR, 100x12mm Thru, 100x15mm Thru
Spoke count: 32H
Compatible cassette: Shimano/SRAM 8/9/10/11 SRAM XX1

[PARTS]

What are wheels in the world of bicycles? They are an important component for a bicycle to move forward, and as the saying goes, "style starts from the ground up," so they have a major impact on appearance. These very, very important components, "wheels." This time, we are not talking about performance or anything like that, but about how they are built.

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

"Pre-built" wheels are those that wheel manufacturers send out as finished products, and shop mechanics like us usually do not need to make major adjustments. (Minor adjustments are necessary, and some require a little work to get them right.) Due to this configuration, some are adjusted for a large number of unspecified people, or for pros or pro-level riders, so they are not built while looking at each individual customer.

That is where Circles' specialty, "hand-building," comes in.
The advantage of "hand-building" is that, just as the name implies, we can select each component that makes up the wheel one by one, and as mechanics, we can assemble and complete them to build a "wheel" that is a perfect fit for the user.