Wheels mfg News

Our friend and bikepacking guru Miles Arbour has been itching to turn his Why S7 into a single-speed rig—and the wait is over. Thanks to the hassle-free Solo-XD kit, he’s tackling steep climbs and easy grades with a new sense of freedom. “The Solo-XD made the conversion simple—7075 aluminum carrier, adjustable 6061 spacers, and a narrow-wide 18T cog for chain retention. Bonus: it works with popular 12-speed chains, so I didn’t need a new one.” Miles is loving his 20T cog paired with a 28T chainring—“love at first ride.” He’s rediscovering trails, hammering climbs, and yes, walking a bit more than usual. ❤️ The Solo-XD is proudly made in the USA. Read Miles’ gear picks on Bikepacking.com: https://bikepacking.com/gear/emily-miles-2023-gear-picks/

On June 6, 2021, Wheels Manufacturing employee Mateo Ramos took on the Trans Am Bike Race. In this post, we dig into what the Trans Am is, Mateo’s plan to complete the route, and the gear he brought along. What is the Trans Am? A 4,200-mile, self-supported bicycle race from Oregon to Virginia. Unlike RAAM, there’s no support vehicle—riders handle their own navigation, repairs, food, and logistics. Race dates Start: June 6 • Estimated finish: around June 23. How long have you been training? Four years. What do you do at Wheels MFG? I’m a CNC mill programmer working on overhauling our automation to enable 24/7 machining of rear derailleur hangers and tools. Most challenging part of the course? Wyoming and Kansas—because of high crosswinds. My rig is very aero for headwinds and descents, but it catches crosswinds heavily. Hydration and food plan Eat and drink as much as possible. Burning 10,000–12,000 calories per day, but I expect to absorb ~8,000–9,000, so I’ll start a couple pounds up to avoid dropping below ~5% body fat. Favorite part of your kit? The cockpit: computer, front light, bottle, and aero bars tucked together for clean airflow. Most people clamp items in a row; each one “punches” its own hole in the wind. Same idea with rear bottles and bag tucked right behind my pelvis. 2021 Trans Am Gear List Bike: Cervélo P3 (2014) Front wheel: Hope Pro 4 hub / Zipp 404 Firecrest rim Rear wheel: Hope Pro 4 hub / Zipp 808 Firecrest rim Skewers: TriRig Styx Crankset: Rotor 3D+ with 56/42T carbon chainrings Cassette: Shimano R8000/XTR mix, 11-speed 13–40T (custom shims for spacing) Chain: Connex 11sx Derailleurs: SRAM Red eTap, 11-speed Bottom bracket: Wheels MFG BBright30 w/ AC bearings Tires: René Herse Cayuse Pass 26 mm Brakes: TriRig Omega X w/ Delta aero front fairing Headset: FSA Saddle: Specialized Power w/ Mirror Seatpost: Cervélo Aerobar: TriRig Alpha One Pedals: Speedplay Zero Ti Saddle bag: Apidura Expedition 17 L Bottle cages: XLAB Gorilla Top tube bag: JPaks FarvaPak GPS: Lezyne Mega XL Tracker: SPOT Gen3 Headlight: Exposure Six-Pack Rear light: Planet Bike Superflash 65 Other: Custom-machined front/rear bottle holders, rear bag mount, computer and light mounts; 3D-printed toolbox nested in the frame Clothing Rain jacket and pants Wool and summer-weight socks Waterproof gloves and liners Shoe covers Reflective vest Three skinsuits (two summer, one cold-weather) Arm and leg warmers Thermal headband Merino wool top Arm and leg coolers Tools / Repair Hand pump and CO₂ Multi-tool Master links Tire lever Patch kit Valve extenders Spare tires and tubes Personal Wallet Toothbrush and toothpaste First-aid kit Food Electrolyte mix Sunglasses Sunscreen Bivy Electronics Phone 20 Ah power bank eTap battery charger Wall outlet adapter Where can we track progress? Live updates during the 2021 race were available via Trackleaders: trackleaders.com/transam21 Mateo, thanks for sharing your Trans Am planning and setup. Stay safe out there—your Wheels MFG crew is cheering you on. Learn more about the Trans Am Bike Race: transambikerace.com Photos courtesy Wheels Manufacturing and Mateo Ramos.