Soma Weymouth 650b rim - initial impressions

[Jim Bronson]

This wheel was not meant for my Riv, but has been pressed into service due to the cracks in my Synergy.  It's a rear, 650b, 36h, laced to Deore XT T780 hub, 135 spaced of course.  Sapim double-butted spokes, 3x.

Initial thoughts:

-Super bling shiny!

-Seems wider than Synergy.

-Needed 22mm wide rim tape to cover the extra, non-spoke holes at the the seam and at the air valve.  Don't know what those holes are there for, I'm guessing some sort of robotic assembly process, but it takes wider rim tape to cover them because they are wider out than the spoke holes.

-Tires mount much straighter with less fuss than on the Synergy.  I'm using Compass LoupLoup Pass, in case anyone wanted to know.  Of course, that didn't keep my dumn arse from blowing it off the rim the first time I tried to pump it up, I suspect that I had the tube pinched between the bead and the rim.  It exploded with a spectacular bang at 70psi, my wife was quite alarmed.  I was more careful the 2nd time around and it was fine.

-Braking was no different despite the non-machined sidewalls.  I imagine that it would be a different story in the rain.  At any rate, I didn't have to make any brake adjustments to accommodate the rim/wheel change, just popped it in there and went on about my business.

-Rides fine, took it out for about 35 miles after work.  Maybe a tad stiffer laterally than the Synergy, my bike seemed to be just a tad more solid when I was out of the saddle on a steep hill.  But maybe I'm just imagining things.

Obviously, 35 miles isn't enough to give a full evaluation, but so far I am happy.  The Weymouths are less expensive than some of the other options out there like the Velocity rims.  I got them at the Soma 20% off sale, after discount they were $48 each I think.  If it holds up over time I will definitely give it two thumbs up.

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Keep the metal side up and the rubber side down!