Velocity Cliffhanger Rims

Price
$104
Color:Black
Size/Hole Count:26 inch / 32 hole
MSW?:NMSW

We have some Velocity rims in stock, but not all the varieties.  We usually order these once a week from Velocity.  It might take a few weeks for you to get your rims.  If you are in a rush, email us to ask about current stock.  If you are not, order away and we will get em going for you!

Wheels and rims are oversized and will have the shipping cost calculated after purchase.  We'll send you a separate invoice for the shipping.  Whatever the system automatically applies when you purchase the rims as a shipping charge will be subtracted from that invoice.  

Velocity used to be known for deep V rims painted in garish colors. The rims were heavy, radially overbuilt, and laterally just so so. Messengers rode them, and as an art student in Baltimore, I wanted to ride them too. I’ve ridden few rims that are as clunky as those. They were narrow, easily dented, and in retrospect, ugly. I am pretty sure Velocity still makes them if you want to channel your inner 2001 art school nerd.

Rim design has come a long way since the Deep V rims. Engineers realize a bigger rim cavity, a larger rim cross section, makes for a stiffer rim. The walls of the rim can be slimmed down as the rim cavity gets bigger. Think about Cannondale’s down tubes. They’re huge, but very thin. The large diameter makes them strong, and stiff, not the thin walls. Cliffhangers are tubeless compatible touring rims with a big cross section. They’re heavy, not because they’re wide and tall (they are both) but because they are made for big loads and minimal maintenance. Lots of big rims are under built (see 90% of what Stan’s makes) and can not handle those same big impacts or high loads. Under built rims are unstable, they cannot take high spoke tension, and are prone to going out of tru with hard usage.

The Cliffhangers are probably the best rim brake compatible touring rim on the market today. Why? Strong, stiff, machined sidewall (the Velocity Atlas lacks this, inexplicably), tubeless ready (all touring bikes should be tubeless!), able to take high spoke tension. They’re also US made. What’s not perfect? We wish they had eyelets for lower friction wheel building (not a big deal, but one can dream) and we wish they were welded, not pinned. Functionally, a welded rim is no stronger than a pinned or sleeved rim, but it makes for a nicer wheel build, and looks better too. No visible joint. These issues should not overshadow a great rim. These come in 26, 650b, and 700c sizes. The 36 hole version is strong enough for Tandem usage or round the world touring. Usually only available in black with machined silver sidewalls. If you are patient, we can get them in silver too. But you gotta be patient! Learn more about our wheel building process here, or get in contact to have some Cliffhangers laced up to one of our favorite hubs.

If you are running rim brakes, you want MSW (machined sidewalls).  If you are using disc brakes, NMSW is what you want.  

Shipping Information

Our on-line store is open 24/7 and we ship Monday through Friday, excluding some holidays. Orders received for products without shipping restrictions on its product page will ship the same business day when received before 12:00 p.m. PST. Orders in high demand will have an estimated production time listed on its product page and will ship according to the date listed.

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