Alloy Wheels by Luxe Wheelworks

As we began thinking about how to talk about the Luxe Alloy wheelset, we were confronted with a fact we had not previously realized, at least not consciously: The market of high end bicycle wheels is almost completely devoid of traditionally-produced all metal wheelsets. Look around the landscape of fine cycling goods and you'll notice a distinct decline in this market segment. And think about how weird it is that one of the most celebrated, iconic and reliably efficient bits of cycling technology - the traditionally laced, handmade bicycle wheel - is virtually impossible to find. Many of the industry's most renowned wheel makers have responded to perceived market forces and have, in one way or the other, infused carbon and other composite materials into their high to mid range wheels. They manipulate designs to allow for fewer spokes, lower weights and greater stiffness. And it's hard to argue with the fact that class-leading, race-oriented wheels can be obtained more easily than at any other time.

But, for the growing number of racers, ex-racers and serious riders of all sorts, what they want is what they can't easily get: A wheelset that can be ridden for thousands of miles reliably and comfortably, with parts that can be easily maintained or replaced if necessary. A wheelset that has the toughness to endure harsh miles in unforgiving conditions without drama but leaves little to be desired in terms of performance and will be at home on the race course. A wheelset that has personality, style and substance and will endure long after this current generation of super stock wheels has gone out of style, or have just plain worn out.

Luxe Wheelworks presents us with the solution to our wheel angst with the Alloy Clincher set. It's a wheelset that can make few claims of technological superiority through materials sciences - you'll find nothing but steel, aluminum and the occasional bit of brass and titanium here. They don't challenge convention with low spoke counts, abnormal hub drillings or extreme rim shapes. They don't make any claims of light weight or aerodynamics. They're simply the best wheels that can be made in the traditional fashion from the finest hubs, spokes and rims available and are customizable to each riders aesthetic preferences and ride style.

All of the Alloy wheels feature Chris King hubs, available in a wide array of colors. Little needs to be said about the King hubs except that they feature internals that resemble a Swiss watch, are made in the US, are fully adjustable, repairable, upgradable and they carry an impressive warranty. Laced through these hubs are Sapim's CX Ray bladed steel spokes and anchoring these spokes to the rim are Sapim's proprietary Secure-Lock nipples - all parts with a proven track record of quality and longevity.

We offer a choice of two rims on the Luxe Alloy wheels: An arched 25mm deep rim called the Archetype and a more traditional, box-section type rim known as the TB14. Both are made by the H Plus Son company, a dedicated specialist in aluminum rim construction. These rims differ in terms of their shape - the Archetype is a bit lighter and stiffer, while the TB14 and it's low profile box shape is more flexible and makes for a more comfortable, compliant wheel. Both of these rims follow the current trend of increased width and measure out at 23mm wide. A wider rim design has been proven to provide greater compliance and lower rolling resistance for most tire types. Because of this 23mm rim, we recommend a minimum width of 25mm for tires in conjunction with the Luxe Alloy wheels.

Notes: Both rim options come in anodized black finish; other finishes may be available upon request. Standard spoke count is 28 front / 28 rear. In the check-out, please indicate your average weight or if you have any specific spoke count requests in the COMMENTS field. Each wheelset is built to order, so please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. As with all of our products, please Contact Us if you would like to discuss details of a wheel build or place an order directly.


Alloy Clincher Wheelset - Starts at $1099

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