Analog Built ATB/Touring Wheelset (White Industries 6 bolt hubs, Velocity Cliffhanger Rims)

Analog Built Wheels: White Industries XMR to Velocity Cliffhanger

There are wheels you buy because the lycra hive mind demands it, and then there are wheels you buy because you want to ride from your dooryard to some washed out ATV 'trail' without wondering if you’ll have to walk home. These are the latter. We build these wheels for folks who view their bike as tool to engage with the world. Mark hand-builds these right here in Poultney, Vermont, with three things in mind: durability, serviceability, and not dealing with modern disposable bike industry BS.

At the center of it all are White Industries XMR Hubs. Made in Petaluma, California, these are the hubs you put in your will.  You can leave them to me, I'll take good care of them. The XMR hubs use big, easily replaceable Enduro bearings, and feature an adjustable bearing preload so you can dial out bearing play without special tools. The freehub body is made of titanium. Aluminum freehubs are lighter, sure, but your cassette will bite into them like Gary bites into a block of sharp cheddar. Titanium is tough, no gouges. We can set these up for whatever axle standard your rig is running: Quick Release, 12mm front, 15mm front, or 12mm rear. You can also pick your vibe for the drivetrain: XDR, Shimano Hyperglide (HG), or Shimano Microspline.

We lace these spicy chunks of American aluminum to Velocity Cliffhanger Rims using Pillar Quad Butted Spokes. Why quad butted? The spoke starts at 13 gauge, which is 33% stronger than a 14 gauge, right where it matters: the J bend.  Right after the J bend, it goes down to 14 gauge to save some weight, then to 15 gauge for flexibility where you want it.  Then back up to 14 gauge at the nipple.  So it’s barely heavier than a double butted spoke, but it’s 1/3rd stronger at the most critical spot.  It’s a spoke designed for heavy touring, bikepacking, and long life.

The rims are Velocity Cliffhangers with a non-machined sidewall. Disc-brake specific and visually clean. The Cliffhanger is a wooly mammoth of a rim. It’s wide enough to comfortably seat a big gravel tire or a full-blown mountain bike tire without the tire squirming around like JD Vance at a donut shop. They set up tubeless easily, but they won't fight ya if you need to pop a tube in on the side of a fire road. 

Every wheel is hand laced, tensioned, and stress-relieved. Put them on your bike, go get them dirty, and forget about them.

Hot Chowder:

• Hubs: White Industries XMR 6 bolt (Made in USA, Titanium Freehub, Adjustable Preload).

• Rims: Velocity Cliffhanger, also US made.  The polished finished matches the polish of the hubs,but adds to the cost. (Non-machined sidewall for disc brakes, Tubeless Ready).

• Spokes: Pillar Quad Butted (Beefed up at the elbow and threads, stretchy in the middle for maximum fatigue life).

• Nipples: Brass Pillar. 

• Axle Compatibility: Available in Quick Release, 12mm Thru-Axle (Front/Rear), and 15mm Thru-Axle (Front).

• Freehub Options: Shimano Hyperglide, Shimano Microspline, or SRAM XDR.

• Built in Vermont: Hand-laced, trued, tensioned, and stress-relieved by Mark here at Analog, who has been building wheels for over 40 years.

• Quick note on shipping.  We will ship your wheels using bikeflights with full insurance.  The shopify system will automatically bill you SOMETHING for the shipping.  We will bill you for the difference, or refund you, after we build, box, and weigh the wheels.  Wheels will be shipped in about 2 weeks, after they work through Mark's build queue.