Wheels mfg News

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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

By James Flanagan on April 14, 2025

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.

read article

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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

By James Flanagan on April 07, 2025

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

read article

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Bespoked Manchester Recap. Orange You Glad You Stopped By?

By James Flanagan on April 29, 2025

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.

read article

popular categories

Components

Tools

Bottom Brackets

Derailleur Hangers

News

latest articles

Wheels MFG Employee to tackle 4,200 mile Trans AM Bike Race

By James Flanagan on May 28, 2021

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.

Read article

Suggestions

popular products

Wheels mfg News

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

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

Bespoked Manchester Recap. Orange You Glad You Stopped By?