Wheels mfg Blog

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.

Every once in a while we get to pull back the curtain and actually show what goes into the parts you bolt onto your bike. Recently, Jayson from Gravel Cyclist stopped by our Colorado headquarters to film a full video tour of Wheels Manufacturing HQ, from the machines cutting bottom brackets and derailleur hangers, to the line where we’re making our all-new chainrings, and the crew packing orders to head out the door. 👉 Hit play on the video below to: Walk through our shop floor and see parts being machined in-house Watch how our new chainrings are made from raw material to finished part Get a look at how we think about durability and serviceability See where Solo-XD, Solo-Spline, hangers, and all the small but critical bits are made and shipped If you enjoy the tour, do us (and Jayson) a favor: Give the Gravel Cyclist video a thumbs up Subscribe to the Gravel Cyclist channel That support helps keep in-depth, nerdy bike content alive. And if those shiny new chainrings you see in the video catch your eye, you don’t have to wait they are live on the website. 

Wheels Manufacturing is leveling up drivetrain performance with the launch of our all-new mountain bike chainrings. Built for riders who demand durability, smooth power delivery and rock-solid chain retention, these chainrings bring the same precision and reliability that Wheels Mfg has been known for since 1988. Our first release hits with SRAM 3-Bolt, 3mm Offset 7075 aluminum chainrings in 30T, 32T and 34T, available in seven anodized colors so your bike can finally be as matchy as your cockpit. Riders can choose between our Standard Narrow-Wide tooth profile or Hyperglide+ compatible option, engineered for maximum chain control and ultra-quiet engagement. This is just the beginning. More mounting standards, more offsets and more tooth counts are already in the pipeline for 2026. Whether you’re riding singletrack laps, enduro stages or big-day backcountry missions, these rings deliver the blend of performance and durability that modern drivetrains demand. SHOP NOW

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.

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

Neuhaus Metalworks Hummingbird Ti SS Showcases Wheels Manufacturing’s Colorado Copper We’re pumped to share our latest collab with Neuhaus Metalworks that hit the stage at the 2024 MADE Bike Show. Their Hummingbird Ti SS—a progressive XC/Trail single-speed—was dressed in our new Colorado Copper components. The frame was custom anodized to match, making this bike a real standout. The Hummingbird Ti SS Handmade in Marin County, CA, the Hummingbird is built for lightweight responsiveness and all-day fun. Fork travel: 80–130 mm by frame size (rigid for this show build) Head tube angle: 66.5° — agile yet stable Wheels: 29" for fast rolling Geometry: Progressive XC with trail attitude Colorado Copper Components on the Build SOLO-SPLINE Single Speed Conversion Kit — for Micro-Spline hubs, simplicity, and performance T47 Bottom Bracket — smooth, efficient, built to last Pro Headset Spacers & Top Cap — clean cockpit details in copper Thru Axles and Water Bottle Cage Bolts — the small accents that tie it all together About Neuhaus Metalworks Neuhaus builds bikes that make you want to ride more—prioritizing fit, handling, and durability over trends. Respect for riders: short lead times so you’re not waiting to shred Precision: rider-specific geometry and tubing; constant testing and refinement Inclusive sizing: one of the widest size ranges in the industry Support: lifetime manufacturing-defect warranty and crash-replacement policy Questions? Reach out to Neuhaus at Info@neuhausmetalworks.com or visit their Novato, CA shop.