In any case, this is what a shipment of rims looks like, all 386 of them...
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Taiwanese are here!
Anyone who remembers Breaking Away will remember the original line. Unfortunately these days the rim choices from Italy are not so easy to get excited about. It's a shame, because back in the day you needed two hands to count off the number of different companies, now all that exists is Ambrosio and DRC (Campagnolo only offer complete wheels). While both companies make good rims, they don't get as innovative as the Taiwanese. For a good place to look, KinLin is it. See some posts below about this.
In any case, this is what a shipment of rims looks like, all 386 of them...
In any case, this is what a shipment of rims looks like, all 386 of them...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wheels of the Day
Is going to become Wheels of the Week. Why? Because we couldn't keep up with it, and when you build 36pr of DT Swiss 240s hubs into different wheels during the course of a week, it's hard to look at one set as being above the others. So every Monday, there will be WotW.
Staff News
We have a new Office Manager!
Autumn comes to us from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, where she was Director of Marketing among her many unofficial "hats".
While not a long time cyclist, she enjoys the outdoors, hiking, skiing and camping in the magnificent mountain ranges that tower above and around us. There is always a set of snow chains in the back of her truck. She was a driving force behind getting Beaumont organised to host the first stage ever seen here of the Tour of Redlands this year (2008), and has a good appreciation of the skills it takes to put on an international class cycling event and also to ride one from a spectators view (she thinks cyclists are nuts!).
Her skills and knowledge will be beneficial to us here, and also to our customers and the cyclists who use our products. While her role is simply named, we intend for her to be a driving force behind making sure the paper side of daily business is run efficiently, taking us out to a wider audience with her marketing skills, and running the shipping department (because we like people to be busy!).
Autumn comes to us from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, where she was Director of Marketing among her many unofficial "hats".
While not a long time cyclist, she enjoys the outdoors, hiking, skiing and camping in the magnificent mountain ranges that tower above and around us. There is always a set of snow chains in the back of her truck. She was a driving force behind getting Beaumont organised to host the first stage ever seen here of the Tour of Redlands this year (2008), and has a good appreciation of the skills it takes to put on an international class cycling event and also to ride one from a spectators view (she thinks cyclists are nuts!).
Her skills and knowledge will be beneficial to us here, and also to our customers and the cyclists who use our products. While her role is simply named, we intend for her to be a driving force behind making sure the paper side of daily business is run efficiently, taking us out to a wider audience with her marketing skills, and running the shipping department (because we like people to be busy!).
Monday, August 4, 2008
M5 Hubs
We like to use these hubs. When we are asked for lighter options than DT Swiss hubs, M5 is always the first option mentioned. Front hubs in either a straight pull spoke or regular flanged format, and a rear flanged hub make for a set of hubs that weigh only around 218gm. That's less than a rear DT Swiss 240s hub!
Some of the great things; they follow a no tools concept that makes them very simple to work on, and have a very large diameter rear axle which combines with a very large pawl - ratchet system to make things very stiff. Swapping cassette bodies is simple, and requires no redishing of the wheel. Simple hand tools are available for removing and pressing in bearings, something that can be done in a home workshop.
The flange geometries work very well, very wide front spacing allow of great front wheel lateral stiffness, yet not so wide there could be problems with spokes clearing some beefy carbon fork blades, and the rear hub is optimised for radial non drive rear spoke lacing, giving good balance of tension with a two or three cross drive side lacing. We pick the rims used with an eye to correct spoke lines with these hubs because of their spoke angles, optimising them when needed. If not done, this would lead to local stress on the rims that could cause misshaping leading to cracking, or potential for broken spokes at the threads.
Something we do change from standard, we worked with Phil Wood & Co to have their bearings available for the front hub, a size that was not previously available from them. The rear hub is fitted with Phil Wood & Co bearings also, and we believe that these bearings, from a company with a great history in the use of cartridge bearings for bicycle hub applications, only add to these terrific hubs.
Some of the great things; they follow a no tools concept that makes them very simple to work on, and have a very large diameter rear axle which combines with a very large pawl - ratchet system to make things very stiff. Swapping cassette bodies is simple, and requires no redishing of the wheel. Simple hand tools are available for removing and pressing in bearings, something that can be done in a home workshop.
The flange geometries work very well, very wide front spacing allow of great front wheel lateral stiffness, yet not so wide there could be problems with spokes clearing some beefy carbon fork blades, and the rear hub is optimised for radial non drive rear spoke lacing, giving good balance of tension with a two or three cross drive side lacing. We pick the rims used with an eye to correct spoke lines with these hubs because of their spoke angles, optimising them when needed. If not done, this would lead to local stress on the rims that could cause misshaping leading to cracking, or potential for broken spokes at the threads.
Something we do change from standard, we worked with Phil Wood & Co to have their bearings available for the front hub, a size that was not previously available from them. The rear hub is fitted with Phil Wood & Co bearings also, and we believe that these bearings, from a company with a great history in the use of cartridge bearings for bicycle hub applications, only add to these terrific hubs.
M5 Carbon Rims
M5 clincher carbon rims are coming our way.
With some unique points, like having metal strips buried BENEATH the carbon in the braking areas and spoke nipple seats, these rims have a lot of promise. The two strips buried in the braking areas reinforce the carbon walls against blowout of the from outward pressure caused by the beads when things heat up, and also move heat away and distribute it all around the rim for more efficient cooling. Local heat buildup can cause blowouts, and also rim bowing (via resin softening) in the worst possible place. This can happen on downhills or any time there is a lot of high speed braking, and high speed plus problems don't have great ways to end for the cyclist. These two strips are a great way of answering this issue.
The other strip reinforces the spoke holes, allowing for greater spoke tensions, the bane of most carbon rims. Ever seen blips in the rim walls under the nipple seats? This spreads the load over a larger area, allowing for no local high pressure spots caused by spoke tensions. Another innovative solution that M5 have developed.
Only 38mm rims have been released to date, and we are offering them built with M5's own hubs laced with Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and also DT Swiss 240s hubs laced with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. Both are good hub/spoke options that we feel offer the most when combined with these great carbon rims.
With some unique points, like having metal strips buried BENEATH the carbon in the braking areas and spoke nipple seats, these rims have a lot of promise. The two strips buried in the braking areas reinforce the carbon walls against blowout of the from outward pressure caused by the beads when things heat up, and also move heat away and distribute it all around the rim for more efficient cooling. Local heat buildup can cause blowouts, and also rim bowing (via resin softening) in the worst possible place. This can happen on downhills or any time there is a lot of high speed braking, and high speed plus problems don't have great ways to end for the cyclist. These two strips are a great way of answering this issue.
The other strip reinforces the spoke holes, allowing for greater spoke tensions, the bane of most carbon rims. Ever seen blips in the rim walls under the nipple seats? This spreads the load over a larger area, allowing for no local high pressure spots caused by spoke tensions. Another innovative solution that M5 have developed.
Only 38mm rims have been released to date, and we are offering them built with M5's own hubs laced with Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and also DT Swiss 240s hubs laced with DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. Both are good hub/spoke options that we feel offer the most when combined with these great carbon rims.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Kinlin's Niobium Rims
We love these rims. That's not a phrase used lightly around here.
Typically just known as "Niobium" (Kinlin call this KLM41) rims, they are made by Kinlin of Taiwan. Now Kinlin isn't a name you hear much of, if at all, but they make custom rims for some of the best known wheel producers in the US, and their stock models are sold under such names as IRD as rims only. The Niobium is actually an alloying element in the aluminum alloy, which offers a nice grain structure and the ability to make very light rims. We weighed some of the first XR-200 (22mm deep) clincher rims at 278gm! There are four models offered, the NbR-19 (19mm deep box section ~ 395gm), XR-200 (22mm deep box section ~ 384gm), XR-270 (27mm deep aero section ~ 430gm) and XR-300 (30mm deep aero section ~ 455gm). There is also a tubular rim TB-25 (25mm deep aero section ~ 440gm). Kinlin also make a regular aluminum alloy (KLR60) clincher rim, the XR-240 (24mm deep aero section ~ 470gm) that makes for great OEM and less expensive wheels. We also carry this rim in 650c diameter, which makes a great wheelset when paired with DT Swiss 240s hubs and Aerolite spokes. All the Kinlin rims we carry are available in a gloss black anodizing, with some models (XR-200, XR-270, XR-300) also available in a polished "silver" clear anodizing. We are the only US importer of this option.
Pictures to follow.
Typically just known as "Niobium" (Kinlin call this KLM41) rims, they are made by Kinlin of Taiwan. Now Kinlin isn't a name you hear much of, if at all, but they make custom rims for some of the best known wheel producers in the US, and their stock models are sold under such names as IRD as rims only. The Niobium is actually an alloying element in the aluminum alloy, which offers a nice grain structure and the ability to make very light rims. We weighed some of the first XR-200 (22mm deep) clincher rims at 278gm! There are four models offered, the NbR-19 (19mm deep box section ~ 395gm), XR-200 (22mm deep box section ~ 384gm), XR-270 (27mm deep aero section ~ 430gm) and XR-300 (30mm deep aero section ~ 455gm). There is also a tubular rim TB-25 (25mm deep aero section ~ 440gm). Kinlin also make a regular aluminum alloy (KLR60) clincher rim, the XR-240 (24mm deep aero section ~ 470gm) that makes for great OEM and less expensive wheels. We also carry this rim in 650c diameter, which makes a great wheelset when paired with DT Swiss 240s hubs and Aerolite spokes. All the Kinlin rims we carry are available in a gloss black anodizing, with some models (XR-200, XR-270, XR-300) also available in a polished "silver" clear anodizing. We are the only US importer of this option.
Pictures to follow.
Contacting Us
It was pointed out that there is no contact and sales information published, so here it is.
Ph: 1-877-4Z-WHEEL
Ph: 1-951-845-5757
FX: 1-951-845-6118
E: info@cherryvalleywheelworks.com
Please note; Cherry Valley Wheelworks, Inc. does not supply the public. We are a importers, wholesale and distribution company. While we welcome technical questions and feedback from anyone, we only accept orders from established bicycle stores, wheel builders, and frame builders with the correct business credentials. We are happy to give quotations for OEM supply also, and will ship our products anywhere in the world except where it contravenes manufacturers distribution agreements in those countries. Having supplied customers in the EEC, Australasia, Asia and the Americas, we have great experience in international shipping and supply needs.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express directly, and will also accept checks drawn on US banks or wire transfers. We do not accept Paypal, Google Checkout, Western Union, or International Money Orders.
We only purchase products from legitimate suppliers/manufacturers, and stand behind our offered products 110%. All our wheels have a 3-year warranty, and crash replacement policies should the unforseeable happen. 95% of our purchasing is on a prior payment basis, giving both competitive purchasing and payment security ability, and allowing us to offer highly competative pricing as a result.
If it's not a Cherry Valley Wheel, it wasn't picked for you.
Ph: 1-877-4Z-WHEEL
Ph: 1-951-845-5757
FX: 1-951-845-6118
E: info@cherryvalleywheelworks.com
Please note; Cherry Valley Wheelworks, Inc. does not supply the public. We are a importers, wholesale and distribution company. While we welcome technical questions and feedback from anyone, we only accept orders from established bicycle stores, wheel builders, and frame builders with the correct business credentials. We are happy to give quotations for OEM supply also, and will ship our products anywhere in the world except where it contravenes manufacturers distribution agreements in those countries. Having supplied customers in the EEC, Australasia, Asia and the Americas, we have great experience in international shipping and supply needs.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express directly, and will also accept checks drawn on US banks or wire transfers. We do not accept Paypal, Google Checkout, Western Union, or International Money Orders.
We only purchase products from legitimate suppliers/manufacturers, and stand behind our offered products 110%. All our wheels have a 3-year warranty, and crash replacement policies should the unforseeable happen. 95% of our purchasing is on a prior payment basis, giving both competitive purchasing and payment security ability, and allowing us to offer highly competative pricing as a result.
If it's not a Cherry Valley Wheel, it wasn't picked for you.
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