Wheels mfg Blog

Technical articles, product releases and current events, all in one place.

The Bike That Almost Wasn’t! Our Colorado Copper Sanitas Finally Made It Home - 112500146344

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Bike That Almost Wasn’t! Our Colorado Copper Sanitas Finally Made It Home

The Bike That Almost Wasn’t! Our Colorado Copper Sanitas Finally Made It Home We had big plans for the Philly Bike Expo this year. Front and center in our booth was supposed to be a one-of-a-kind Sanitas Cycles titanium Pistil Soft-Tail fully decked out in our Colorado Copper anodized components. A clean, bold build that showed off the best of what we make, all in our signature colorway. Then… it disappeared. Somewhere between Colorado and Pennsylvania, it vanished. Lost in transit. Despite days of searching, tracking updates, and a few panicked phone calls, the bike didn’t make it to Philly. We were bummed. So was the Sanitas crew. This build deserved a spotlight. But here’s the happy ending: the bike finally made its way back to Sanitas HQ, safe and sound. And now, we finally get to show it off. This is the Colorado Copper Sanitas build that almost wasn’t. A clean titanium frame brought to life with our anodized components: SOLO-XD Single Speed Kit – simple, fast, and coppered out T47 Bottom Bracket – built for longevity and smooth power transfer Headset Spacers + Top Cap – the little details that tie the whole build together Wheels MFG Thru Axles – because solid connection matters Seatpost Clamp – clean, secure, and color-matched A huge thanks to Sanitas Cycles for the build and for rolling with the punches when the bike went MIA. It didn’t hit the Philly show floor, but it’s too good not to share.
New Seatpost Collars Are Here.  Lock It Down in Style! - 112477044904

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

New Seatpost Collars Are Here. Lock It Down in Style!

We’re excited to officially launch our brand-new Wheels Manufacturing Seatpost Collars, available April 7, 2025. Built with precision and designed to add a clean, finished look to your bike. They’re ready to order and ready to ride. Designed to blend simplicity, style, and rock-solid performance, these collars use a bolt and barrel-nut closure for a secure fit and come in three sizes — 28.6 mm, 31.8 mm, and 34.9 mm — to fit a wide range of frames. With seven anodized color options — Black, Red, Orange, Teal, Blue, Purple, Green — there’s something for every rider’s style. Even better, the colors match our other anodized components like bottom brackets, derailleur hangers, and single-speed kits for a clean, cohesive look front to back. Buy Now These collars offer an affordable way to personalize your bike without sacrificing performance. Here’s what makes them stand out: Lightweight CNC-machined 6061 aluminum with stainless steel hardware Bold anodized color options to match or contrast existing builds Secure bolt and barrel-nut system for a no-slip grip Three versatile sizes to fit most modern frames Bonus Tool Alert Need to know which seatpost your bike uses? Our new Seatpost Gauge is made from durable acrylic and quickly measures the inside diameter of your seat tube. It covers sizes from 25 mm up to 34.9 mm, and at just $9.99 MSRP, it’s a handy addition for any shop, mechanic, or home wrench. Buy Seatpost Gauge
Bespoked Manchester Recap. Orange You Glad You Stopped By? - 112500179112

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Bespoked Manchester Recap. Orange You Glad You Stopped By?

Bespoked Manchester Recap. Orange You Glad You Stopped By? We just got back from the Bespoked Handmade Bike Show in Manchester, and to say we’re buzzing would be an understatement. This event always brings out some of the most passionate builders, riders, and brands in the cycling world, and this year, we teamed up with Chumba to create a showstopper of a bike. A Slackr With Some Serious Attitude Chumba’s Slackr Steel MTB is already a beast of a bike, designed for hard-hitting trail riders who want steel’s ride quality without compromising on modern geometry or aggressive capability. But for this show build, we cranked it up a notch. The frame was dressed head-to-toe in Wheels Manufacturing components in a striking orange anodized finish, making it impossible to miss. Here’s what we added to the mix: SOLO-XD Single Speed Conversion Kit Thru Axles Water Bottle Cage Bolts Headset Spacers and Top Cap T47 Outboard Bottom Bracket This wasn’t just a display of parts; it was a bold, clean build that showed how dialed your bike can look when your components are matched and made to last. Sneak Peek: SOLO-HG Prototype While the Slackr got most of the stares, those who stopped by our booth also got a behind-the-scenes look at something new. We unveiled a prototype of our revamped single speed conversion kit for Shimano HG-style freehub bodies, the SOLO-HG. This is not just an update. It’s a full overhaul, with refined design, narrow-wide tooth profiles, and improved chain retention. Launch is still a few months out, but we were stoked to get feedback directly from builders and riders on the ground. Spoiler alert: they’re into it. Why Shows Like Bespoked Matter Bespoked is more than a trade show. It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and community. Getting to partner with frame builders like Chumba reminds us why we do what we do. When our components end up on bikes this rad, it’s a win for everyone who believes that performance and aesthetics can coexist. Big thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat, geek out, and sneak a peek at what’s coming next. If you missed it, don’t worry, we’ve got more in store for 2025.

latest articles

Behind the Scenes at Wheels MFG: The Radavist Shop Visit-112771268776

Behind the Scenes at Wheels MFG: The Radavist Shop Visit

Earlier this year, we had the chance to welcome Boulder-based writer and photographer Hailey Moore from The Radavist into our Louisville, Colorado headquarters. She spent the day walking the shop floor, talking with our team, and pointing her lens at the machines, raw materials, and small details that usually live behind the “Employees Only” door. The result is a super fun Radavist Shop Visit that peeks behind the curtain at how we do things here at Wheels Manufacturing. What Hailey Saw Inside Wheels Manufacturing If you’ve ever picked up one of our derailleur hangers, bottom brackets, axles, or chainrings and wondered “How do they make this?” Hailey’s piece is your answer. In her write-up and photo set, she highlights: Made-in-Colorado manufacturing: How we start with raw bar stock and plate, then turn, mill, and finish components entirely in-house. The machines that never sleep: CNCs, lathes, and finishing equipment that are constantly chewing through aluminum and steel to keep shops and riders rolling. People behind the parts: The crew that programs tools, checks tolerances, deburrs edges, and obsesses over the details most riders will never see but definitely feel on the bike. From service parts to new products: How we’ve grown from “the derailleur hanger brand” into a full ecosystem of service parts, tools, bottom brackets, single-speed kits, and now US-made chainrings. It’s a nice mix of shop-nerd content and storytelling, exactly what you’d expect from The Radavist. Why This Visit Matters to Us We’ve been quietly machining bicycle components in Colorado for decades. A lot of what we do is intentionally low-drama: Make parts that fit Make parts that last Keep bikes out of the stand and on the trail Hailey’s visit put a spotlight on that everyday work—showing how much intention goes into the parts that don’t always get top billing in a build list or bike check. If you’re a: Shop mechanic: You’ll recognize plenty of parts you’ve grabbed out of a bin a thousand times. Framebuilder or OEM: You’ll get a sense of the manufacturing backbone behind the hangers, BBs, and axles you spec. Rider who likes to know the story: You’ll see where your components come from and why we care so much about keeping production local. Go Read the Full Story on The Radavist We’re incredibly grateful to Hailey and The Radavist crew for taking the time to come by, ask good questions, and tell our story in their own way. 👉 Check out the full shop visit and photo gallery here:Wheels Manufacturing Shop Visit on The Radavist Give it a read, scroll through the photos, and if you like seeing behind-the-scenes manufacturing content, let them know in the comments. Thanks for supporting what we do, whether that’s wrenching with our parts in the shop, speccing us on builds, or bolting our components onto your own bike at home.