#handbuilt wheels

[merlincyclesuk]

[merlincyclesuk]

[cambridgebicycle]

We've spotlighted our wheelbuilding service on our blog with photos of Alex by Ben. Custom wheels handbuilt with power tools in Cambridge, Mass.

[chrismurraywheelworks]

New rim stickers are in!

[ablocwheelworks]

Winter is back.  Or more accurately, cycling winter is back.  All of us that don’t race elite have hung up the cross bike until September, and spring crits are still six weeks away.  So we do base miles.  Lots and lots of long, steady, slow base miles.  We do this to prepare our bodies for the torture that they will endure throughout the racing season.  And even though these are the lowest intensity miles, they are also the hardest miles. Something about those solitary five hour rides, or the decision of whether to ride the trainer after dinner or in the rain at six in the morning. Trying out endless combinations of clothing in an attempt to stay warm on the the most brutally cold days. But we all man up and get through winter because being fast is important, and a base is important to being fast.

Erik Zabel famously had one of the strongest work ethics in the peloton.  He reputedly would ride 15,000 kilometers through the winter as training.  Tom Boonen does nine hour rides so attacking after only five in Paris-Roubaix isn’t a big deal.  Johnny Hoogerland wanted to build on his success from 2010 so badly that he overtrained on base miles alone and was fried by March of 2011.  These guys are the embodiment of the hardman, and do what it takes to be the best.  Pain and suffering open the door to greater pain, greater suffering, and eventually greater glory.  That is what it means to be truly pro.

Equipment takes a beating throughout the winter.  A wheelset that is reliable and comfortable is the preferred weapon for those long, dark days.  If you ever see candid photos of pros in the offseason, they certainly are not riding sponsor correct wheelsets.  Long miles and overly stiff low spoke count wheels don’t mix.  Deep section carbon rims provide none of their benefits when you’re spinning along at 200 watts.  No, the right wheel is something with plenty of steel spokes that are crossed liberally, a nice shallow profile for comfort, and great braking performance thanks to an alloy brake track.  We love the H+Son TB14 rim for its wide 23mm width which gives the tire a great high volume shape, and awesome handling. White Industries makes the fantastic T11 hub right here in the USA with five sealed bearings in the Shimano splined version to keep you rolling smooth, and a titanium freehub body for unmatched durability.  DT Competition spokes, and brass nipples provide wonderful ride quality, and build in to a bombproof package. Combine this with a few nice finishing touches and you have a wheelset that will provide a buttery smooth ride for many seasons to come. 

So, get out there, get those miles in, and get ready to tear it up this season.

-Dan and Greg

à bloc wheelworks As hard as you can.

[ablocwheelworks]

So - Lets talk about Velocity rims for a moment. First off, they're some of the nicest guys that we've had the pleasure of dealing with in the bike industry. That's always a plus, but what's more important is that they make a stellar bunch of products. Recently released was their A23 O/C rim. The A23 has been a favorite of ours for a while, but this new version is awesome. It allows us to build a rear wheel (or a disc wheel, for those that may want a killer set of CX clinchers...) with much more even tension on the non-drive side of the wheel. What this means to you is a much stiffer, much stronger wheel. We just built up our first set for a client and they were awesome. Light, smooth, strong, and really reasonably priced. Let us know if you're looking for a killer training or racing wheelset, these might just make the perfect rims!

-Dan and Greg

à bloc wheelworks As hard as you can.

[ablocwheelworks]

Before anything else, we want to thank everyone for all of the positive support we have received over the past few days. We can't express how much it means to us.

We also just wanted to clear up a few questions

First, the best way to contact us is [email protected]. We welcome any and all questions, comments, or criticisms. We're excited to hear what people are thinking, whatever that may be. 

Second, head over to our Facebook and Like our page! We're going to be adding a lot of stuff over there in the next few weeks as things get settled in. We would appreciate it so much if everyone would tell their friends and share the page as well. 

Finally, regarding pricing. Because we do not have a "stock" set of builds, pricing is not as simple as it would be from some other brands. However, we will have carbon tubular wheels starting at $800 and carbon clincher wheels starting at $900. We can adjust from there based on your needs.

Thanks so much.

-Dan and Greg

à bloc wheelworks As hard as you can.

[ablocwheelworks]

For those people looking for an inexpensive pair of amazing CX wheels. 32H Velocity Major Tom rims, Ultegra Hubs (and skewers), DT Competition spokes, Brass nipples. So smooth. So bombproof.