Velocity A23 rims

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Jeffrey Kane

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Jan 23, 2025, 10:46:41 AMJan 23
to 650b
Hey all,

I received notice that Rene Herse has Velocity A23 650b rim brake rims in stock. I'm wondering if anyone here has current experience with them - current meaning in the last few years.

I ask because my last set of A23's were built around 2016 and found them unbearably tight to fit clinchers & tubes. Those older A23's we're marketed as tubeless compatible even back then - but even tubeless rim tape didn't help no matter what the brand tire I tried: WTB, Compass / Rene Herse, Pacenti, Bruce Gordon Rock & Roads, etc. The tire fit was such a PITA that I gave up on the wheel set altogether... they're still hanging in my garage like a bad memory.

Anyway, I want to build a new set of 650b rim brake 32h wheels. I missed picking up the 650b rims when Crust had them last year and have been waiting for Pacenti to get their act together with Brevet rims for what feels like forever. It seems like HEDs are nowhere to be found, so yeah…. 

Does anyone have experience with the current gen A23's? Or can anyone make a suggestion for 32h "relatively" light-weight 650b rim brake rims that work with tubes?

Many thanks in advance / jsk

Will Boericke

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Jan 23, 2025, 11:16:17 AMJan 23
to 650b
I have a 650b wheelset built around A23s.  I don't think tire mounting is any more difficult than any other modern rim....I think you're stuck with tight in the world of tubeless ready rims.  Any time you want to use tubes with a rim designed for tubeless, you will be less than satisfied - especially roadside repairs where you can't overinflate to seat the tire bead.

In short, if you want to use tubes, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.  The A23s work great tubeless, and that's how I have mine set up.  Sun CR18 is a good option, if less-than-sexy.  I have one built into a 3 speed wheel that has been trouble-free.

Will

Brendan Aanes

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Jan 23, 2025, 11:39:03 AMJan 23
to Jeffrey Kane, 650b
Hi,

I built 4 650b wheels with brand new A23s in 2021-2022 and I don’t remember having excessive trouble with getting tires on to them. As reference I habitually use tire levers and almost all my wheels are tubeless compatible. On the A23s I ran gravelking and Soma B Line with tubes, had a brief foray into tubeless, and returned to tubes after I had a tire spontaneously lose pressure leading to a crash. I’m still using two of the wheels but on a travel bike where they only see intermittent use (and limited tire wear)



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Toshi Takeuchi

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Jan 23, 2025, 3:22:25 PMJan 23
to 650b
I have 2 old A23 wheelsets and yeah, they are harder to mount than on synergies, which I could do by hand.  I'm going to replace them with Velocity Quill rims when they bite the dust.

Toshi in Oakland

Jeffrey Kane

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Jan 24, 2025, 12:24:11 PMJan 24
to 650b
Thanks everyone - RH does make a pretty strong sales pitch for using these with tubes - it sounds like Velocity has tweaked them over the years. 

I'm leaning towards giving them shot and I'll likely end up using RH tires as well - will keep you posted!

Will Boericke

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Jan 24, 2025, 1:07:15 PMJan 24
to Jeffrey Kane, 650b
I will say, I used mine with tubes initially but moved to tubeless because it's hard to re-seat the tire in the field.  I don't love tubes in tubeless rims; have had the same trouble with Kinlin rims in my stable.

Will

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Ed Carolipio

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Jan 24, 2025, 3:03:21 PMJan 24
to 650b
Just adding a data point: I built a set of wheels with 650b A23's last year and have had no issues mounting Pari-Moto tires on them. Currently using a single layer of tubeless tape as the rim strip but running it tubed.

--Ed C.
Redondo Beach, CA.

Jeffrey Kane

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Jan 24, 2025, 3:10:33 PMJan 24
to 650b
Excellent, Ed! Thanks for chiming in...

Chris Dougherty

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Jan 27, 2025, 8:00:25 PMJan 27
to 650b
If anyone is looking I have a new, in packaging, pair of these in 36 hole for sale.  Let me know.  

William Lindsay

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Jan 28, 2025, 10:55:52 AMJan 28
to 650b
I may be in the market for one or two A23 rims in 36hole.  I live in El Cerrito, CA.  What is your price and location?  Also what color/surface treatment are your rims?

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Eric Hounshell

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Feb 7, 2025, 8:34:08 AMFeb 7
to 650b
I have a wheelset built from 650b A23s purchased from Velomine in December 2022. I lined them with tubeless tape as per Velocity's instructions and have not set them up tubeless, as they live with the in-laws across the world. I have run them with 42x650b Gravelking Slicks with no rim-related issues with the mounting of tires or tubes, including after getting flats in the field. The only thing I have noticed is that the Velocity brand rim tape bunched up in a spot, leaving a spoke hole uncovered, but that is probably user error. 

Eventually I will try to set them up tubeless because the Gravelkings don't give great flat protection, or I will mount some Continental Contact Urbans, which are very fast rollling, come in a zillion sizes, and are said to have excellent flat protection. (Only downside is they are 'heavy', but this may spur me to experiment with TPU tubes to offset the weight gain. So I've been following the ongoing TPU thread with interest.)

-EH in Vienna (A23s in Los Angeles)

John Dewey

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Feb 7, 2025, 11:00:33 AMFeb 7
to Eric Hounshell, 650b
We’ve ALWAYS enjoyed building and riding Open Pro @ 700c. Had terrible experiences with some others. Frustrating annoying infuriating…all of that!

Need to lobby Mavic to tool up some nice plain silver 650b’s in almost any width. Somebody start petition. 

Jock 

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satanas

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Feb 7, 2025, 9:17:46 PMFeb 7
to 650b
Unfortunately the chance of Mavic making anything new in 650b and/or non-disc is pretty much zero. I'd really like to see Conti make some variant of their GP5000 in at least a 35mm width, but that's not going to happen either.  :-(

Current ETRTO recommendations mean that Open Pros and similar width rims are now technically illegal (for UCI event use) for many of the >27mm tyres people used to use successfully on them BITD too. RH's rim width recommendations have also changed to align with the recent ETRTO changes.

Later,
Stephen (who also likes Mavic rims generally)

John Dewey

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Feb 7, 2025, 10:11:31 PMFeb 7
to satanas, 650b
Stephen, a most solid 👍 for Conti 5000 @ 35mm for sure. Why not? And why not 5000 in 650b?? You and I’d grab a dozen sure. 

Totally best-sellers!

Jock

They’d go right to the top of the Conti best-seller chart. Slam dunk 💥

Jock

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Eric Hounshell

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Feb 8, 2025, 3:35:23 AMFeb 8
to John Dewey, satanas, 650b

There's the Continental Grand Prix Urban, which comes in 35mm width only.


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Stephen Poole

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Feb 8, 2025, 5:06:52 AMFeb 8
to 650b
The GP 5000 AS TR comes in 35mm too, but neither it nor the Urban exist in 650b, or any non-Panaracer-made equivalents I'm aware of...

Later,
Stephen

ThermionicScott

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Feb 8, 2025, 12:21:50 PMFeb 8
to 650b
Good luck with that!  I recall a Jan Heine story where he asked Mavic about 650B rims, and they responded that they had just scrapped a bunch of dead stock.

Even if Mavic relented and put the Mod 3 or Mod 4 650B rim back into production, the online bike nerds would complain that they're too narrow and/or too heavy.  (Or that they want to use fewer than 36 spokes.)

Better in my mind to support the companies that *want* to make the stuff we want:  Araya, Soma, Sun, Velocity, Velo Orange, etc.

- Scott in Cedar Rapids

Timothy Harwood

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Feb 10, 2025, 10:46:33 AMFeb 10
to 650b
It is a real pity DT Swiss do not make a 650B R460 rim.

They are just such a good rim in so many ways.

Tim

Eric Hounshell

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Feb 10, 2025, 4:25:17 PMFeb 10
to Timothy Harwood, 650b
I have this thought about once a month.

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William Lindsay

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Feb 10, 2025, 5:53:39 PMFeb 10
to 650b
I think the nicest 650B rim I've ever used was the HED Belgium. I just got on the HED Cycling chat and asked them if they'll ever make them again.  I think it was a person on the other end, because he was pulling my chain.  I asked if somebody ordered 1000 rims would that start up the program.  The chat-person said that if I made it 5000 rims, then it's a deal.  At nearly $200 each that's a million dollars worth of rims.  Who's got a million dollars and wants to hook us up?

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA   

daxo potato

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Feb 10, 2025, 6:37:32 PMFeb 10
to William Lindsay, 650b
for 5000 rims i would hope they would give you wholesale pricing

On Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 17:53 William Lindsay <tape...@gmail.com> wrote:
I think the nicest 650B rim I've ever used was the HED Belgium. I just got on the HED Cycling chat and asked them if they'll ever make them again.  I think it was a person on the other end, because he was pulling my chain.  I asked if somebody ordered 1000 rims would that start up the program.  The chat-person said that if I made it 5000 rims, then it's a deal.  At nearly $200 each that's a million dollars worth of rims.  Who's got a million dollars and wants to hook us up?

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA   

Toshi Takeuchi

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Feb 10, 2025, 9:29:22 PMFeb 10
to 650b
I have an old 5 yrs+ A23, and I think the thread was originally asking about having difficulty mounting tires on it.  I have a Grand Bois Hetre 42 mm, and got a quick flat after something slashed my tire.  I have previously had to wrestle a little mounting tires on the rim, but after I booted the tire and replaced the tube, I was able to hand mount the tire back on the rim.  Maybe it was really easy because the tire was previously mounted--but definitely no problems there.  I recently re-taped the rim with Stan's tape.

Toshi in Oakland, CA

Jeffrey Kane

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Feb 11, 2025, 9:38:37 AMFeb 11
to 650b
Thanks Toshi - I'm the OP. My A23 set dates to 2016 so likely older than yours. I am still sitting on the fence regarding the RH A23's but am leaning towards giving them a shot... (interestingly, they aren't already sold out). I will not, however, purchase any additional stock until I've had a chance to see how these work with a range of tube & tire combinations. 

Bill Lindsay: you're my garage inventory hero and I'm glad you reached out to HED. I had always intended to have a 650B rim brake pair of HED's built but never got around to being able to justify acquiring another wheel set with a half-dozen hanging in my garage. Of course, now that a few of those are toast I'm kicking myself. Either way, those quoted numbers seem like BS to me.... but who knows?

William Lindsay

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Feb 11, 2025, 12:03:57 PMFeb 11
to 650b
The HED Chat-person was definitely being a smart-ass.  I don't want to bog down the list with a play by play, but here goes:

Me: Any chance rim brake 650B Belgiums will be produced again?
Chat-person: When demand returns
Me: How do you gauge demand?  Request emails from people like me?
Chat-person: Sales numbers
Me: I'm confused.  Your sales numbers will always be zero if you don't produce any
Chat-person: Order quantity
Me: OK, so if one of your vendors orders 1000 rims, you can start production?
Chat-person: Make it 5000 and you have a deal.  Good night

The guy was just being a dick.  It was not a serious conversation in any way from his side. (apologies for assuming all smart ass dicks are male).  

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Josh Zielinski

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Feb 11, 2025, 12:40:31 PMFeb 11
to William Lindsay, 650b
Should we all reach out to this guy?  With the same exact question? 

Lol 

Josh

William Lindsay

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Feb 11, 2025, 3:01:07 PMFeb 11
to 650b
I'm going to do it like Shawshank Redemption: Andy mailed the governor for library money every week until they said "here's your money leave us alone!"  I'm going to just bug a Chat-Person every day until they start making 650B rim brake Belgium rims again.  "Leave us alone, Bubba!"

BL in EC

Jeffrey Kane

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Feb 11, 2025, 3:42:07 PMFeb 11
to 650b
I stand behind this decision.

William Lindsay

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Feb 11, 2025, 4:07:55 PMFeb 11
to 650b
Today's response from the chat-person: "When rim brakes and small wheels become popular, we'll bring them back". 

Jeffrey Kane

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Feb 11, 2025, 5:15:08 PMFeb 11
to 650b
That's legit trolling...

Dan Vee

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Feb 11, 2025, 5:48:32 PMFeb 11
to Jeffrey Kane, 650b
Ahaha wow.  It does legitimately feel like the industry is done with 650b.  


Ray Varella

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Feb 11, 2025, 6:36:23 PMFeb 11
to 65...@googlegroups.com
Did you ask to speak with an adult?

Ray


Rory Woods

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Feb 11, 2025, 7:36:17 PMFeb 11
to 650b
I'm also a fan of the rim brake Belgium+. Looking for a replacement in summer 2022 after a crash I actually got on the phone with someone at HED who referred me to RH and seemed mildly amused/surprised that I was asking. I ended up using a black A23 which is close enough, aesthetically.
Does anyone know if Is it the same extrusion as any current offerings from HED? I recall something Grant wrote about working on their "inbetween" rim size - was it 602 BSD? His contact at Velocity seemed rather accommodating and was willing to produce any size rim from a given extrusion given how little change it required in terms of tooling.

Rory

Stephen Poole

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Feb 11, 2025, 9:23:07 PMFeb 11
to 650b
Back when Velocity were in Queensland they were very helpful. You could get undrilled rims, blank extrusions (to make penny farthing rims), and so on. If it was possible they'd usually do it. No idea if it's still the same, and sadly their stuff is pretty much unobtainable here in Oz now, remnants excepted.

It's allegedly possible to preorder 700c Belgium+ rims here (so presumably in the US too); has anyone tried re-rolling them to 650b? Legend says Keith Bontrager turned 700c MA40s into 26" MTB rims BITD...

Later,
Stephen (who thinks the chances of success are probably much better with Velocity - for US residents at least)

Chris Cullum

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Feb 12, 2025, 5:07:18 PMFeb 12
to Stephen Poole, 650b


On Tue, Feb 11, 2025, 18:23 Stephen Poole <nsc.e...@gmail.com> wrote:
Back when Velocity were in Queensland they were very helpful. You could get undrilled rims, blank extrusions (to make penny farthing rims), and so on. If it was possible they'd usually do it. No idea if it's still the same, and sadly their stuff is pretty much unobtainable here in Oz now, remnants excepted.

It's allegedly possible to preorder 700c Belgium+ rims here (so presumably in the US too); has anyone tried re-rolling them to 650b? Legend says Keith Bontrager turned 700c MA40s into 26" MTB rims BITD...

I'm not sure if this is a joke or not. The MA-2 was a box section rim made of much softer alloy than modern rims and it's pinned together with non milled sidewalls. This surely would be a time consuming and expensive failure if tried.

If people are pining for a HED Belgium Plus type rim in 650B why not just order the Velocity Quill which is quite a similar spec and actually available?

Later,
Stephen (who thinks the chances of success are probably much better with Velocity - for US residents at least)

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satanas

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Feb 12, 2025, 11:01:00 PMFeb 12
to 650b
I wasn't joking, and unusually can't think of a suitable Monty Python reference here. KB cut down 40° 700c MA40s and turned them into 36° 559 rims - if you calculate 40*559/622 the result is very close indeed to 36; Mavic later sold MA40s in 26" but they were basically redundant as M231s came out around the same time. Penny farthing guys used to buy lengths of an extrusion - IIRC it was the Deep V - from Velocity and re-roll them to suit without any terribly special tooling but I dunno what they're doing these days. FWIW, marking out and drilling rims by hand is a bit tedious, but is eminently doable.

As for Quills, maybe they're available where you are, but not really here. On Velocity's site they're currently listed as $283.90AUD each, plus a no doubt horrendous shipping fee + most probably 10% GST, so say ~$800AUD for a pair. It makes more economic sense to me to buy carbon rims from someone in China, like say LB, Nextie, BTLOS, etc, or to buy something alu (mostly disc only) ex-Europe. YMMV.

Later,
Stephen (who luckily bought a few 650b Brevet rims a while back)

William Lindsay

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Feb 13, 2025, 2:45:58 PMFeb 13
to 650b
The OP asked about recent experience, and we thread-drifted about 650B rims in general.  Looks like I will soon have recent experience on new A23 rims.  I just ordered a pair, but not from Rene Herse.  I did not want black rims and did not want to pay $$ for polished so I looked up MSRP on the various options at the Velocity website, and then reached out to Rich Lesnik at Rivendell.  Rich ordered me a pair of 32-hole silver machined side wall, not polished, for MSRP $120 per rim, and I can pick them up at Riv on Monday, or Tuesday if they are closed for the President's Day Holiday.  I'll build them up straight away and will install a pair of new Hetre Extra Leger tires onto them.  I'll let you know what the effort level is on tire installation

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

njh...@gmail.com

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Feb 13, 2025, 5:03:02 PMFeb 13
to 650b
I've had problems with 650B A23 32h rims where the rear rims eventually cracked at the spoke holes after some rides over unsealed rough roads. I didn't hit anything hard enough to pinch flat, but there was a fair bit of shaking going on. I now only ride them on sealed roads, where they seem to cope fine.

Nick Payne

Bernard Duhon

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Feb 13, 2025, 5:22:35 PMFeb 13
to njh...@gmail.com, 650b











I was aware of this problem, but thought I read that it had been corrected. were these old or relatively new, as in newly manufactured?





 

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 


Bernard F. Duhon

B

 



From: 65...@googlegroups.com <65...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of njh...@gmail.com <njh...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 4:03 PM
To: 650b <65...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [650B] Re: Velocity A23 rims
 
I've had problems with 650B A23 32h rims where the rear rims eventually cracked at the spoke holes after some rides over unsealed rough roads. I didn't hit anything hard enough to pinch flat, but there was a fair bit of shaking going on. I now only ride them on sealed roads, where they seem to cope fine.

Nick Payne

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randal...@gmail.com

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Feb 14, 2025, 8:41:51 AMFeb 14
to 650b
Bikehubstore had a more amenable response:

I'm interested in the 650b Kinlin XR-31T rim brake rims. I can see them on the Kinlin business website but it doesn't appear anyone is actually selling them. Are these available to order through you, or potentially available in the future?

Long answer: Yes, but I’ll need an order for 200 pieces. Lead time will be 4-5 months. I’ll give you 20% off my list price, but will require a non-refundable downpayment of 50%.

I gave serious thought to buying a run, but ultimately decided against it. 

Will Boericke

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Feb 14, 2025, 9:10:04 AMFeb 14
to randal...@gmail.com, 650b
Brandon at BHS is great.  I've bought a number of parts from him.  Maybe we put a group buy together?


Jeffrey Kane

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Feb 14, 2025, 10:11:14 AMFeb 14
to 650b
Looking forward to hearing!

William Lindsay

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Feb 14, 2025, 11:16:40 AMFeb 14
to 650b
Dang it!  I can't build wheels if I don't have spokes!  I gotta go measure some stuff...

BL in EC

njh...@gmail.com

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Feb 14, 2025, 9:10:49 PMFeb 14
to 650b
I would have bought those rims about 12 or 15 years ago...

On Friday, 14 February 2025 at 9:22:35 am UTC+11 ber...@bernardduhon.com wrote:
I was aware of this problem, but thought I read that it had been corrected. were these old or relatively new, as in newly manufactured?
From: 65...@googlegroups.com <65...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of njh...@gmail.com <njh...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 4:03 PM
To: 650b <65...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [650B] Re: Velocity A23 rims
 

William Lindsay

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Feb 17, 2025, 10:05:32 PMFeb 17
to 650b
I picked up my new A23 rims and spokes from Rich at Rivendell today 2/17/2025.  I noted that the label has a "Made in USA" wording and the silhouette of the USA.  Both rims are the symmetric variant, because I'm running a low dish rear hub.  They built up nicely.  I'm running new Grand Bois Hetre Extra Leger with tubes, so I laid down a single layer of blue tubeless tape.  I was able to install the tires without tire tools.  They were as snug as one would expect for tires that are going to seat perfectly on tubeless rims.  I inflated the tires and at about 45psi I got the last "snap" and the bead was set perfectly. 


Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA
On Friday, February 14, 2025 at 7:11:14 AM UTC-8 jsk_o...@mac.com wrote:

Stephen Poole

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Feb 18, 2025, 12:36:56 AMFeb 18
to 650b
When I looked at Velocity's new website the other day it appeared that they have canned all their asymmetrical non-disc rims. Maybe just too many SKUs to manage?

Later,
Stephen

Jeffrey Kane

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Feb 18, 2025, 8:06:26 AMFeb 18
to 650b
Snug without tools is music to my ears... 

Toshi Takeuchi

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Feb 18, 2025, 10:36:02 PMFeb 18
to 650b
I have a set of quill rims (no asymmetrical version available) stashed away for when my A23s reach their end of life.  Other than their expense, they seem like great rims (they don't seem to be getting much love here).

Toshi in Oakland

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marsh monster

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Feb 19, 2025, 1:09:50 PMFeb 19
to 650b
FYI Carson City Bikes has 650B A23 rims for ~ $76

Will Mill

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Feb 19, 2025, 3:20:32 PMFeb 19
to 650b
@ Bill L: Small world... Rich Lesnik @ RBW is building a set of A23 650b wheels for me at this moment. 

@ Stephen: Rich is building the rear with an A23 "OC" (off-center) -- would OC rims do what you need in terms of dishing and spoke tensions?  

@ jsk: Data for your original thread coming soon.

I know it's like comparing apples to oranges, but I noticed that switching my Crust 650b dynamo rim brake wheelset to the A23s (with White Ind. T11 hubs) will shave nearly a pound off the wheel weight. Swapping from butyl to TPU tubes and going from 42mm to RH "extra light" 38mm tires saves another 3/4 pound.

I might just be the only guy in the May 2025 NYC Gran Fondo riding a steel 650b bike, LOL! 🚴‍♂️

Will M
NYC

marsh monster

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Feb 24, 2025, 1:15:35 PMFeb 24
to 650b
I just got a set of A23 rims, but now I'm having second thoughts. Are A23's strong enough for a decently loaded tour? 
I was going to build the rear 36h 3x, and the front 32h 3x. I'm guessing all in with gear I'll be a little North of 225 lbs. 
I have a really stout wheelset already, but I was thinking of replacing them bc they are really really heavy. Looking for opinions
on A23's for touring. 

Thanks,
Fred
Mount Prospect, IL.

Will Boericke

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Feb 24, 2025, 1:49:03 PMFeb 24
to marsh monster, 650b

I would not worry about A23s for this.  Go for it.


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marsh monster

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Feb 24, 2025, 2:35:53 PMFeb 24
to 650b
Thanks for the encouragement!

Ken Freeman

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Feb 24, 2025, 3:07:14 PMFeb 24
to ThermionicScott, 650b
I like this! Buy from sellers who want to sell us what we want to buy.  Don''t waste the time or try the patience of the others.


On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 12:21 PM ThermionicScott <thermio...@gmail.com> wrote:
Good luck with that!  I recall a Jan Heine story where he asked Mavic about 650B rims, and they responded that they had just scrapped a bunch of dead stock.

Even if Mavic relented and put the Mod 3 or Mod 4 650B rim back into production, the online bike nerds would complain that they're too narrow and/or too heavy.  (Or that they want to use fewer than 36 spokes.)

Better in my mind to support the companies that *want* to make the stuff we want:  Araya, Soma, Sun, Velocity, Velo Orange, etc.

- Scott in Cedar Rapids

On Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:00:33 AM UTC-6 John Dewey wrote:
We’ve ALWAYS enjoyed building and riding Open Pro @ 700c. Had terrible experiences with some others. Frustrating annoying infuriating…all of that!

Need to lobby Mavic to tool up some nice plain silver 650b’s in almost any width. Somebody start petition. 

Jock 

On Fri, Feb 7, 2025 at 5:34 AM Eric Hounshell <ehoun...@gmail.com> wrote:
I have a wheelset built from 650b A23s purchased from Velomine in December 2022. I lined them with tubeless tape as per Velocity's instructions and have not set them up tubeless, as they live with the in-laws across the world. I have run them with 42x650b Gravelking Slicks with no rim-related issues with the mounting of tires or tubes, including after getting flats in the field. The only thing I have noticed is that the Velocity brand rim tape bunched up in a spot, leaving a spoke hole uncovered, but that is probably user error. 

Eventually I will try to set them up tubeless because the Gravelkings don't give great flat protection, or I will mount some Continental Contact Urbans, which are very fast rollling, come in a zillion sizes, and are said to have excellent flat protection. (Only downside is they are 'heavy', but this may spur me to experiment with TPU tubes to offset the weight gain. So I've been following the ongoing TPU thread with interest.)

-EH in Vienna (A23s in Los Angeles)

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 4:55:52 PM UTC+1 William Lindsay wrote:
I may be in the market for one or two A23 rims in 36hole.  I live in El Cerrito, CA.  What is your price and location?  Also what color/surface treatment are your rims?

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

On Monday, January 27, 2025 at 5:00:25 PM UTC-8 chrisdo...@gmail.com wrote:
If anyone is looking I have a new, in packaging, pair of these in 36 hole for sale.  Let me know.  

On Friday, January 24, 2025 at 12:10:33 PM UTC-8 jsk_o...@mac.com wrote:
Excellent, Ed! Thanks for chiming in...

On Friday, January 24, 2025 at 3:03:21 PM UTC-5 ed.car...@gmail.com wrote:
Just adding a data point: I built a set of wheels with 650b A23's last year and have had no issues mounting Pari-Moto tires on them. Currently using a single layer of tubeless tape as the rim strip but running it tubed.

--Ed C.
Redondo Beach, CA.

On Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7:46:41 AM UTC-8 jsk_o...@mac.com wrote:
Hey all,

I received notice that Rene Herse has Velocity A23 650b rim brake rims in stock. I'm wondering if anyone here has current experience with them - current meaning in the last few years.

I ask because my last set of A23's were built around 2016 and found them unbearably tight to fit clinchers & tubes. Those older A23's we're marketed as tubeless compatible even back then - but even tubeless rim tape didn't help no matter what the brand tire I tried: WTB, Compass / Rene Herse, Pacenti, Bruce Gordon Rock & Roads, etc. The tire fit was such a PITA that I gave up on the wheel set altogether... they're still hanging in my garage like a bad memory.

Anyway, I want to build a new set of 650b rim brake 32h wheels. I missed picking up the 650b rims when Crust had them last year and have been waiting for Pacenti to get their act together with Brevet rims for what feels like forever. It seems like HEDs are nowhere to be found, so yeah…. 

Does anyone have experience with the current gen A23's? Or can anyone make a suggestion for 32h "relatively" light-weight 650b rim brake rims that work with tubes?

Many thanks in advance / jsk

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Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI USA

Josh Zielinski

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Feb 24, 2025, 3:30:59 PMFeb 24
to Ken Freeman, ThermionicScott, 650b
I also thought Scott made an excellent point here!

Josh


daxo potato

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Feb 24, 2025, 4:29:35 PMFeb 24
to marsh monster, 650b
several years back i corresponded with the guy who is the owner of velocity, about using 36H a23's for our tandem (team weight ~275, roads and rail trails, no outlandish/extreme riding) and he said we'd be fine. 

i still haven't laced then up yet so no data on real life use, but he seemed pretty confident.

Dave in NY

William Lindsay

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Feb 24, 2025, 4:58:40 PMFeb 24
to 650b
Not only does Velocity want to sell us 650B rims, but they are offering to custom anodize those rims for us for only $40 a rim.  Name any other rim vendor that wants to do that for us at any price.  

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Will Boericke

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Feb 24, 2025, 10:16:58 PMFeb 24
to daxo potato, marsh monster, 650b
I carried my family's gear on my bike on a tour a couple summers ago.  So 100ish # + me (150#) on my Bianchi Volpe (23ish #) with 1 Dyad in the back (same extrusion as A23, just a little wider) and an A23 in the front.  No problems.  I would not think twice about using those, especially at 36h.  In fact, I would be hard pressed to choose a stronger rim.

Will

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njh...@gmail.com

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Feb 26, 2025, 5:13:56 AMFeb 26
to 650b
On Tuesday, 18 February 2025 at 4:36:56 pm UTC+11 satanas wrote:
When I looked at Velocity's new website the other day it appeared that they have canned all their asymmetrical non-disc rims. Maybe just too many SKUs to manage?

No, they still show A23 OC in 584 and 622: https://www.velocityusa.com/product/rims#sizes-tab.

Nick

Stephen Poole

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Feb 26, 2025, 9:18:34 PMFeb 26
to njh...@gmail.com, 650b
They seem to now have two different websites; I was directed to the other one, where the OC rims don't appear...
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